Yes, it’s true. Really. I am finishing up a project with a client who asked me if I could design their powder room around a toilet roll holder. Now that’s a first and perhaps a last. However, there is nothing I enjoy more than an unusual challenge.
As you can see, said “inspiration” piece is a heavy piece with a scrolled iron back. I am not a huge fan of industrial style. In my opinion it’s been overused and overdone and is no longer original. My goal was to create a fun space with a mix of industrial and contemporary style while still blending with the rest of the house. One thing I know to be true in design is that if you repeat a color, element, and/or finish three times in a room or throughout a home it gives your space a cohesive feel.
Because I always do function before beauty, I chose the vanity first. Finding a vanity that is 20” or less wide with storage and room for a soap pump on the top was not an easy task. I tried every local supplier I could think of but ended up having to find one online. The drawback of online ordering is that you can never be quite sure what you’re going to get. The cabinet that looked to be a shade of grey online turned out to have a green undertone which my client did not like at all. So, off to have a custom finish it went.
As usually happens when something “goes wrong” with any of my projects it ended up being a huge blessing. Because the vanity went for a custom finish that meant the mirror and rustic board (to make shelves) I found at a local building supply store could also have a custom stain which tied them perfectly together with the toilet roll holder.
The black iron also needed to be repeated for it to make any sense. Iron plumbing pipe for shelf supports, a matte black hand towel rail, and an antique bronze waterfall faucet tied it all together as did changing the knob and handle on the vanity.
To give the space a little something different I sourced the fabulous, patterned floor tile and the shiplap accent wall just needed to happen. And, of course, one of the most important elements that makes any space really sing is lighting. With an olde bronze finish and clear glass with vintage bulbs the fixture is the perfect jewellery for the space
Here is what makes all the searching and thinking and planning and stressing worthwhile. The email I received from my client when the space was complete, “Just a note to say how amazing the bathroom looks. I couldn’t be more thrilled with the design and how it came to life. You really did build a beautiful bathroom around that toilet paper holder. Thank you!
BEFORE AND AFTER
Love what you did Jane. The boards on the wall, the stained shelves and mirror add the right touch of warmth with the more modern elements.
Thank you so much Cindy!
Lovely-but I wanna see that roll holder on the wall in the after photo! 😉
The powder room is so small it was hard to photograph everything. I am going to post the photo of the toilet roll holder on the new blue wall on my Facebook page. Thanks for reading.