Updated: July 2026
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Before: A Time Capsule From 1988
Just inside the garage door at Casa Rosa sits a 6 foot by 6 foot powder bathroom that doubles as a pool bath. Until this renovation, it had sat untouched since its original creation in 1988, complete with a white pedestal sink, linoleum floors, and a delicate floral wallpaper.
The Design Vision
A powder room is no longer just a space where guests go to freshen up. This small room is the perfect opportunity to take risks and showcase dramatic design choices without committing to them across an entire home. For this renovation, our vision centered on a few key words: moody, bougie, contemporary, black and white, and brass. This petite bathroom became the canvas for that vision, and the result delivers real wow factor for a room under 40 square feet.
The Statement Vanity
The showstopper and splurge in this space is the Copeland 30″ Wall Mounted Single Bathroom Vanity with Marble Top by Greyleigh. This wall mounted vanity has a timeless quality, supported by a brass metal frame with a bar across the front that adds stability while doubling as a spot to drape a decorative hand towel. The white marble countertop adds a sleek finishing touch, and the vanity comes with a ceramic oval undermount sink and faucet included.
One note for anyone considering this piece: assembly proved difficult, as no instructions were included in the box. Budget extra time and patience.
Flooring That Grounds the Room
At just 36 square feet, this bathroom did not need much tile, which meant we could put our budget toward a higher-end look. The Maravilla Basalt and Dolonite 8″ x 8″ Honed Tile from Floor & Decor ended up being the budget friendly choice that still delivered a quiet luxury feel. This tile offers six pattern options and recommends a grout line between 1/16 inch and 3/8 inch. we chose Pattern 1, laid with purple spacers at 3/32 inch, and it turned out to be the winning combination for this space.
An Easy Choice: The Toilet
The commode was one of the simplest decisions in this renovation. The American Standard Cadet Ovation is my go-to toilet across projects. Its clean lines and gently flared tank lend themselves to nearly any style, and the elongated chair height makes sitting and standing easy. It uses 20 percent less water than a conventional toilet without sacrificing performance, and the PowerWash rim paired with the EverClean surface keeps the bowl cleaner for longer.
Paint: Moody by Design
The paint color was another easy call. Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black is my go-to black paint across Casa Rosa projects. It is a true black that reads well against any undertone, and it brings the moody, dramatic, and timeless feel this room needed. The ceiling and trim are finished in Sherwin Williams Dover White for contrast.
If you have followed along with our other Casa Rosa paint projects, you already know I lean on Sherwin Williams for statement colors throughout the house. The front door of Casa Rosa is painted in a soft dusty rose, a choice you can read more about in Best Dusty Rose Paint Colors: My Insider Guide to This Timeless Shade.
Lighting That Echoes the Floor
For lighting, we wanted a fixture that would mimic the pattern of the floor tile. The Mitzi Renee 2 Light 22″ Tall Wall Sconce with Frosted Glass Shades fit the bill perfectly. This chic, sculptural fixture suits a contemporary space and casts a warm, diffused light through a minimalist silhouette. Against the black and white marble flooring, it is the ideal complement.
The Small Details
With the big decisions made, the finishing touches brought the room together:
- The Nellie Toilet Paper Holder adds an eclectic element and has become a genuine conversation piece.
- The Phineoly Acrylic Guest Towel Napkin Holder holds disposable napkins for guests.
- The mirror came from HomeGoods.
- NEST Rose Noir soap pampers guests with a small luxury touch.
- A small greyhound statue perched on a white plinth adds intrigue without feeling heavy handed.
- An antique brass hinged box tucked under the vanity provides hidden storage for extra toilet paper.
- The door hardware throughout Casa Rosa, including this bathroom, is the Baldwin Square Door Lever Set from the Reserve Collection, built from solid brass for durability.
Shop my favorites from this renovation and the rest of Casa Rosa in my Amazon storefront.
The Walls: A Gallery of Travel
The walls are filled with female-centric art collected from travels to Cuba, Portugal, Croatia, and Honduras, giving guests a welcome distraction while they freshen up. As travel continues, these walls will keep filling with priceless memories.
A tip if you want to build a gallery wall like this one: frequent thrift stores for outdated art in classic frames. Swap out the art inside, and the frame instantly feels current again.
Casa Rosa Close
Casa Rosa is an ongoing love story between an old house and a lot of good ideas. From dusty rose paint to the details that make a space feel like home, I am documenting every step of the renovation and styling journey right here on the blog. Follow along and see where it goes.
If bold color choices are your thing, my Best Red Front Door Paint Colors: My Insider Guide rounds up every shade worth considering, from classic crimson to deep berry.
For another look at how thoughtful planning transforms a small space at Casa Rosa, see How to Design a Sensational IKEA PAX Closet: My Insider Guide, where the primary closet went from a cramped reach-in to a custom dressing room.
— izzy