We’ve come a long way from the powder room’s earliest days, those tiny 18th-century closets where aristocrats slipped away to have their wigs fluffed, powdered…and occasionally de-loused. Thankfully the lard (did you know lard was involved?!) and insects were left in the past, but the idea of a small, private retreat took hold. Over time, chamber pots gave way to plumbing, and the “powder room” became less about wigs and more about offering guests a discreet moment of pause.
At Brickside, a curve in the vanity offers opportunity for a deeper countertop. And over at Hawk Heights, a wood veneer wallcovering, paired with stone that spills into the window casing, brings the drama.
Today, these petite spaces hold a special place in our design hearts. Their scale invites both restraint and drama, a chance to craft a fully immersive moment without overwhelming the rest of the home. It’s where a bespoke vanity can solve a real-world puzzle (like carving a curve so a door can swing freely), and where a daring wallpaper or richly textured wallcovering can shine in a way it never could in a larger room. Small but mighty, powder rooms are where we get to have a little fun…and create something unforgettable.
Powder baths at Modern Manor are a place where a whimsical wallpaper can shine (left), and, on the right, where tiny doesn’t mean compromise when it comes to style.
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LATELY: On Instagram
Celebrating International Women’s Day by introducing some of our favorites, sharing finished photography for #BRICKSIDE, and we’re having a studio sale next week, check out our stories each day to see what’s on offer…are you following along?
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Here and There:
A quick hit of what caught our eye this month
Picking up takeout at Earl’s Provisions, shopping for the perfect bookcase piece at In Residence, listening to the Kelly Wearstler episode of podcast Tetragrammaton, movie night (and all the giggles) watching Fackham Hall, trying out Cru (and already planning our next visit).
