In the heart of Sorena's well-appointed home, the transformation of a powder room into a delightful blend of style and luxury has taken place. This fresh and inviting space combines modern tastes with classic art deco influences, creating an environment that's both comforting and elegant. High-end white porcelain fixtures, coordinated with appealing brass metals, offer a feeling of welcoming sophistication. The walls, dressed in tones of floral green, black, and tan, work perfectly with the bold green zigzag tile pattern. The contrasting black and white floral penny tile floor adds a lively touch to the room. And the ceiling, finished in glossy dark green paint, ties everything together, emphasizing the recurring green theme. Sorena now has a place that's not just a bathroom, but a refreshing retreat to enjoy and relax in. ​ Step into Sorena's powder room, and you'll find yourself in an artfully designed space where every element has been thoughtfully chosen. Brass accents create a unifying theme, while the quality porcelain sink and fixtures invite admiration and use. A well-placed mirror framed in brass extends the room visually, reflecting the rich patterns that make this space unique. Soft light from a frosted window accentuates the polished surfaces and highlights the harmonious blend of green shades throughout the room. More than just a functional space, Sorena's powder room offers a personal touch of luxury and style, turning everyday routines into something a little more special. It's a testament to what can be achieved when classic design meets contemporary flair, and it's a space where every visit feels like a treat. ​ The transformation of Sorena's home doesn't end with the powder room. If you've enjoyed taking a look at this space, you might also be interested in the kitchen renovation that's part of the same project. Designed with care and practicality, the kitchen showcases some great ideas that could be just what you're looking for.

Design ideas for a transitional powder room in New York with blue walls, mosaic tile floors, wallpaper, decorative wall panelling, a console sink and white floor.

Old fixer-uppers often require two competing levels of priorities from their new homeowners. First and foremost is the need to immediately attend to those repairs that ensure the continued functioning and general well being of the house’s structure. By nature, these usually demand “house on fire!” status, especially when compared to other types of remodeling work that simply enhances aesthetics and general comfort. In the case of a Delaware couple, a structural issue with the front of their 125 year old Victorian (it was sinking!), along with some other more pressing challenges, put a 13 year long hold on getting the bathroom for which they had long dreamed. The shower enclosure features a base of hexagon patterned tile, bordered by marble subway tiles. The shower enclosure features a base of hexagon patterned tile, bordered by marble subway tiles. By the time Dave Fox Design Build Remodelers was hired to handle the construction, the couple certainly had put plenty of thought into converting a spare second-floor bedroom into the master bath. Courtney Burnett, Fox’s Interior Design Manager on the project, credits the owners for “having great creative minds, with lots of ideas to contribute.” By the time it came to put a formal design plan into place, the client “drove the look while we devised how the space would function.” It’s worth noting that there are drawbacks in being given too much time for advance planning. Owners’ tastes in design may change, while a steady stream of new fixtures and building products always demand consideration up to the last minute. “We had been collecting ideas for a while…pictures of what we liked, but as it turned out, when it came time to select fixtures, tile, etc., we used little from those pictures,” the owners admit. A framed herringbone pattern of subway tiles provides a perfect focal point for the shower. A framed herringbone pattern of subway tiles provides a perfect focal point for the shower. The finished bath exudes an art deco spirit that isn’t true to the home’s Victorian origins, which Burnett attributes to being more of a reflection of the homeowners’ preferences than the actual era of the structure. Despite that incongruity, everyone feels that they have remained true to the house by selecting vintage style elements, including subway tiles for the walls, hexagonal tile for the floors, and a pedestal sink that served as the focal point for the entire room. But as with all dreams, once one is achieved, a new one soon beckons. With the bathroom’s strikingly beautiful turquoise paint barely dry, the completion of that long-awaited project has served to kick-start plans for finishing off the remainder of the Victorian’s second floor.

This is an example of a traditional master bathroom in Houston with marble benchtops, subway tile, a shower/bathtub combo, a console sink, mosaic tile floors, an alcove tub, black walls and black and white tile.

Photo of a large contemporary kids bathroom in Saint Petersburg with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a shower/bathtub combo, a wall-mount toilet, white tile, white walls, mosaic tile floors, a console sink, white floor, a single vanity and an alcove tub.

