3 Wallpapered Bathrooms That Make an Impact
These homeowners said yes to flowers, trees and pineapples and were rewarded with a standout space
Mitchell Parker
5 September 2016
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
It’s common knowledge that powder rooms are great places to get a little wild with your decor. And a quick and painless way to achieve that is through a bold wallpaper. But with the nearly infinite options out there, how do you choose something that will work with your style? Let these three styles of wallpaper guide your selection.
1. Traditional
Designer: Megan Pucak
Location: Del Mar, California
Size: 3.9 square metres (42 square feet); about 1.6m by 2.2m
Homeowners’ request: Turn a cramped bathroom with an unused shower and bathtub combination into an attractive powder room. “The owner’s tastes are very classic and traditional, and the home overlooks the ocean in Del Mar, so we were aiming for a fresh yet classic feel,” designer Megan Pucak says.
The wallpaper: Baptista in blue by Colefax and Fowler. “It’s a luxury wallpaper brand with beautiful colourways and detail,” Pucak says. “The patterns here are traditional but also timeless, so it was a perfect choice for this client.”
Other special features: Arabesque floor tile. Free-standing, furniture-like vanity. “Although my first instinct was to order the vanity in cream for the traditional beach-house vibe, I’m glad that we went with the cherry. It adds a nice warmth and formality to the room,” she says.
Pretty Powder Rooms That Pack in Big Style
Designer: Megan Pucak
Location: Del Mar, California
Size: 3.9 square metres (42 square feet); about 1.6m by 2.2m
Homeowners’ request: Turn a cramped bathroom with an unused shower and bathtub combination into an attractive powder room. “The owner’s tastes are very classic and traditional, and the home overlooks the ocean in Del Mar, so we were aiming for a fresh yet classic feel,” designer Megan Pucak says.
The wallpaper: Baptista in blue by Colefax and Fowler. “It’s a luxury wallpaper brand with beautiful colourways and detail,” Pucak says. “The patterns here are traditional but also timeless, so it was a perfect choice for this client.”
Other special features: Arabesque floor tile. Free-standing, furniture-like vanity. “Although my first instinct was to order the vanity in cream for the traditional beach-house vibe, I’m glad that we went with the cherry. It adds a nice warmth and formality to the room,” she says.
Pretty Powder Rooms That Pack in Big Style
Designer secret: “I think many people are afraid of wallpaper, especially with a strong pattern or colour,” she says. “I suggested adding the white wainscoting so that the pattern wouldn’t overwhelm the smallish room, and to lighten and freshen up the overall feel. The wainscoting makes the bold wallpaper selection a little less overwhelming — only half of the room is papered, and the other is fresh white woodwork.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “We knew we wanted an arabesque pattern on the floor, in a creamy white and warm taupey-gray, and had placed an order for concrete floor tiles,” Pucak says. “Well, when they came in, the white floor tiles were significantly thinner than the gray that we were using as an accent tile sprinkled throughout, and with production in South America, they had no idea when we could get new tiles made.
“We were looking at months, and the bathroom was already demoed. It was full crisis mode for a bit with the tile installer trying to figure out a workaround that wouldn’t compromise the durability of the finished floor. However, then we lucked upon these lovely Tuileries tiles by Walker Zanger. And even better, their Blanc (white) and Fedora (taupe) colors were close enough to the original selection that we didn’t have to adjust anything else in the design — cue a massive sigh of relief.”
Also on the team: Charles Dyer (contractor); Ken Smith of Kenco Tile (tile installer); Cam Buker (photographer)
Wallpaper: Baptista in blue, Colefax and Fowler; vanity: Bordeaux in cherry with cream-beige marble top and backsplash, Ronbow, available on Houzz; faucet: Mirabella in satin nickel, Phylrich; arabesque tile: Tuileries collection in Blanc and Fedora, Walker Zanger; Studio French 1-light fixture in antique nickel: Visual Comfort, available on Houzz; wall paint: Creamy, Sherwin-Williams
Pretty Powder Rooms That Pack in Big Style
“Uh-oh” moment: “We knew we wanted an arabesque pattern on the floor, in a creamy white and warm taupey-gray, and had placed an order for concrete floor tiles,” Pucak says. “Well, when they came in, the white floor tiles were significantly thinner than the gray that we were using as an accent tile sprinkled throughout, and with production in South America, they had no idea when we could get new tiles made.
“We were looking at months, and the bathroom was already demoed. It was full crisis mode for a bit with the tile installer trying to figure out a workaround that wouldn’t compromise the durability of the finished floor. However, then we lucked upon these lovely Tuileries tiles by Walker Zanger. And even better, their Blanc (white) and Fedora (taupe) colors were close enough to the original selection that we didn’t have to adjust anything else in the design — cue a massive sigh of relief.”
