Style Solutions: Updating A Builder Grade Powder Room
We have an easy to accomplish and really useful Style Solutions for you today! A reader sent in these pictures of her new, perfectly fine powder room in a spec home and asked how to give it more personality for under $5,000. Mission accepted! We see this a lot with builder designed homes– basic fixtures and finishes that are so-so (mostly inspired by HGTV it seems) and it feels wasteful to replace stuff that is brand new. But my argument is, if you don’t LOVE it, change it. You can sell the items you remove online to make a little money back or donate to a charity that fixes up homes for those less fortunate (kind and not wasteful at all).
So this room is fine- but the vanity is looking piece-meal with its two-tone finish, the dark bronze fixtures are dated, and overall there is zero character here.
The space has lots of potential. Ideally I’d replace the floors, but my concept involves keeping them, as that is a lot of labor.
This wall needs some art!
So here is my concept for this space- you could replace the countertop and keep the sink itself, or you could leave it too. Either would work with what was picked out.
- Custom sconce shades in this cute Sister Parish fabric from Etsy vendor Cruel Mountain.
- Art by Kayce Hughes on wall perpendicular to toilet (where there is a print now).
- A grid of framed intaglios on the bigger wall across from the vanity/toilet.
- New sconces (using a fixture that has shades above the mounting location allows for a larger mirror)
- New antique-inspired mirror.
- Wallpaper the WHOLE room with this fun, bold (but soothing) pattern.
- Danby marble has warm tones in it that will work with the floor but looks more classic. You could look for a small remnant at a stone yard locally.
- Paint the entire vanity this color in a semi-gloss or satin sheen.
- New brass faucet.
- Hardware for the vanity.
- New doorknobs! These are a personal favorite to use throughout a house.
- Don’t forget to replace the toilet lever when doing brass finishes!
OK, now someone please do this powder room because I love it :) Also, if you have a design conundrum that you think would be a good fit for Style Solutions email [email protected]! Specifically looking for fireplace challenges (off center in a room, in a corner, bad finish, etc.) I think a lot of people run into these issues in both old and new homes!
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Love this design! I recently added two Kayce Hughes pieces to my powder room, after 15 years of no art there, and I love them.
Excellent post. Now I am going to try to justify buying new doorknobs for my entire house.
If you are willing to do some DIY, you could have similar Intaglios for much less. Target has very similar brass frames for approximately $30, you can find the intaglios on Etsy for about $30 (search intaglio plaster), and then have them mounted and new matting cut at your local craft store, for a total of around $400. Use the rest of the money to pay for labor or for a new vanity, etc.
Lovely selections.
Love the Nympheus wallpaper in that colorway.
Gorgeous! Looked at the knobs because I’m replacing all of them in my home. The linked ones don’t lock which may be a bit awkward for a bathroom… couldn’t find a correlating locking one, but they’re beautiful and almost exactly what I’m looking for!
They make it as a privacy knob which is lockable.
Love this update – the wallpaper is one of my favorite patters ever! Doorknobs- questions- do you prefer them with a backplate vs. just a knob? Completely agree about the toilet lever- in powder room all those little details really matter.
I always like a backplate when possible. :)
Duly noted – thanks for answering!
A million thanks for this post. Beautiful, affordable, and do- able thanks to your links. Exactly what we are all looking for.
Oops! Autocorrect “Put”
Love, love, love all your work!
Where would you out the hand towels ?
Thanks
This is great! I would have never thought to replace the toilet lever! I just assumed you got what you got… Now I may need to upgrade mine :) Are they easy to install?
Okay, stupid question. For the door hardware, does that include knobs for both side of the door? I’m horrified to be asking this but I can’t tell from their website! I need new hardware for our entire house.
Beautiful concept, classic yet updated. I would beef up the baseboard moulding as well as add crown moulding and it might be fun to choose a color from the wallpaper pattern and paint the ceiling a fun color too! Fun post.
(That outlet is in an awkward spot, huh? Too bad it is not mounted on the other wall.)
I agree! First thing I thought… It’s really distracting. I’d save on something else and have that relocated if possible.
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The wallpaper is just what I was looking for!! Thanks ~
Love this solution design! Really brings in a lot of style and character!