Design Guide: Tiny Force

Homeowners frequently turn their attention to the big-ticket spaces such as the kitchen, living room or dining room when considering a modern redesign. Laura Yeager Smith, owner of Laura Yeager Smith Home & Design in Hudson, wants to make sure you don’t overlook a tiny area where a makeover can have the most dramatic effect: the powder room.  

“Powder rooms are typically smaller spaces where taking a big risk can pay off dramatically,” says Yeager Smith. “I love to create powder rooms that have their own identity and feel like a departure from the more traditional surrounding elements.”

As part of a complete, down-to-the-studs restructuring of a Hudson home in 2017, Yeager Smith created this modern powder room to stand out as a showpiece. 

With a palette of blue, white, polished nickel and gray, she used a floating vanity with a clean white Cambria quartz top and polished post mounted faucet to evoke a feeling of whimsy amid the modern elements of the rest of the house. 

“The homeowners wanted a comfortable, casual feel throughout the home, but were open to taking a bold approach to this space,” she says. “This powder room achieves the modern style but is certainly not in any way cold.”

Yeager Smith worked with Jill Calo, an interior and kitchen designer with Payne and Payne Renovations, to design the floating vanity that was lacquered in navy with fingertip pulls for a clean, uninterrupted finish. A customized Leftbank Art modern abstract painting and brass metal wall sculptures provide layered interest but complement the wall covering instead of competing with it. 

Accessories such as an Interlude Home glass-and-chrome side table and artistic fingertip towels in an acrylic tray carry the modern accents through the smallest details in the room. 

The result is a powder room that gives pause to users and passersby alike. 

“I like to design powder rooms as an unexpected jewel box,” says Yeager Smith. “When encountering this powder room, I wanted people to feel a touch of humor, a feeling of drama and an overall expression of ‘Wow!’ ” 

That juxtaposition of emotions can be applied to any room — a modern object used in a traditional space to take a step toward embracing a modern style. 

“An abstract piece of modern art in a room with traditional architectural detailing can be really effective,” she says. “An antique chair placed in a stark, modern space makes a truly modern statement.”

Shop The Look
The showstopper in this powder room is the large-scale geometric pattern wallcovering from Thibaut ($106 per double roll). The navy-and-white design makes a bold, modern statement while allowing the user to appreciate the contrasting minimalist elements of the room. Add a dose to your laundry room, foyer or even your pantry ceiling.

Style Defined
First gaining popularity around the turn of the 20th century, a modern aesthetic features strong, clean lines, less ornate details and a minimalistic approach to decor. Where some might find this design style to be cold and bare, modern enthusiasts experience a feeling of comfort and a sense of order derived from the natural or neutral colors, environmentally friendly materials and an overall uncluttered presentation.

For more on this style: Design Guide: Three Elements That Will Modernize Your Bathroom