Powder Rooms ???

I constantly use the term powder room when talking about home renovations. The other day a client asked what is a powder room. I thought about it for a moment and then realized it probably sounds like an old fashioned term for a place where a woman would powder her nose or put on makeup. It is however mush different then a full bathroom. A powder room is your guest bathroom that does not contain a shower or bathtub. It is often on the first floor and in new homes directly off the foyer in the front of the home. The reason I like to work in powder rooms is that every guest in your home will eventually see this space. It is important than that we care for this space and keep it functional and updated. Also, powder rooms are often very small. We can use more expensive materials in these spaces because we don't need much to make a drastic transformation. One of the thing I like to recommend to clients is to keep your sink and toilet always white. It stands the test of time. I am not a fan of pedestal sinks because you always need storage. Tile or wood are both good choices for flooring as long as they coordinate with the other floors in the home.  The thing many clients fight me on is adding a little wallpaper in powder rooms. It is for practical reasons. Powder rooms are small spaces with heavy traffic. Vinyl papers now are so rich and beautiful that you cant even tell they are vinyl. If you just paint you will eventually have water spots, stains and smudges on an area in constant use. Try some paper in this room, you will thanks me.

Mid Century Madness

Have you noticed that mid century style is continuing to grow. The new trend of down sizing is making the smaller, more efficient 1950's home more appealing again. These houses are usually in more established neighborhoods. They are also often in train towns which is how people are starting to live again. Mid Century Modern style is very practical and efficient. The lines are often straight and simple. For more information on this or any of the blog topics watch Modern Design on Hunterdon Chamber Radio. Got to www.hunterdonchamberradio.com and then click on Modern Design. We are live every Wednesday from 2-3 pm or you can listen to any of the hundreds of podcasts.