Our Project Named Top 10 Powder Rooms of 2022!

Our #SpicyItalian project was named top 10 powder rooms of 2022 by Houzz!

(The link to the whole project can be found here.)

Let's give some context about this project, which was nearly the entirely of the first floor: One of the homeowners is a fantastic Sicilian cook and she wanted her home to reflect her Sicilian roots: natural materials, wood, and handmade touches.

The couple had a long wishlist:
• Large island and open kitchen with a separate, larger pantry
• Kitchen finishes to reflect a handmade aesthetic
• Larger and more functional laundry & mudroom spaces
• Ceiling treatment to the dinette to help the space feel less empty
• Re-purpose a seldom used office and put in to better use

We got to work to fulfill their wish list and moved the powder room from the back of the house to the front and relocated the back door, which created a larger and more functional laundry & mudroom space. The new footprint allowed for a larger island, walk-in pantry, powder room and coat closet, which fulfilled all the items on the homeowners' wish list. The old office and closets in the front of the home were re-purposed as a pantry and a powder room. We allotted space to build a new closet off the front door so our clients wouldn’t lose coat storage.

The powder room was created by borrowed space from a front closet and seldom-used office. As a small space, we had to be clever with storage and lighting. We specified a white oak custom vanity to match the kitchen island and shelving, and white countertops and bright wallpaper keep this windowless room bright.

The original island was a curved shape, and the homeowners wanted an island large enough for their family to sit and do food prep together, so we moved the north kitchen wall to borrow space from an office to create a more useful footprint for the first floor and to to allow for a large island with seating. The kitchen now features an extra wide island with large prep space, deep storage drawers and seating. The kitchen also showcases a hand-plastered range hood trimmed in white oak, panel front fridge, white oak open shelving, and new matte black kitchen windows that sit flush with the countertop.

We selected handmade tile with imperfect edges and a mix of white oak and putty-colored cabinets, and paired them with mixed metals for a relaxed feel. Additionally, the high vaulted ceiling in the dinette received 100+ year old reclaimed wood beams (sourced from a barn in northern Wisconsin) to add warmth and coziness to the dining space.

The fireplace was resurfaced with a hand-troweled finish to tie into the handmade finishes featured in the kitchen, and the area above the fireplace was rebuilt with a decorative taper. The fireplace is finished with a non-combustible concrete mantel and painted to resemble wood.

The laundry room and mudroom were planned with a larger, more useful footprint. We specified a mix of closed cabinetry and open shelving for the drop zone off the back entrance. The mudroom features wall hooks to provide simple grab-and-go hanging for coats and sundries, and are perched atop v-groove paneling to match the design elements elsewhere in the home. The custom stained wood-topped bench ties in wood countertop in kitchen and graphic floor tile brings pattern and play.

This home is now a space for their family to cook, gather, and meal prep with children and grandchildren to inspire the next generation with a love of Italian cooking.

This project turned out beautifully!  We're thrilled by the recognition of our amazing team. 

Tags: houzz / powder room / spicy italian kitchen