powder room drama

Classic European details and a mix of old and new materials inject fresh style into this narrow bath. Budget-friendly finds helped the designer get a custom look for less.

Traditional but fresh, this powder room in an 1860s home once had a single virtue: Its toilet was discreetly located to the side, so it wasn’t visible from the hall. If only the original vanity had been a worthy focal point. Set directly opposite the entry, it was a cobbled-together piece that interfered with the door-swing in the narrow 3×8-foot plan.

Unfazed, designer Donna Talley began sleuthing for a sink replacement that would fit her bath’s tight footprint—and her equally tight budget. Her find: a $150 antique-reproduction table with a painted finish, X braces on the sides and back, and just enough room for a small sink. The price was sweet, but the style clinched the deal. “I’ve long admired the Belgian aesthetic—a neutral color palette and clean lines mixed with weathered furnishings and a blend of old and new elements—so I decided to carry this look into the powder room,” Donna says.

The vanity still needed a little “wow,” so Donna boosted its style with an ornate oval mirror, which contrasts with the table’s earthy finish. For added polish, she splurged on a wall-hung faucet in chrome, offsetting its cost with a petite white vessel sink found online.

To complete the room, Donna painted the walls creamy beige and repainted the wood floor (originally green) using a darker shade of cream. Then she wrapped the toilet area with a chic gallery of black-and-white photos. Pleasing from every angle, the bath now extends a fitting welcome to guests.

 

An eye-catching gallery of black-and-white photographs adds interest to the toilet area. The designer used an online service to reproduce her own photos and chose white matting and black frames for a cohesive look.