Nestled within Sydney’s historic Millers Point, this 1860s Victorian terrace has been reimagined as a serene family sanctuary—where patina-rich surfaces meet contemporary elegance. The curated interiors tell a story of history-infused maximalism, where every layer reveals a detail in service of heritage, emotion, and craft. Lorena Gaxiola’s poetic vision was to celebrate the family’s tri-cultural identity through salvaged timbers, artisanal finishes, and restrained yet expressive craftsmanship. From reinstated cornices to hand-finished brass accents and kauri floorboards, each intervention evokes a dialogue between past and present. Realising that vision required deft navigation of significant constraints: extensive structural damage from decades of water ingress and termites, heritage restrictions that demanded visual continuity, and tight access that challenged the logistics of modern construction. As designers, we oversaw every detail—from heritage review and documentation to construction coordination and bespoke installations. Threading new electrical, climate, and plumbing systems through fragile timber bones took surgical precision. Yet the results were seamless: original chandeliers revived, floorboards restored or matched with reclaimed timber, and American oak joinery paired with brass trims and marble mosaics brought new life to tired volumes. Design decisions were driven by sustainability, narrative, and craftsmanship. Custom pieces were commissioned from masters in their field—such as Lowe Furniture’s bespoke creations and a custom mural by Indigenous artist Danie Mellor, which pays homage to the family’s cultural roots. Each space was approached with emotion and intentionality, particularly the bathrooms which the client described simply and joyfully as: “The bathrooms make me happy.” Every room in the home unfolds like a story—patterned tiles, textured stone, and layered materials come together to offer intimate moments of discovery. Our commitment extended from spatial planning to final flourishes. We handled styling, soft furnishing installation, custom window treatments, and every curated object. Furniture was sourced locally, materials were salvaged when possible, and thoughtful detailing elevated every corner. The result is a timeless, emotionally resonant home—one that celebrates craftsmanship, elevates functionality, and preserves a precious piece of Sydney’s architectural legacy for generations to come.

Dramatic WC - a small but stylish downstairs loo

First Sense Interiors

Embracing the dark little room and adding drama and character through deep tones, striking wallpaper, beautiful lighting and joinery.
Inspiration for a small victorian powder room in Other with green walls and wallpaper.

After Photos - Grand Victorian Villa Renovation

Fiona Watkins Design Limited

Design ideas for a victorian powder room in Cheshire with green walls, a console sink, multi-coloured floor, decorative wall panelling and wallpaper.

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Chelwood

Studio Werc Architects

Traditional powder room in London.

Georgian Country House

Etons of Bath

Inspiration for a traditional powder room in Surrey.

Victorian Hallway

My Bespoke Room

See more projects here: https://hubs.la/Q02ZJVQz0 This is a family home where the space needs to be practical yet the desire was for style. As a result, the floor is a Karndean vinyl flooring which has a wood effect and looks incredible yet very practical and hard wearing. The walls are painted in Farrow & Ball Ammonite and skirting in All White. The redundant space under the stairs was made into a little cloakroom with a toilet and basin. We painted this room in Farrow & Ball Hague Blue to create a contrast with the hallway which works as a surprise when you open the door! A hallway and stair runner complete the look and the pendant lighting adds drama in this entrance and compliments the style.

Renovation - Kitchen, Powder, Laundry & Scullery - City Beach

Moda Interiors

The powder room was totally replaced and reconfigured. Cabinetry Polytec doors; benchtop and splashback in Dekton Zenith; Wallpaper Sencha Marine by Scandanvian Wallpaper; Caroma Luna Semi Recessed basin; Caroma Luna Wall Tap Mixer; Caroma Urbane Cleanflush Bottom Inlet, wall faced toilet suite; Phoenix Radii Hand Towel Holder Chrome; Phoenix Radii Toilet Roll Holder Chrome; Bernini Stone Floor Tile Salvador Grey Honed 300 x 600.

MA Residence

Karen Aston Design

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.

Traditonal meets Beautiful Bathroom

Templer Interiors

A powder room should deliver the "wow" factor and this room certainly does. Elegant, welcoming and with unique styling, it's the perfect statement for adding drama to a small space.

Clouds Hill

Blueprint Architects

Design ideas for a victorian powder room in Other with multi-coloured walls, concrete floors, a wall-mount sink, grey floor, decorative wall panelling and wallpaper.

Battersea House

Brian O'Tuama Architects

Ed Park
Design ideas for a traditional powder room in London with a wall-mount sink, a two-piece toilet and multi-coloured walls.

Hartley Court

Jasmine Sterianos Design

This is an example of a traditional powder room in London with marble benchtops.

Period Country House

Edinburgh Project Management

This is an example of a traditional powder room in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured walls, a console sink, multi-coloured floor, white benchtops, a freestanding vanity, decorative wall panelling and wallpaper.

Timeless Richmond Home Renovation: Pink Bathroom – TW10

Arrow Design & Construction

This charming pink bathroom features soft pink walls paired with a green and pink floral wallpaper on the upper half, while the lower half of the walls is finished with wooden wainscoting, adding warmth and classic texture. The space includes a wall-mounted vanity, porcelain sink, and chrome fixtures, creating a bright, airy, and functional layout. Thoughtful design elements like traditional lighting, crown moulding, and built-in storage ensure the bathroom is both timeless and elegant, with a harmonious balance of color, pattern, and material.

Victorian Coach House

Nicky Percival Limited

Cloaroom with feature wallpaper and Victorian tiled floor
This is an example of a small traditional powder room in Kent with a one-piece toilet, beige walls, porcelain floors, a wall-mount sink, brown floor and wallpaper.

Onslow Road, Richmond

PJS Building & Maintenance Ltd

Traditional powder room in London.

Old School Thrills

User

Traditional powder room in London with wallpaper.

Cloakroom / Bathroom - House extension

Rooted Design & Build

This is an example of a small traditional powder room in Other with a one-piece toilet, a drop-in sink and a floating vanity.

Project Victoria

House of Pemberley

Design ideas for a victorian powder room.

Traditional Powder Room Design Ideas

Think of your powder room as a small bathroom that’s always on display. Likely to be frequented by guests or used as a second bathroom by family members, it should always look its best. Consisting of little more than a vanity, toilet and sink, you could be mistaken that traditional powder room designs are easy to execute, but the tight space can be tricky to get right. As you plan your bathroom renovation, consider the following.

What’s the best way to collate small bathroom ideas?

Browse the photos on Houzz for small bathroom designs, and get acquainted with the specialist behind your favourite picks. You can bookmark and share your favourite photos with everyone involved in your renovation, and click through to Related Photos to broaden your scope. For even more traditional powder room and small bathroom ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

How do I plan the layout of my powder room?

If you're building from scratch, an architect may be the best person to ask. There are three main objects to consider when planning the layout of your traditional powder room: the door, toilet and sink. Pocket, sliding or folding doors will give you more options for toilet and sink placement, while wall-mounted toilets will help save you a few inches of floor space, and make the room feel more spacious. To ensure ease of use, make sure the toilet has at least 38 centimetres of unobstructed space on either side, and 61 centimetres at the front.

Powder rooms are primarily a place to use the toilet and quickly wash your hands, so unless you have the square meterage, you don’t need a full-blown vanity. Look for compact options, like a pedestal or wall-mounted sink instead.

What materials should I use in my powder room?

There’s not much space to work with when designing a traditional powder room, so keep your design fairly simple. Otherwise, too many different patterns and textures will quickly overwhelm the space. To avoid a disjointed design, opt for one statement piece or element, such as a fun splashback, benchtop or vanity, and choose subtle materials like stone, marble or granite for everything else. If you fear you haven’t created enough visual interest, fill the void with bathroom accessories such as hand towels and soap dispensers. High-quality bathroom fixtures – including everything from your toilet roll holder to faucet – with matching lines and style, will make a big difference in a such a small space, so if you have the budget, splurge a little!

Whether you want inspiration for planning a traditional powder room renovation or are building a designer powder room from scratch, Houzz has 2,356 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Juliet Murphy Photography and Moda Interiors. Look through powder room photos in different colours and styles and when you find a traditional powder room design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful traditional powder room ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.

Moorsfort

Juliet Murphy Photography

Photo of a small traditional powder room in London with a one-piece toilet, multi-coloured walls, ceramic floors, a pedestal sink, multi-coloured floor and wallpaper.