Touch of theater

Powder rooms, due to their small size and guest-room status, provide an ideal opportunity to be adventurous. And for many designers that means introducing the wow factor.

Designers Darren Genner and Simona Castagna of Minosa took such an approach for this powder room in a highly contemporary house. Castagna says the room is next to the wine cellar and home theater, which features a dark gray floor and near-black walls and ceiling.

"We wanted something dramatic for the powder room, hence the feature wall of Bisazza glass mosaics in varying shades of black and gray," she says. "The grouting was color mixed to match the individual tiles and provide a more seamless image."

Genner says the sense of drama is enhanced by the contrast between the classical profile and the contemporary fixtures and fittings. A sleek Ovale Gessi faucet spouts water directly out of the face on the wall into a suspended Minosa Puddle basin, which is less than an inch deep.

"The oval shape of the faucet complements the shape of the basin, reinforcing the classical contemporary feel," says Genner.

The lighting was designed to provide a soft, relaxing ambiance for guests. Ceiling lights illuminate the walls, accentuating the face and basin, while two pendants heighten the drama and throw light onto a black shelf.

Genner says homeowners are looking for innovative design solutions for powder rooms, and often seek to replicate the extravagant bathrooms seen in expensive restaurants.

"For many years, a powder room was simply a toilet and a pedestal basin. Today, we are seeing a move towards darker, more dramatic environments, and a lot of mood and special-effects lighting, such as LEDs."

Story by: Colleen Hawkes