How I Reno'd the Powder Room - Without Renovating!!

So the people that used to live here LOVED grey.

They painted the halls, kitchen, dining room, family room and powder room a

 cold, light-eating, cement grey.

This was our first winter here, and with little sun and blizzards raging on outside,

I began to resent these walls.

Their lack of warmth, their inability to embrace my family,

the way everything around them just begged for a more flattering backdrop...

you get the picture.

The tiny main floor powder room has, like so many loo's, no windows.

Dark room, grey walls...ugh

With this uncomfortable prison cell atmosphere,

 it was almost amusing to watch how quickly guests (and us) went in and out of there.

 I began to formulate a plan...

Definitely white.. we needed the walls to open up to that high ceiling..

but I also wanted the eye to be led across the room, horizontally.

I decided to use the two-tone trick: 

when the two colors used are high contrast the eye follows the seam around the space,

 and it feels larger than it actually is.

 Horizontal stripes have the same effect, just like in clothing,

 which is why you will never find me wearing them :)

Navy is my all-time favourite color, 

and since I wanted this space to be consistent with the rest of the main floor,

 it seemed like a natural choice.

But lately I've been lusting after a leafy, fresh green...

maybe for an accent?

After I found a pair of abused, unappreciated mirrors 

at the Sally Ann (for $6!!!!) with the perfect proportions for the space,

 it all started to shape up quite nicely:

Okay, how can anyone resist this color?

I found the hook at Pier One, and loved it's sparkle - the larger top hook is a glass doorknob.

We use simple linen towels 

because with three kids they are changed a minimum of once daily :)

This image came from my inspiration board...

 a graffiti artist quoting very old persian poetry - so wonderful.

 Originally I found it on Mackin Ink - have you ever been there?

 You really must go, Karey has such a dreamy way of writing,

 she pulls you into her world of whimsy..

I simply printed it and placed it on the prettiest bit of Japanese paper..

I cut and dried some fern leaves from the forest near my home to make art for this wall..

but the green mirrors would lose some of their magic if another green element was introduced,

 wouldn't they? And I like their magic very much.

So I ended up painting a simple branch, in the navy.

sketched out in pencil..

Simple lines make me happy.

The mirrors after priming (they were brown flecked with gold and black!),

 and the green going on.. joy!

Would you like to see a little of my inspiration?

Some of these came out of my files and I apologize for not knowing quite where I picked them up - if you know please do tell, so I can link up and give credit where it is dearly due.

Desire to Inspire's Kim has a gorgeous bath, can you believe it's a temporary fix?!

      

The green? yes.

 The poreclain flowers? I wouldn't want to be running the feather duster around those!

Very elegant, graceful geometric pattern on this paper... 

source

Freedom! 

This paint below has escaped it's linear boundaries... frolicking freely on the wall..

Really, decorating can be this much fun!

On Color Consultations I'm always telling clients to live with what they love,

  and to create spaces that function for them.

 Spaces that make them smile when they come home.

I even considered adding flowers to the branch in the powder room..

a la The fanciful Twist.

ones made from books would match my hall mirror quite nicely..

In the end, simplicity ruled,

 and the powder room morphed from a prisoners box to a charming little room.

See what a little color can accomplish?

Just what we wanted.. hope you like it!

til next time..