LOVELY LITTLE ROOM
Powder rooms are getting the same design attention as the rest of the house
BY SUSAN KELLY
Forget the wow factor. When it comes to the powder room, it’s time to think “wow room.” In 2015, there are more options than ever to make a big design statement in this smallest of spaces.
In the past, bathroom fixture designers seemed to overlook what an elegant oasis the powder room can be, notes Stephen Carrier, vice president of sales and product sourcing at Nortesco, which distributes high-end kitchen and bathroom products. “It was almost the forgotten room,” he says, “but today the major design shows feature ideas and innovations for powder rooms.”
A contemporary look continues to be in vogue, with clean simple lines. Not only does this fit the current aesthetic of many Montreal homes, but it can help create the illusion of more space. It’s just the place to inject an element of surprise, something different to add flair. “You can even show off a little, give your guests something to talk about,” says Carrier.
Start designing your powder room from the ground up, advises Richard Brunet, interior designer and consultant at Batimat on Jean Talon St. W. And do think luxury materials used in unexpected ways. “Try laying a seamless stone slab like quartz instead of floor tiles for a wow,” he says.
The same approach can be applied to the sink. For instance, a simple basin gets elevated design status when made of quartz by Agape or carved from stately columns of onyx or marble by Stone Forest. Another way to make a statement in 2015 is in the choice of finishes for the faucets and accessories.
“Wall-hung toilets and wall-hung sinks not only increase the size of the room, but are easier to maintain,” Brunet says.
Since storage is usually not an issue in a powder room, you can do away with the vanity altogether, according to Pierre Descoteaux, chief executive officer of PierDeco Design. “But pedestal versions are out of style,” he says. “Mounting a sink on the wall is not only trendy but practical, since it frees up even more floor space.”
Unfettered by any confining box, the sink takes on new prominence and many also become wall-hung sculpture. Italy-based Plavisdesign, for example, makes an artistically crafted wall-mounted corner sink called the Shift.
Wall-hung toilets also are ideal for powder rooms. While not a new trend, smaller and sleeker versions can become bathroom art pieces.
Aquabrass has managed to downsize the vanity to a mere 16 by 23 inches. The wall-mounted Box Uno from the Vanita collection has a panel door with a sink and faucet on top. “But the smaller the sink, the more important it is to find the right size of faucet,” says Gaelle Marrasse, marketing manager for Aquabrass.
“You shouldn’t have to sacrifice function or style,” says Marrasse.
Or, it seems, fail to create a room that will really wow your guests.
