Transform Powder Room from Traditional to Contemporary

Most of us end up buying a "used" home. And getting anything second-hand (or 3rd, 4th, etc.) is fraught with inheriting somebody else's tastes. When we bought our home in 2004, I created a list of "do-overs." The downstairs powder room was about #5 on the list -- but somehow got bumped down quite a few notches when things like stabilizing a creek, new front door, stone ledging under warping windows, landscaping --  took priority.

Finally the powder room. I wanted  a higher-end modern look, but I wanted to limit it to about $1500, since we don't know how long we will stay.

The first step was to erase any memory of that wallpaper. Once the paper was gone, the nasty counter with the trim falling off had to disappear too. Since my budget was limited i opted to keep the vanity, remove the laminate and tile the top with onyx. I actually found the gorgeous glass and onyx backsplash first -- and backed into the onyx. I am very into architectural lines so i looked for square sink and wall-mounted faucet.

The room is small with 10' ceilings; we eliminated that elevator shaft feeling by building a transom with recessed lights. This was a blessing since I was agonizing over lighting fixtures.

The Ben Moore paint  just nails the color in the glass tile. The mirror is not my fave but until i find the perfect one ...

--diane

Tags: Traditional to Contemporary Bath, Contemporary Bathroom, Bath Makeover, Modern Design