4 Things to Know Before You Update Your Bathroom or Powder Room / August 18, 2021 by Margaret Chambers

A few accessories, like a soap dish or some fresh flowers, are all that's needed to complete a bathroom counter.

Bathrooms and powder rooms are woefully overlooked areas in home design. Many people consider designing them an afterthought, or aren’t sure how to work with a small space. But no matter how small your powder rooms are, you deserve to have ones that are thoughtfully planned and tastefully designed. If you’re thinking about giving the bathrooms in your Dallas home a quick update—or an extensive remodel—you’ll surely find these tips useful.

Brunschwig & Fil’s iconic “Les Touches” wallpaper adds a playful touch to this bathroom we designed for a Dallas home.

2021 Bathroom Trends:

Although grey was a popular wall color for bathrooms the last few years, in 2021 it’s starting to go out of style. Instead, warmth is being brought into bathrooms through the use of gold or brass fixtures and wood accents. Wallpaper has also come back into style. If you do want to put up wallpaper, shop for the vinyl kind that is moisture-resistant.

While you’re updating, take a look into some of the latest developments in bathroom technology. These include smart showers that can be remotely set to start running, voice-activated lighting and temperature controls, and Bluetooth speakers for baths and showers. Heated floors have also been gaining popularity for some time now.

Layout Tips for Bathroom Remodels:

A common bathroom design mistake is to make your toilet the first thing a visitor sees when they enter the bathroom. Choose anything else as your focal point beside the toilet, such as your mirror, your bathtub, or your vanity. The toilet should be out-of-sight from the entrance whenever possible.

This area, with the freestanding tub and large antique mirror, serves as the focal point for this bathroom in Colleyville.

Bathrooms don’t have to be spacious to be appealing. To make a small powder room feel more luxurious, splurge on a few nice materials and finishes. If you prefer to take showers over baths, don’t take up too much floor space with a large tub.

When we remodeled this shower, we added glass doors, mosaic floor tiles, slabs of Carrera marble, and brass hardware.

You can maximize elbow room by installing a glass panel or shower curtains instead of a shower door. This way, you also won’t have to worry about your door swinging out and hitting the vanity.

Don’t forget to plan for storage space. Upper vanity cabinets along either side of the mirror are a smart solution for keeping toiletries out of sight. You can even build electrical outlets into the cabinets for plugging in your hairdryers and electric toothbrushes.

Choosing Flooring and Tiles:

There’s a reason why most bathrooms have tiled floors. Carpeting absorbs moisture and can develop mold, and if wood flooring becomes water damaged, it’s costly to replace. If you want the look of wood without the risk of water damage, I’d recommend porcelain tiles with a faux bois grain finish that emulate the look of real wood panels.

Improvements in manufacturing have paved the way for new and improved tile patterns, including chevron, diamond, hexagon, arabesque, and fish scales. I’m starting to see homeowners want to try new patterns instead of defaulting to subway tile.

The Best Lighting for Powder Rooms:

Lighting is always important for home design, and bathrooms are no exception. Older fluorescent light bulbs can cast an unflattering blue hue on skin, while dim lighting makes bathrooms feel small and closed-in. If the color tone of your bulbs is a cool white, update them with a warmer white.

The vertical cabinets in this vanity are great for storing toothbrushes, medications, etc. so they stay out of sight. The cabinets also contain electrical outlets, so everything can stay conveniently plugged in and ready to use.

As you update your lighting, make sure not to install the fixtures too far above your mirror, or else they’ll cast shadows on your face. Either bring the lights low enough so that they’re almost touching the mirror, or place sconces on either side of the mirror.

To make a bathroom feel light and airy, find a way to filter daylight in. A window to the outside or a skylight through the ceiling are both options. You can always put shutters over the window for more privacy.

We normally use tile in bathrooms, but the client wanted wood floors. To protect them, we added polyurethane coating.

For your finishing touches and decorations, keep things simple. Instead of cluttering counter space with lots of accessories, buy practical items—such as pretty soap dispensers—that are decorative and integrate into your overall design theme.

If your bathtub is next to a window, you can always add shades for privacy, like this motorized Roman shade we used.

Many people in Dallas continue to work from home and are thinking about ways they can give their surroundings a facelift. Whether you’re planning a full bathroom remodel, or just want to make better use of the space and layout you already have, the designer tips above will come in handy.

For those of you who are looking to bring in a professional, you should know that Chambers Interiors has a lot of experience a bathroom remodels. To schedule a free consultation, email us at info@chambersinteriors.com or call our Dallas office at 214-651-7665.

Incorporating Mirrored Furniture Into Your Home / January 11, 2017 by Margaret Chambers

If you've ever shopped in Dallas and seen mirrored furniture on display, you may have wondered: is mirrored furniture in style? Or out of style?

Back in the 90's, mirrored furniture was overused in interior design, so it went out of style for awhile. However, mirrored furniture started to come back steadily in the early 2000's. Most interior designers now believe that it's a trend that's here to stay.

To some people, mirrored furniture has a classic look that will always bring a touch of glamour and elegance to a room. Others believe that these pieces work best when they're used with restraint. By following some basic guidelines, you should have no trouble finding the perfect place for these pieces in your home.

History of Mirrored Furniture

This 3-part mirrored desk by Bungalow 5 commands quite the presence with its high shine and ample storage space. If you’re interested in purchasing Bungalow 5 products, please feel free to reach out to us.

The earliest examples of mirrored furniture date back to the 18th century. At that time, mirrored woman’s dressing tables were especially popular. However, most of the new mirrored furnishings you find today are actually inspired by pieces from the Art Deco period in the 1920's and 30's.

That's why when people see mirrored furniture, they might think of old Hollywood interiors. Mirrored furniture can feel both glamorous and retro at the same time, so it works best when mixed with other styles.

Pros and Cons of Mirrored Furniture

One major benefit of introducing reflective surfaces into a room is that it gives the illusion of extra space. While a wooden armoire with dark staining feels visually "heavy," the same armoire with mirrored panels will actually "recede" by reflecting what is around it.

Although mirrors can bounce light around a room, they also make a room feel cool instead of warm--much like metal furnishings. The high sheen of this furniture can serve as a bridge between classical and contemporary elements in a room.

Bungalow 5 has also released this stunning 7-drawer storage piece. Its overall structure takes inspiration from Italian midcentury design, while the rippling wave pattern is a stylish addition.

The downsides to owning mirrored furniture include their cost of repair. Fixing any damage made on mirrored furniture can be a challenge. Also, keep in mind that you'll need to wipe away fingerprints, dust, splashes, and stains regularly. While cleaning may be frequent, however, it is also much easier to clean than wood. For instance, a wet glass that would leave on ring on wood furniture wouldn’t do the same on mirrored furniture.

Where to Put Mirrored Furniture in Your Dallas Home

Pictured above is the Cecilia center/dining table by Bungalow 5. It is made of wood with a mirrored surface.

The best kind of mirrored furnishings for bedrooms include wardrobes, chests, side tables, and dressing tables. A bed with mirrored frames makes an especially dramatic, mmirrore contemporary statement. For your living rooms, consider having a mirrored coffee table, end tables or sideboard. Mirrored folding screens can also add a touch of style to a large room.

Of course, you don't have to commit to a large statement piece. Chairs with a band of mirrored glass around the frame, or a small mirrored bedside table, can also add just a touch of sparkle.

On the other hand, you'll want to avoid putting this kind of furniture in busy rooms that already have a lot going on. A good rule of thumb is to have no more than one or two pieces in the same room.

Don't forget that mirrors can also be made with gray finishes to tone down their shine, while antique patinas give mirrors a unique "smoky" look. Unless you're after an antiqued patina, there's no need to track down real period pieces, however. Antique mirrored furniture was often cheaply made, since it's easier to glue on mirrors than staining or carving a wooden piece of furniture. We have the ability to help you find newer pieces that have this same, antiqued look.

As you can see, mirrored furniture is surprisingly versatile. When placed with care, these captivating pieces can make the whole room feel larger, bridge the gap between classical and modern, or add a glitzy shine. If you want to make sure that you're bringing out the full potential of your mirrored furniture, here at Chambers Interiors we often use mirrored pieces in contemporary, transitional and traditional spaces. If you're starting from scratch, we can also help you locate a wide variety of mirrored pieces in the Dallas Design District that are perfect for your interior.