This project was such an incredible design opportunity, and instilled inspiration and excitement at every turn! Our amazing clients came to us with the challenge of converting their beloved family home into a welcoming haven for all members of the family. At the time that we met our clients, they were struggling with the difficult personal decision of the fate of the home. Their father/father-in-law had passed away and their mother/mother-in-law had recently been admitted into a nursing facility and was fighting Alzheimer’s. Resistant to loss of the home now that both parents were out of it, our clients purchased the home to keep in in the family. Despite their permanent home currently being in New Jersey, these clients dedicated themselves to keeping and revitalizing the house. We were moved by the story and became immediately passionate about bringing this dream to life. The home was built by the parents of our clients and was only ever owned by them, making this a truly special space to the family. Our goal was to revitalize the home and to bring new energy into every room without losing the special characteristics that were original to the home when it was built. In this way, we were able to develop a house that maintains its own unique personality while offering a space of welcoming neutrality for all members of the family to enjoy over time. The renovation touched every part of the home: the exterior, foyer, kitchen, living room, sun room, garage, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, the laundry room, and everything in between. The focus was to develop a style that carried consistently from space to space, but allowed for unique expression in the small details in every room. Starting at the entry, we renovated the front door and entry point to offer more presence and to bring more of the mid-century vibe to the home’s exterior. We integrated a new modern front door, cedar shingle accents, new exterior paint, and gorgeous contemporary house numbers that really allow the home to stand out. Just inside the entry, we renovated the foyer to create a playful entry point worthy of attention. Cement look tile adorns the foyer floor, and we’ve added new lighting and upgraded the entry coat storage. Upon entering the home, one will immediately be captivated by the stunning kitchen just off the entry. We transformed this space in just about every way. While the footprint of the home ultimately remained almost identical, the aesthetics were completely turned on their head. We re-worked the kitchen to maximize storage and to create an informal dining area that is great for casual hosting or morning coffee. We removed the entry to the garage that was once in the informal dining, and created a peninsula in its place that offers a unique division between the kitchen/informal dining and the formal dining and living areas. The simple light warm light gray cabinetry offers a bit of traditional elegance, along with the marble backsplash and quartz countertops. We extended the original wood flooring into the kitchen and stained all floors to match for a warmth that truly resonates through all spaces. We upgraded appliances, added lighting everywhere, and finished the space with some gorgeous mid century furniture pieces. In the formal dining and living room, we really focused on maintaining the original marble fireplace as a focal point. We cleaned the marble, repaired the mortar, and refinished the original fireplace screen to give a new sleek look in black. We then integrated a new gas insert for modern heating and painted the upper portion in a rich navy blue; an accent that is carried through the home consistently as a nod to our client’s love of the color. The former entry into the old covered porch is now an elegant glass door leading to a stunning finished sunroom. This room was completely upgraded as well. We wrapped the entire space in cozy white shiplap to keep a casual feel with brightness. We tiled the floor with large format concrete look tile, and painted the old brick fireplace a bright white. We installed a new gas burning unit, and integrated transitional style lighting to bring warmth and elegance into the space. The new black-frame windows are adorned with decorative shades that feature hand-sketched bird prints, and we’ve created a dedicated garden-ware “nook” for our client who loves to work in the yard. The far end of this space is completed with two oversized chaise loungers and overhead lights…the most perfect little reading nook! Just off the dining room, we created an entirely new space to the home: a mudroom. The clients lacked this space and desperately needed a landing spot upon entering the home from the garage. We uniquely planned existing space in the garage to utilize for this purpose, and were able to create a small but functional entry point without losing the ability to park cars in the garage. This new space features cement-look tile, gorgeous deep brown cabinetry, and plenty of storage for all the small items one might need to store while moving in and out of the home. The remainder of the upstairs level includes massive renovations to the guest hall bathroom and guest bedroom, upstairs master bed/bath suite, and a third bedroom that we converted into a home office for the client. Some of the largest transformations were made in the basement, where unfinished space and lack of light were converted into gloriously lit, cozy, finished spaces. Our first task was to convert the massive basement living room into the new master bedroom for our clients. We removed existing built-ins, created an entirely new walk-in closet, painted the old brick fireplace, installed a new gas unit, added carpet, introduced new lighting, replaced windows, and upgraded every part of the aesthetic appearance. One of the most incredible features of this space is the custom double sliding barn door made by a Denver artisan. This space is truly a retreat for our clients! We also completely transformed the laundry room, back storage room, basement master bathroom, and two bedrooms. This home’s massive scope and ever-evolving challenges were thrilling and exciting to work with, and the result is absolutely amazing. At the end of the day, this home offers a look and feel that the clients love. Above all, though, the clients feel the spirit of their family home and have a welcoming environment for all members of the family to enjoy for years to come.

Ron Schwane, Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary master wet room bathroom in Cleveland with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, beige tile, glass tile, beige walls, mosaic tile floors, a console sink, engineered quartz benchtops, yellow floor and a hinged shower door.

Kim Grant, Architect; Elizabeth Barkett, Interior Designer - Ross Thiele & Sons Ltd.; Gail Owens, Photographer
This is an example of a beach style 3/4 bathroom in San Diego with green walls, mosaic tile floors, a console sink and a two-piece toilet.

This vintage style bathroom was inspired by it's 1930's art deco roots. The goal was to recreate a space that felt like it was original. With lighting from Rejuvenation, tile from B&W tile and Kohler fixtures, this is a small bathroom that packs a design punch. Interior Designer- Marilynn Taylor Interiors, Contractor- Allison Allain, Plumb Crazy Contracting.

Photo by Ellen McDermott
This is an example of a mid-sized country bathroom in New York with a console sink, an alcove tub, white tile, subway tile, mosaic tile floors and a shower/bathtub combo.

Sam Oberter Photography
This is an example of a midcentury bathroom in Philadelphia with a console sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, white tile, mosaic tile and mosaic tile floors.

Contractor: JS Johnson & Associates Photography: Scott Amundson
Inspiration for a small traditional 3/4 bathroom in Minneapolis with an alcove shower, white walls, mosaic tile floors, a console sink, white floor, white benchtops, a single vanity and a freestanding vanity.

Photography by Christopher Sturnam
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional master bathroom in New York with an alcove shower, white tile, a console sink, multi-coloured floor, a hinged shower door, white walls, mosaic tile floors and white benchtops.

Design ideas for a large country master bathroom in Other with furniture-like cabinets, green cabinets, a freestanding tub, a curbless shower, grey walls, mosaic tile floors, a console sink, marble benchtops, multi-coloured floor and an open shower.

Thomas Dalhoff
This is an example of a small traditional powder room in Sydney with a console sink, multi-coloured walls and mosaic tile floors.

Classic upper west side bathroom renovation featuring marble hexagon mosaic floor tile and classic white subway wall tile. Custom glass shower enclosure and tub.

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional master bathroom in Providence with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a drop-in tub, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, white tile, porcelain tile, blue walls, mosaic tile floors, a console sink, multi-coloured floor, a hinged shower door and white benchtops.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional powder room in London with a one-piece toilet, red tile, subway tile, grey walls, mosaic tile floors, a console sink and multi-coloured floor.

This powder bath just off the garage and mudroom is a main bathroom for the first floor in this house, so it gets a lot of use. the heavy duty sink and full tile wall coverings help create a functional space, and the cabinetry finish is the gorgeous pop in this traditionally styled space. Powder Bath Cabinetry: Cabico Elmwood Series, Fenwick door, Alder in Gunstock Fudge Vanity: custom designed, built by Elmwood with custom designed turned legs from Art for Everyday Hardware: Emtek Old Town clean cabinet knobs, polished chrome Sink: Sign of the Crab, The Whitney 42" cast iron farmhouse with left drainboard Faucet: Sign of the Crab wall mount, 6" swivel spout w/ lever handles in polished chrome Commode: Toto Connelly 2-piece, elongated bowl Wall tile: Ann Sacks Savoy collection ceramic tile - 4x8 in Lotus, penny round in Lantern with Lotus inserts (to create floret design) Floor tile: Antique Floor Golden Sand Cleft quartzite Towel hook: Restoration Hardware Century Ceramic hook in polished chrome