Also on the team: Charles Dyer (contractor); Ken Smith of Kenco Tile (tile installer); Cam Buker (photographer)
Wallpaper: Baptista in blue, Colefax and Fowler; vanity: Bordeaux in cherry with cream-beige marble top and backsplash, Ronbow, available on Houzz; faucet: Mirabella in satin nickel, Phylrich; arabesque tile: Tuileries collection in Blanc and Fedora, Walker Zanger; Studio French 1-light fixture in antique nickel: Visual Comfort, available on Houzz; wall paint: Creamy, Sherwin-Williams
Pretty Powder Rooms That Pack in Big Style
2. Contemporary
Designers: Lucy Penfield and Stephanie Lalley of Lucy Interior Design
Location: Edina, Minnesota
Size: 3.3 square metres (36 square feet); 1.2 by 2.7 metres
Homeowners’ request: Chic yet kid-friendly.
The wallpaper: Woods by Cole & Son. “The black-and-white birch tree wallpaper adds playfulness through the fun motif of the trees while adding an organic mood,” designer Lucy Penfield says.
Other special features: Custom oak vanity. Modern pendant with a pop of orange.
Also on the team: Charlie and Co. Design (architect); Elevation Homes (builder); Spacecrafting (photographer)
Wallpaper: Woods, Cole & Son; sink: custom; step stool: vintage; artwork: vintage band poster; hand towel: Anthropologie; Bel Occhio pendant light: Pablo
Designers: Lucy Penfield and Stephanie Lalley of Lucy Interior Design
Location: Edina, Minnesota
Size: 3.3 square metres (36 square feet); 1.2 by 2.7 metres
Homeowners’ request: Chic yet kid-friendly.
The wallpaper: Woods by Cole & Son. “The black-and-white birch tree wallpaper adds playfulness through the fun motif of the trees while adding an organic mood,” designer Lucy Penfield says.
Other special features: Custom oak vanity. Modern pendant with a pop of orange.
Also on the team: Charlie and Co. Design (architect); Elevation Homes (builder); Spacecrafting (photographer)
Wallpaper: Woods, Cole & Son; sink: custom; step stool: vintage; artwork: vintage band poster; hand towel: Anthropologie; Bel Occhio pendant light: Pablo
3. Transitional
Designer: Jackie Armour of JMA Interior Design
Location: Stuart, Florida
Size: 7.4 square metres (80 square feet); 2.4m by 3m
Homeowners’ request: A welcoming, statement-making powder room.
The wallpaper: Petite Pineapple in white-and-blue grass cloth from Studio Printworks. “The homeowners really wanted pineapples somewhere in their home but didn’t want the typical predictable expression,” designer Jackie Armour says. “I also knew we needed something strong and tasteful. This hand-printed grass cloth was ideal. With custom colour options, we were able to give the clients a unique look.”
Other special features: Larger, silvery mirror and sconces. Moody vanity. Wood floor.
Designer secret: “Hands down, the wallpaper makes the room,” Armour says. “Powder rooms are perfect places to take risks and make bold statements.”
Also on the team: Phoenix Building Corp.; Stofft Architects; Brantley Photography
Wallpaper: Petite Pineapple in white-and-blue grass cloth, Studio Printworks; vanity and countertop: Restoration Hardware; sconces and mirror: Pottery Barn; wood flooring: Flor
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Pulling Off Bold Wallpaper With Aplomb
Designer: Jackie Armour of JMA Interior Design
Location: Stuart, Florida
Size: 7.4 square metres (80 square feet); 2.4m by 3m
Homeowners’ request: A welcoming, statement-making powder room.
The wallpaper: Petite Pineapple in white-and-blue grass cloth from Studio Printworks. “The homeowners really wanted pineapples somewhere in their home but didn’t want the typical predictable expression,” designer Jackie Armour says. “I also knew we needed something strong and tasteful. This hand-printed grass cloth was ideal. With custom colour options, we were able to give the clients a unique look.”
Other special features: Larger, silvery mirror and sconces. Moody vanity. Wood floor.
Designer secret: “Hands down, the wallpaper makes the room,” Armour says. “Powder rooms are perfect places to take risks and make bold statements.”
Also on the team: Phoenix Building Corp.; Stofft Architects; Brantley Photography
Wallpaper: Petite Pineapple in white-and-blue grass cloth, Studio Printworks; vanity and countertop: Restoration Hardware; sconces and mirror: Pottery Barn; wood flooring: Flor
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Pulling Off Bold Wallpaper With Aplomb
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Thanks Mitchell for the fun Wallpaper story. It is always amazing what spunk wallpaper adds to a small space that can be so blh otherwise.
Loving wallpaper-Lucy
I love this !