Past to Present: Unveiling the Timeless Allure of Powder Rooms
Real estate listings define a powder room, or powder bath, as a bathroom that consists of a toilet and single sink. It is typically located on the main floor, strategically tucked away for privacy while remaining conveniently adjacent to the living room, dining room, and kitchen. Powder rooms are functional, yes, but they also provide the opportunity to make a statement and introduce your guests to the overarching style of your home. History Lesson The term "powder room" traces its origins back to the 1700s when the elite class frequently adorned wigs, requiring regular primping and powdering. During this era, having a dedicated space for such grooming rituals was indicative of social standing and affluence. In the absence of modern plumbing, these rooms typically featured a dressing table, a plush stool, and, notably, a mirror. As plumbing advancements emerged, the room's purpose evolved, and the powder bath gained popularity during the post-World War II construction boom. With the rise of makeup use, the powder room became a sanctuary for a quick touch-up, coining the phrase "powder one's nose." From a privacy standpoint, the powder bath functioned as a dedicated space for guests, sparing them the need to encroach upon the more intimate areas of the home – this remains one of its key features. What Makes a Powder Room so Special? Today, the main components that make up the design of a powder bath include the toilet, sink, mirror, and light fixtures. Beyond these essentials, additional features such as tile, wallpaper, accent paint, wainscoting, and art can be seamlessly integrated to add a layer of intrigue. The allure of the powder room is its compact footprint – this allows a splurge in higher-end materials since the square footage is so minimal. It provides you with a space to create a jewel box within the home that speaks to its overall aesthetic in a more daring way. It can be moody, experimental, colorful, busy – all the things you may be too timid to try in other areas of the home. These design risks are safer done in a confined, capsule-like room. Plus, beauty can take precedence over function here; due to its limited usage, issues like steam, splashes, and other messes are less prevalent. Explore these inventive ideas to add a touch of creativity and charm to your powder bath: Statement Wallpaper: Choose bold, vibrant wallpaper with fun patterns or textures. Lighting: Opt for a pend ant (in lieu of a sconce) and integrate toe-kick lighting for a layered effect. Mirror Magic: Find a uniquely shaped or ornate mirror to serve as a focal point. Wall Treatments: Painted wood shiplap, wainscoting, or wood cladding on the walls will help set the tone of the space. Unique Faucets & Fixtures: Upgrade faucets and fixtures to unique and stylish designs that become conversation starters. Open Vanity or Pedestal Sink: Choose an open vanity or a stylish pedestal sink to give the illusion of more space and add a touch of sophistication. Bold Color Palette: Paint all walls, ceiling, trim, and door in a bold color to transport your guests. Vintage Touches: Incorporate vintage or antique elements such as hardware or fixtures. Considering a remodel that includes a powder bath? Connect with us, and let's work together to turn your vision into reality!
Outdoor Living Spaces in the PNW
It goes without saying that the pandemic taught us many things – one of them being the value of a good outdoor living space. Unfortunately, creating outdoor living spaces in the Pacific Northwest poses one major challenge – the weather. We all shivered through drinks at bar patios and tried to convince ourselves this was normal (and we weren’t cold). Though we may not be able to shake those 30-degree days, there are ways to create an outdoor space that can be used rain or shine! The first step is to see what you’re working with; This will be determined by your budget and available space. If you’re building a new home or addition, it’s important to call out your desire for an outdoor living space during the schematic design phase – especially if you want it to be covered. There are many possibilities when starting from scratch, but there are also ways to retrofit your existing outdoor space to add style and comfort. Covered Spaces Protection from the rain is crucial if you wish to use an outdoor space year-round. The best way to accomplish this is building a roof over a deck or patio. This will ensure the best waterproofing, and allow you to install more built-in accessories like lighting or ceiling heaters. If your budget or the design of your home doesn’t allow for a new roofed space, detached pergolas are a great option. For example, Struxure pergolas are metal pergolas designed with louvers that can open and close with the push of a button (or through an app), and offer options to add lighting, heaters, and fans as well. Heat The next way to create a comfortable space outdoors is by adding a heating element (or two). Fireplaces, firepits, and heaters (ceiling or freestanding) are your best options. Consider how much space you have, if it’s covered or not, and how you envision using the space to help determine which option is best for you. Hot tubs are also a great way to relax and warm up outside! Cooking Barbequing and dining al-fresco are wonderful