Powder Room Pizzazz
Design tip from Kathleen M. Zbacnik, ASID, IIDA, CID
KZ Design Group
7964 Prospect Place, La Jolla
858-361-1100
Kathleen M. Zbacnik offers professional, award-winning interior design to clients in southern California, including San Diego and La Jolla. KZ Design Group specializes in complete home-decorating design, remodeling and new construction.
When you need to add some pizzazz to your home, consider your powder room. It doesn’t have to conform to the overall design style of your home. For example, a traditional home may have a very contemporary powder room that is both surprising and refreshing. A contemporary home may feature an Asian powder room, or even a whimsical one with unexpected finishes like a ribbon-edged glass counter with a bright-orange vessel sink.
The sink, faucet, and tile work are usually given a great deal of thought when planning a powder room but walls and decorative lighting are often overlooked.
An unusual material I specified on a powder room wall was Silk Dynasty/Chimera/embossed metallic-leaf wall covering in a color called Glimmer. It shimmers and makes a dynamite statement.
Decorative lighting can include a pendant light or a pair of pendants flanking the mirror; even colored blown-glass sconces will provide a special touch.
Be sure to include good task lighting as well as ambient and mood lighting. I once used Waterworks glass tiles in a brick-shape installed in half-running-bond pattern, set on the diagonal, which captured the light from contemporary pendants hung over the counter. Great lighting will sparkle or shimmer when reflected in tile or glass.
Don’t forget a unique faucet and a sink in a different material or unusual shape than others you are using in your home — and have fun!
