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A Loo With a View:

How Local Designers are Using Decorative Wall Coverings to Bring Powder Room Projects to Bold, Beautiful Life

Article by Lisa Van Horne

Photography by Kylie Fitts, HBK Photography, Gibeon Photography || Art Direction: Edie Ure

Originally published in Cherry Creek Lifestyle

Four walls. Usually small. Heavily trafficked. Function first. Yet powder rooms are anything but mundane, especially when design experts with creative gusto in their hearts and bold visions on the brain are given the chance to work their magic on them. Powder rooms represent unique opportunities for design experimentation, and we talked to six local designers about how they’re using striking wall coverings and other artistic details to bring a variety of powder room projects to fruition. 

Visions in Color

Emily Tucker Design

Powder rooms represent exciting chances to create truly striking spaces for interior designer Emily Tucker, especially when it comes to colors, patterns and textures. It’s this willingness to go bold that links these two powder room projects which, albeit quite different in look and feel, are both an ode to the risk-taking opportunities that powder room design provides. While the watercolor powder room features wallpaper splashed with colors that are just subdued enough, the exotic floral powder room features a rich red wall covering that exudes sophistication.  

Get the Look: Watercolors

• Blur 7800 Wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries

• White Thassos Mosaics by Ann Sacks

• Tumwater Pendants by Cedar & Moss

Get the Look: Exotic Florals

• FP328004 Mojito Wallpaper by Pierre Frey

• Bistro Curved Sconces by Circa Lighting

• Aged Brass Mirror by Rejuvenation

All About the Energy

Joe McGuire Design

Owner Joe McGuire and fellow principal designer Matthew Tenzin are highly attuned to the energies of the spaces they create. When it comes to powder rooms in particular, they revel in the opportunity to play to the existing feel of the home while cranking up its theme and style. This balance of cohesive design and uninhibited creativity links their two powder room projects. While the contemporary lodge powder room simultaneously minimizes and glamorizes the rustic feel of the home with a subtle, textured wallpaper, the tiled powder room is a lively, energetic space featuring a geometric, blue-hued tile wall and warm neutral details.

Get the Look: Contemporary Lodge

• Grasscloth Wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries

• Handblown Glass Pendants by Alison Berger (sold through Holly Hunt)

• Normandy Hammered Nickel Sink by Waterworks

Get the Look: Bold in Blue

• Glass Palms Tile in Lagoon by Oceanside

• Urban Slide Sink by Marzi

• Brass Saber Pendants by Studio PGRB

Finding Balance

Istoria Interior Design

Designer and owner Stephanie Waddell believes that beautiful spaces are born out of beautiful contradictions—a principle put to practice in this powder room project. Seeking an earthy, natural and tactile vibe while still keeping the space fresh and modern, Stephanie achieved a striking wow factor by covering the walls in a striped pattern wallpaper based on an indigo textile and white penny tile with a delicate blue and bronze edge. Fun, antique details are also sprinkled throughout the space, including a Chinese rug and two vintage brass animal sculptures.

Get the Look: Indigo Dreaming

• Madison Stripe Large Wallpaper in Indigo by Wallshoppe

• Eden Winter White Penny Tile from Tile Bar

• Edged Talon Mirror by Arteriors

Pushing the Fun Envelope

LuSi Design

Why wouldn’t you say yes to a wallpaper featuring a frog in a bowler hat, a fanning otter, an imbibing badger, and other kooky critters for a powder room renovation? For principal interior designer Courtney Wells, working on this project was an exercise in creating an unexpected and unforgettable space meant to inspire smiles and laughter from all those who entered. A traditional-meets-southern-glam feel throughout the rest of the home meant that this space would be truly unique, fun, and entertaining—all achieved through this show-stopping wallpaper and complemented by light, balanced elements throughout.

Get the Look: Show-Stopping Whimsy

• Hackney Empire Wallpaper by House of Hackney sourced from Walltawk

• Skalski Vanity by Highland Dunes

• Prismatic Glass Sconce by Shades of Light