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The Power of Powder Interior Design in Action

Writer's picture: Hanna ShiplettHanna Shiplett

Updated: Jan 27

Upon meeting our powder room in our 1990's personal home it had "character" in lighting only. I hate to be mean, but the sconces looked like upside down clown hats, and that is all I could focus on while in the space. It needed attention just as soon as we had some attention to give.


Don't believe me? Feast your eyes on this.

Cone shaped sconce in powder room before it was remodeled
This is a sconce. It wasn't for me.

It was our first year in the home, and we ended up being the chosen host for Jonny's family for Thanksgiving. That meant I needed to do a last minute tune up before I had guests being "refreshed" in our lackluster main level bathroom. I grabbed a gallon of Farrow and Ball Studio Green and I got to work.



A powder room half painted studio green from Farrow & Ball
My very quick bandaid for our powder room pre-hosting a holiday event.

Please note that I don't recommend this method at all. A bandaid fix is usually a waste of money and time. If you know you are going to do something, do it right. The excuse for me breaking my own rule was that this was during the height of COVID, so to be fair, we didn't know when we'd be tackling a true remodel of this space of which it definitely needed!


I am a firm believer there is power in the powder room. My favorite thing in this home and homes prior is to create something that when people use they immediately respond "wow!"without thinking. Dining rooms, powder rooms, or guests bathrooms are all about hospitality. We don't spend the bulk of our time in these rooms like we do in kitchens and living rooms, so please go bold and have some fun. It will delight your guests and your family to have some excitement in these spaces and you won't have to worry about tiring of them as your time in these spaces is somewhat limited.


Fast forward to 2023. Baby Eva was on the way. It's amazing what you can get done on a deadline. Jonny and I ordered the supplies and began transforming our once very boring powder room into an experience for guests and our family.



A basketweave black and white marble tile graces the floor, met by a handsome baseboard piece that transitions to the wainscoting at a lovely 3/4 wall height. The black pencil boarder was added, and Jonny felt two lines were better then one an I begrudgingly agreed. Those of you that know us, understand Jon often has design opinions that step on my design toes, but unfortunately he truly has a good eye and I am forced to eat a lot of humble pie that he serves up willingly.


One of my favorite features is the wallpaper. If a client even slightly mentioned wall paper as an option, I mean even so much as cracks the door to that conversation, I blow the door in and get to sampling. This paper we feature in our studio office in green, but at home I opted for Rifle paper Peacock in black.


The next thing you know... she was complete.


Hanna and Jonathan Shiplett's powder room in black, white, and gold.
Photo Credit: Adam Albright Powder room in black and white Designed by Hanna (and Jon) Shiplett

This room was difficult to capture in one photo. A surprise is cropped out of the of this image, but maybe someday you'll be a guest and get to see what lies beyond! In the meantime get to dreaming about what spaces in your home could use a little bit of excitement and dare I say risk and get after your own dream home!


From my nest to yours,


Hanna Shiplett, Principal Interior Designer

Eden and Gray Design Build

Clive, Iowa




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