ways to get the most out of the Summer. Your setup can range from a freestanding BBQ on the deck to a full-scale, covered outdoor kitchen. A few things to consider: how much do you barbeque? Do you want your dining space to be covered? Do you require a sink, mini-fridge, or other kitchen components? Space and budget will determine how far you can go here, but imagine how fun it would be to have a brick pizza oven in your backyard! Finishing Touches Time to complete your new outdoor space with furniture and accessories. Though sourcing these items is not within an architect’s scope, we recommend selecting outdoor-rated furniture that is both comfortable and, most importantly, sure to last many seasons. You might also want built-in speakers or a television – those components will need to be called out very early on so that they can be hardwired. Twinkle lights, rugs, and firepit tables are other great additions to make your outdoor space feel cozy even on those chilly nights. Bringing Outdoors In If none of those options are for you, it may be time to think outside of the box and bring the outdoors inside instead of the other way around. This approach is ideal if it’s not feasible to add a covered outdoor space but you want the feel of the open-air during those warmer months. Large accordion doors like NanaWall allow you to open a whole wall up to your deck or patio. As a result, your indoor spaces will flow seamlessly into your outdoor space, creating an expansive feel. The downside here is the steep cost and the potentially low usage in a climate like ours.
Tips for Avoiding Unnecessary Stress During Construction
You’ve received approved permits for your project - yay! Although it may have been quite an arduous process to get to this point, the hardest part often lies ahead in construction. Anyone who’s experienced a remodel or built a new home will tell you how stressful it can be. One thing that might help is being prepared, having realistic expectations, and communicating clearly with your builder. In this article, we’ll review some ways you can set yourself up to avoid unnecessary issues throughout the construction phase. Be Prepared Many builders prefer to have all design selections made prior to bidding the project or at least starting construction. There are a few reasons why this is important - knowing what fixtures and finishes you have decided on enables them to provide a more realistic budget, order materials on time, and prepare or rough-in the spaces according to product requirements. You might find it hard to make a final decision on key design features like light fixtures and tile, but waiting until the last minute to order items can cause significant delays and backtracking. One sure way to avoid shipping delays is to select fixtures and finishes that are stocked locally. If the item you want is special order or shipping from afar, it’s crucial that the builder is aware so that they place the order in time. Trades will come in to rough-in for plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, so having those fixtures selected well ahead of time ensures that they will set everything up accordingly. For example, if you have specified a wall mount faucet in the powder bath, the plumber will need to know how high you’d like it mounted and the distance between the valves on the fixture itself. This is also where interior elevations play a crucial role. The interior elevations will represent where fixtures should be installed and how they interact with each other in the space. The cabinet layout will also be shown in these drawings; they will be shared with the cabinet manufacturer who will then draw up their own shop drawings. Make sure that you’ve thoroughly reviewed and approved all of the drawings before construction begins, working with us to revise as needed. Set Expectations & Communicate Clearly Executing designs in real life is no easy task, even for professionals. Often times, builders struggle most with managing the homeowner’s expectations. In your initial meeting with your builder, make sure to tell them the method of communication you prefer, what you expect in terms of updates (daily, weekly, as needed, etc.), and any other considerations you’d like them to make while construction is occurring. If you don’t communicate your needs, builders (similar to designers) will make assumptions as to what your expectations are based on their experiences with previous clients. Reviewing this at the start of the project will help get everyone on the same page and open up communication lines early on. There will, no doubt, be some surprises along the way. Many of the hurdles that arise through construction are not at the fault of the builder, so approaching those issues from a place of understanding will help avoid unnecessary tensions. If your builder did make a mistake, communicating how you expect them to remediate the situation in a calm manner will help you move forward gracefully. You will be dealing with your builder for at least a couple of months, and it can make a huge difference if all parties agree to put an extra effort in to help the construction process go smoothly. Contact us if you’re interested in working with us and would like more information about how we help navigate the construction (and pre-construction) process with you and your builder.