From standout stones to tantalizing tiles, discover how designers are creating striking powder rooms.
Miami Vice
For a sprawling sun-drenched penthouse in downtown Miami, interior designer Alizee Brion kept to a soothing, neutral palette with accents of blue and green peppered throughout. But for the residence’s two powder rooms, she took a different approach, deploying what she calls “a concentrated expression of color” inspired by the Biscayne Bay views. With the alluring colors of the water serving as muse, Brion succeeded in creating spaces with “wow factor.” Take the blue-swathed bath (below), the crown jewel of which is a striking vanity carved from blue agate. The windowless space led Brion to embrace an overall moody vibe, explaining that “in the context of a Miami condo, which is always flooded with natural light, it’s an unexpected contrast.”
In a separate powder room, Brion selected a Calacatta green marble for the pedestal sink. A side-mount faucet keeps the vanity contemporary and minimal, while a plaster wall finish provides a resilient surface. “Plaster is extremely practical in a bathroom because of its waterproof qualities,” says the designer. “It allowed us to forgo a backsplash and provided a texture with depth and movement that has a hand-crafted quality, which we love to incorporate in our designs.”
In a Miami high-rise by designer Alizee Brion, a custom vanity crafted with blue agate from Opustone makes an opulent statement in a powder room. An RH mirror hangs on a wall finished in Tadelakt’s Midnight Blue.
For the second powder room, Brion opted for a vanity crafted from Calacatta green marble sourced from Arca. Holly Hunt sconces abut a Bower Studios mirror. The walls are finished in Galápagos Green by Tadelakt.
Set In Stone
Bask in the bounty of the latest stones from the exclusive collection by Antolini.
Natural Selection
Mix & Match
“In this bathroom, it’s all about the stone,” says Megan Munoz, associate design director at The Wiseman Group. After walking past this semi-precious quartzite at IRG Stone many times before, hoping to find the perfect client for it one day, the opportunity to use it finally presented itself with the owners of this Palo Alto residence. Imagined for the home’s lower level, where entertaining-oriented spaces like a media and billiard room are located, the powder room takes on an apropos club-like feel. With dramatic contrast and veining, the dynamic blue-green stone covers two walls and was also used to create a floating sink and lower storage shelf. The surrounding design elements, including a floor-to-ceiling mirrored backsplash, further enhance the stone’s presence. The final result is a striking space that celebrates the raw beauty of natural materials.
It’s hard to imagine this colorful, pattern-happy Sonoma, California, powder room was once characterized by a ‘90s beige scheme. But for designer Jeff Schlarb, the dated backdrop turned out to be the perfect canvas for his signature mix of patterns and materials. “I find it restful and demure rather than overwhelming,” remarks Schlarb of the masterful blend. The key, he explains, is to combine structured patterns, like the green vertical clé ceramic tile, with more organic ones, such as the swirling Broad Strokes wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries used here. “When playing in the same palette, it all becomes compatible.”
In a Palo Alto powder room by The Wiseman Group, a floor-to-ceiling mirror reflects Botanic Wave quartzite from IRG Stone on the walls and vanity. Sleek accents include a Dornbracht mounted faucet and John Pomp pendants.
Phillip Jeffries’ Patina Metals and Broad Strokes wallpapers cover the ceiling and walls in a Sonoma, California, powder room by Jeff Schlarb. Secret Lagoon tile from clé adorns the lower wall while a Currey & Company wood-and-bone mirror and Visual Comfort & Co. sconce hang above a Stone Forest marble basin.
Tile Talk
Opustone's new porcelain collection, Dandy, is playfully perfect.
