With the holidays—and their onslaught of parties and guests—upon us, LUXE decided to dive into what makes for a truly fabulous powder room. Proudly petite and designed to be admired, the space offers a rare opportunity for flash and fantasy. And who better to tap for their playbook than designer Mark D. Sikes? Beloved for his artfully layered schemes and luscious color palettes, Sikes has a reputation for elaborate, elegant takes on what he dubs “the jewel box of the home.” Fresh off the release of his bestselling third monograph, Forever Beautiful (Rizzoli), the designer sat down to share his expert tips for creating a loo that company won’t soon forget.
What is your philosophy for putting together a distinctive powder room?
This is the one place in the house where it’s universally accepted to be unique and innovative. And, because it’s a small space in terms of square footage, it provides a rare opportunity to splurge on something lavish, like a hand-painted wallpaper or beautiful wall upholstery, that might be cost-prohibitive in a larger space. It is a room for full creative expression.
Can you discuss design elements that are often overlooked?
If you’re looking at the layout of a powder room, it’s important to have both a place for guests to sit and a place for bags and belongings. In a perfect world, the floor plan would include a little entry vestibule with a bench or stool, and then a small table inside the powder room where guests can rest their bag while they touch up their makeup, etc. I think you always need a table in the powder room for this reason. We try to make our spaces feel comfortable and functional, and these elements seem to work nicely in terms of hosting company.
Is there a single most important piece for a powder room?
Hanging a super special mirror is really important because this is one of the few utilitarian rooms where you have the liberty to do that. In primary or guest bathrooms, storage is a must, and mirrors are often medicine cabinets and more “apothecary” in look and feel. I love to use antique mirrors in the powder—something with a beautiful, unique shape. Then, when it comes to selecting hardware, I like to use something a bit more precious, such as antiqued silver or burnished brass; antique mirrors tend to look better with those finishes.
Creating a through line for his Kansas City clients, Sikes clad a secondary powder room in another customized Iksel wallpaper. A Mark D. Sikes for Hudson Valley Lighting sconce injects a contemporary note into the mix and plays off the bone inlay mirror.
Talk to us about lighting.
Dimmers are important in the powder room (and in every room) for functional purposes, but, generally, I like lighting in this space to be more subtle, romantic and moody. It’s a wonderful room to mix different types of fixtures—think modern sconces with an antique table lamp. It’s also an opportunity to play around with beautiful custom fabric lampshades. I particularly like silk pleated shades in a powder because they cast such a soft, beautiful light.
How do you create personality when you’re starting with a blank slate?
It’s all about the materials and the finishes. Most of the work we do now is completely original and very decorative. For instance, instead of doing a wallpaper, we will have our decorative painter, Joseph Steiert, come in and depict a mural on the walls. Or instead of having traditional painted cabinets, we will have an artisan hand-glaze them so that they aren’t a stark white and instead have a rich patina. We also love to source antique tiles and fabrics that give the appearance of years of fading in the sun.
What are your favorite finishing touches?
Beautiful hand towels (my favorites are Julia B. Casa). Something alive, whether that’s a plant or flowers in a chic bud vase. A café curtain, Roman shade or sheers at the window for privacy. A candle with a great scent—my go-to is Orange Blossom by Jo Malone—and a book of matches in a pretty container because it’s the polite thing to do. The best houses are the ones that make people feel comfortable and welcome!
In a powder room in Pacific Palisades, California, a wooden commode was stripped and given a Newport Brass faucet. An antique bone inlay mirror is backed by an Iksel wallpaper for a characterful look. The sconce is from Galerie des Lampes.
A whimsical Morris & Co. wallpaper contrasts with Royal Makkum delft tiles from Country Floors in this Sun Valley, Idaho, powder room. Layered lighting, including a Jamb sconce and a table lamp with a marbled paper shade, complements an antique mirror.
Creating a through line for his Kansas City clients, Sikes clad a secondary powder room in another customized Iksel wallpaper. A Mark D. Sikes for Hudson Valley Lighting sconce injects a contemporary note into the mix and plays off the bone inlay mirror.
A clients’ love of ceramics inspired their Kansas City, Kansas, powder room designed by Mark D. Sikes, where a collection of Imari plates runs along the bathroom’s lower walls; the Iksel wallpaper was custom colored and patterned to mimic them. The console sink is Waterworks, the mirror is from John Rosselli & Associates and the sconces are Mark D. Sikes for Hudson Valley Lighting.
In a powder room in Pacific Palisades, California, a wooden commode was stripped and given a Newport Brass faucet. An antique bone inlay mirror is backed by an Iksel wallpaper for a characterful look. The sconce is from Galerie des Lampes.
A collection of Imari plates hangs in the vestibule of this Sikes-designed powder room.
Sikes’ third monograph, Forever Beautiful (Rizzoli) was released in September.
Designer Mark D. Sikes.
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