Powder Room

From hand-painted stencil walls to a custom-designed floating oak vanity equipped with programmable LED lighting and a semi-recessed vessel sink, this powder room now carries a modern, elegant vibe.

The client originally called us about what sounded like a simple floor repair. After inspecting the damage that had accumulated from a leaking toilet over a long period of time, we discovered black mold and rot deep into the subfloor. With the news that the entire floor would need to be replaced—and considering the dated design and overall condition of the space—we decided a full gut and remodel was the right solution.

After a few discussions around style and theme, we landed on a modern hotel feel with an antique, reclaimed flair that would be subtly implied in the oak vanity. Using our 3D design software, we produced a complete layout of the room, dialing in the details to fit the budget while creating the function and flow needed to bring the space fully up to date.

We began by removing everything from the room except for roughly 70% of the drywall. The scope quickly expanded to rewiring all electrical, relocating plumbing to correct the toilet orientation, reinforcing walls to support the floating vanity, removing all flooring and replacing the water-damaged subfloor, and tearing out a dated 1990s soffit above the vanity that existed solely to house two recessed lights. And that was just the beginning.

On the rebuild side, we installed a large-profile luxury oak vinyl plank floor to better coordinate with the adjacent kitchen. After reinforcing the walls, we added new drywall and applied a light hand-troweled finish, followed by a faux limewash effect on the main three walls. The vanity wall received a hand-painted, tone-on-tone stencil finish—using the same color in two different sheens, satin over matte, to create depth without overpowering the space.

The vanity was carefully designed and built from white oak, then distressed to give it the appearance of reclaimed or repurposed wood. To support the weight of the ceramic vessel sink and prevent long-term movement, we reinforced the front of the vanity with a concealed steel tube spanning from side to side. Creating the LED lighting was especially challenging, as it required a continuous, uninterrupted light line along the top edge while working around the hidden steel reinforcement.

The open-faced vanity design helps maximize the feel of the small space, giving the room a lighter, more airy and modern aesthetic. We selected the largest semi-recessed vessel sink possible, paired with tall faucet, sconce lighting, and mirror proportions that worked well within the narrow, vertical layout of the room.

The final palette of black and gold brings a sense of quiet elegance—gold acting like jewelry, and black serving as a subtle, discreet backdrop that lets it shine.