A powder room is a perfect opportunity to have fun and show some whimsy. Yet, most powder rooms are severely underwhelming. And unfortunately, this powder room was no different. When we first moved into our home, we were in a mad dash to paint as soon as possible, and with having to furnish an entire home, we put the powder room on the back burner. While it does home a beautifully ornate, sentimental mirror, which will be repurposed in another room in the house, it lacks character. Since many people use this bathroom during parties and family gatherings, it needs to have a wow-factor.
My first and most important decision was the paint color. Grey walls have seen their hay day and that day has come to an end. These four walls look incredibly drab and need life pumped into them! What color represents life more than green?! But not all greens are created equally. I like to think of myself as a color expert, but even this stumped me. Did I want a bright emerald green, a lighter olive or a forest green? The best way to know for sure is to swatch it out. So, I went to my local paint store and tried out Benjamin Moore’s Tarrytown Green, which proved to be too bring of a green for the look I was trying to achieve.
The ultimate winner, as soon as I put the swatch on the wall, was Benjamin Moore’s Dakota Shadow. A part of the Benjamin Moore Classic Collection, this timeless and elegant color is vibrant and striking. While traditionally told NOT to paint small rooms dark colors, I am here to tell you, that this notation is NOT true. Painting a small room a dark shade actually adds dimension, making for a dramatic room.
The key is to not layer on similarly dark artwork, but opt for a contrasting light color when choosing wall accessories. The artwork, which is lyrics from Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain,” was made by yours truly on Photoshop and printed at my local printing press. Between the printing and frames, this was done for under $40.00! The boho-inspired abstract face painting I found months ago from Opalhouse for Target, but has unfortunately since been discontinued. You can find many similar prints or canvas paintings on Etsy.
Since we have a small pedestal sink that doesn’t lend much space for soap dispensers or other items, this Pharmacy Mirror with a Black Metal Shelf, gave us the right amount of storage for a few plants and a soap dispenser. To piggy back off of the green life of the walls, it was important to bring in a lot of plants. A macrame plant hanger, which holds a lovely little succulent hangs in the corner of the room, brings interest down from the ceiling, another area that is also overlooked. For the window shade, I sourced a bamboo, woven wood shade to continue with the natural elements and to bring in more texture and light filtering shade.
Since my color scheme went from grey on grey to green, black and natural tones, the brushed nickel faucet was no longer going to work. Instead of running out and buying a new matte black faucet, I pulled out my trusty Uber Matte Ink Tinta Spray (which I used for the Value Store Vase Makeover).
This was very tedious and not easy. First I cleaned the sink and faucet very well, then I taped the perimeter of the faucet, making sure not to leave out even a tiny little spot. As added protection, I also used a garbage bag as a shield. I can't lie, I still got some spray paint on the sink. After I had a mild breakdown, I remembered that Goof Off is always there to rescue me. Partnered with a razor (used to scrape off any spray that would not come off with the Goof Off), I was able to clean it up pretty well and it now looks flawless!
One of my favorite little pieces of this powder room is the Leather & Brass Wall Hook by @keyaiira used here to house a hand towel. Again, loving the natural materials and another element of texture that it brings into the room.
In honor of St Patrick’s Day and my love for green, it was only fitting for the big reveal to be on March 17th! I hope you enjoyed this powder room revamp and you see this room as a great opportunity to WASH YOUR HANDS, as we now live in a new normal of the Coronavirus.
Hoping you and your family stay healthy and safe,
Ashley
Looking to get a powder room revamp with Ashley Berdan Design? ABD, as always, offers virtual consultation and fully virtual interior design services, which is so important in our current times.
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