Glamorous powder room in black and gold

Powder rooms provide a great opportunity to be a little adventurous with your decor, while creating an inviting, fun space for guests.

And that's precisely what the architect and owners of this new house did.

Architect Henry Lin of PTG Architecture says they chose to clad the powder room in black tiles to provide a very dramatic look. The tiles on the walls around the vanity resemble mosaics that catch the light to enhance the glamorous feel.

"These tiles are very large, so while they create the same sparkle as mosaics, there is less grouting to interfere with the overall effect."

A chunky, highly polished Star Galaxy granite vanity top, which is flecked with gold, also reflects the light. This is contrasted with a sleek, white Villeroy & Boch basin that has a contemporary, organic form. The lacquered cabinetry is also clean-lined, with negative detailing and recessed pulls to maintain a streamlined look.

"The drama is reinforced by Swarovski crystal sconces positioned either side of a large recessed mirror, which we framed with gold," says Lin. "This border is framed, in turn, by sparkling gold tiles that line the recess. These tiles are similar to the black ones on the surrounding walls. But we calmed down the look by introducing a smooth black granite edge to the niche."

The toilet area of the powder room, behind the vanity, features a matte black wall tile that has a distinctive wave pattern. This references the rippling water of the sea beyond the clifftop house.

"We chose a matte surface for these tiles so the texture would be more pronounced with the natural light streaming through the window," says the architect.

This part of the room has an electronic toilet with bidet, and a urinal.

There is also a sauna room adjoining the powder room. This is fully lined with cedar, and features LED lighting.

Flooring in both rooms is a dark wood-look porcelain tile.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes