Parlor Powder Room Wrapped in Paneling

In this Brooklyn Heights townhouse, a unique spatial arrangement and programmatic pairing solved several challenges the building provided. With a cleverly designed multi-purpose volume, we were able to make use of the full width of the townhouse, increase natural light, improve circulation to the rear yard, and satisfy several functional elements of the clients' design goals.

Often in townhouse design, having a powder room on the parlor floor is one of the more challenging elements to accomplish successfully. They are often tucked under a staircase (an option not possible in this house), take up valuable space in the middle of the floor (limiting the ability for large openings to connect spaces), or are not included on the floor at all. Our solution was to think of the powder room as a volume of space to be hidden and wrapped by other design elements.

We enclosed the powder room in custom millwork and paneling that seamlessly integrated into the rest of the full-width kitchen design. Sitting between the staircase and the door that leads out to the deck and yard, cream-colored paint and a subtle Venetian plaster soften the volume, while the curved side improves circulation through the kitchen while flooding the space with light.

The subtle packaging of the volume turns the corner at the stair with paneling similar to the kitchen cabinetry. In contrast, the powder room interior was conceptualized as a jewel box, both bold in color and rich in material. The deep, moody color palette became the backdrop for a custom stone sink surround and brass accents.

Not only does the exterior of the powder room blend seamlessly with the rest of the kitchen, but its L-shape also creates zones of use and adds significant storage to the kitchen.

Softening the corner of the wet bar with rounded millwork and plaster crown molding created the perfect place for a round sink. This became the hinge around which we created two distinct uses for the bar: a coffee station on one side, and a wine fridge and liquor cabinet on the other.

This clever solution provided unexpected, interesting ways to include many of the client's desires while adding an interesting design element into the kitchen.