The BLACK Half Bath with over-size Art | ABCD Design Sketch Book

{Dream Decorating} The BLACK Half Bath with over-size Art

The country house has 1.5 baths. The loo upstairs has a nice size shower, and the one on the main floor is simply a powder room. When I was trying to decide what color to paint the powder room, all I could think about was how I was going to hang one of the gigantic vintage posters from my collection in it. The scale of the posters are so large that one would easily cover an entire wall in the half bath – talk about making a dazzling impression!I had always wanted to wallpaper our old living room in Osborne & Little Wilde Carnation black wallpaper because I knew that the colors of the posters would really ‘POP’ on on a black background. Since I really wanted a wow moment in the half bath – guess what color I painted our tiny little powder room? The walls and ceiling above the white beadboard is semi-gloss black and the Knitting girl (my very favorite piece from my collection) is taking center stage on the main wall. Learn from my mistakes: Don’t do glossy black (unless you’re doing Venetian Plaster or some other textured surface) because it shows every single flaw in the drywall. I had to re-paint, switching from glossy to semi-gloss because the imperfections were driving me batty.The powder room is centrally located in the hallway between the foyer and the kitchen. By painting it black, it plays nicely off of our painted black steps in the foyer, and the black cabinetry in the kitchen. Heck, should I decide to wallpaper that room in the future, I know exactly the pattern I will order! I will never tire of the black on black Wilde Carnation pattern. But for now, we have paint. And I really love it.
When we arrived in the house, the last owners had taken away the mirror that had been hanging over the pedestal sink. I wasn’t quite sure what to do with the space between the sconces since it was extremely long and narrow. I ended up finding the Audrey full length mirror at Ballard Designs. It really works because it is so long and the curves make it just skinny enough in all the right places. Besides, the shape of the mirror gives a hint of warm-country-girly to a dark-modern-cool room.
P.S. One of my very favorite poster galleries is Poster Classics and those beautiful organic tea towels can be found at Hammocks & High Tea.

Posted by Amy Beth Cupp Dragoo / Collections and Dream Decorating and The Country House and Uncategorized

21 Responses to “{Dream Decorating} The BLACK Half Bath with over-size Art”

Maureen Coates on 19 Oct 2010 at 11:36 am

Twitter: @MaureenCmodecor

huge fan of sharp contrasts….black and white yummy. I only buy 100% cotton or 100% linen tea towels for kichen use but never thought to use them in powder room…always thinking outside the box

Tonia on 19 Oct 2010 at 11:37 am

Twitter: @chicmodern

I’m loving this bathroom. I spy those Hammocks & High tea towel….I need to get a few of those.

Barbara Segal on 19 Oct 2010 at 11:50 am

Twitter: @NoirBlancDesign

Lovely! Love both; Classic Vintage Posters and beautiful organic tea towels from Karen at Hammocks & High Tea.

Chedva @Belly's Button on 19 Oct 2010 at 12:16 pm

Twitter: @ChedvaK

Amy, I love what you came up with (both dream and reality decorating). The poster is gorgeous, and Karen’s towels work perfectly with it.

Sarah @ Natural History on 19 Oct 2010 at 12:59 pm

Twitter: @natural_history

Clever, daring you! I hate the attitude that everything small must be painted in light colours to make it seem larger – it’s simply NOT TRUE.

Caitlin on 19 Oct 2010 at 1:28 pm

Twitter: @caitlinflemming

Love this bathroom! I have to tell you that it has been so much fun see your country home evolve into a beautiful space. I can’t wait to see what you reveal next

Ludmila {creamylife.com} on 19 Oct 2010 at 2:21 pm

Twitter: @creamylife

I love the towels, they’re so perfect! Just the right amount of popping color! That poster is stunning!

Jonathan Legate on 19 Oct 2010 at 2:22 pm

Twitter: @jonathanlegate

Well you KNOW I love a black bathroom. Nothing in fact makes me happier and with that poster! Heaven.
XO
JL

Cynthia@exuberanthome.com on 19 Oct 2010 at 2:34 pm

Twitter: @exuberanthome

LOVE! All the colors, the black background, the poster, the whole thing. In a small powder room, go big and wow the visitors!

ABCD on 19 Oct 2010 at 3:48 pm

Twitter: @abcddesigns

You guys, one thing I meant to tell you: the Mr could NOT believe that I was going to hang my favorite girl in the wc.

I pointed out the fact that I see it everytime I walk from the main level up, and everytime I need to ‘use the ladies’ during the day. It’s quite possible that I will see that piece more often then if I hung it anywhere else in the house!

Thanks for all your sweet comments today-I really appreciate them!
xoabcd

Amy@Maison Decor on 19 Oct 2010 at 4:37 pm

Twitter: @maisondecor

This black bath has it all! I love the drama and at the same time the coziness it has. All the details go together like bread and butter! Nice tea towels to complement that amazing poster!

Suzanne Cummings on 19 Oct 2010 at 5:41 pm

Twitter: @SuzanneCummings

I love your new powder room. It came together perfectly. That poster against black is perfection personified. And of course I love Hammocks & High Tea towels, but they are perfect there. (you have good taste in towels and aprons) And to learn of O&L black carnation wallpaper? I’m all over that one. It’s definitely going on my wish list for “someday”.

L.Duncan@home23duncanboys on 19 Oct 2010 at 6:02 pm

Twitter: @l_duncan

Amy you ROCKED this bathroom out girl! LOVE the black! No, I’m serious! I LOVE IT!
And Karen’s towel and your art piece together…FAB! Again, this was a brilliant move;-)

Marilyn G Russell on 19 Oct 2010 at 9:11 pm

Twitter: @marilyngrg

Amy, your bathroom is awesome. I just decided to today, after pondering for many days, that I am going to paint black and white stripes on one of my office walls. The black looks really really nice against the white. This is great! You just cemented my decision. Thanks for helping lady lol

mfeo on 19 Oct 2010 at 9:45 pm

Twitter: @wearemfeo

Brilliant! Love the strategic pops of color.

tracy hiner on 20 Oct 2010 at 4:40 pm

Twitter: @tracyhiner

LOVE IT!! would probably never have thought to paint a tiny bathroom black, but you have opened my eyes!

Erika @ BluLabel on 22 Oct 2010 at 3:29 pm

Twitter: @erikaatblulabel

Speechless! I loving all your ideas and I’m painting a picture in my head of all its fabulousness…will you post a full shot, soon?

Bethany on 07 Feb 2011 at 1:39 pm

Twitter: @designRlife

Absolutely gorgeous! LOVE the black, LOVE the poster, LOVE the towels!! (I’m a huge fan of making a strong impact in a small space!