With decorative flair

A pretty powder room with a chandelier and a Venetian glass mirror may sound luxurious and a little decadent, but it won't take up much space.

When the owners of this home were renovating, one of their aims was to find a more convenient spot for the downstairs toilet, which had been part of a utility room and accessed from the dining room.

Designer Jennie Dunlop reorganised this part of the house and found enough space to create a small, separate powder room for guests.

The new area is designed to match the traditional style of the rest of the house but, because the room is small, the designer decided it to give it a slightly glamorous look, mixing classical elements with modern fittings.

A chandelier, previously hanging in the dining room, is teamed with a decorative glass mirror, burr elm cabinetry and a black granite vanity top flecked with glossy blue quartz. Metallic blue painted walls complete the look.

"It is a compact space, but guests are always pleasantly surprised by the opulence when they open the door," Dunlop says.

Story by: Mary Webb