fbpx Bright Ideas

Bright Ideas

Photography by Stacey Brandford

Posted on Dec 7, 2012

After Basement Bathroom
Before Basement Bathroom
After Ground Floor Bathroom
Before Ground Floor Bathroom

Episode 8

It may be the smallest room in your home, but lighting is key to making the most of it. The lighting choices can make or break a room, and in bathrooms, you want and need to get it right. Juggling the need for overall illumination with adequate vanity light and decorative pendant fixtures will ensure that your bathroom sparkles and dazzles with attention to detail.

Bright Ideas

Bringing The Outdoors In

Reinforce the brushed steel finish on your faucet by selecting an industrially inspired sconce in the same finish with a nautical nod. These sconces are durable enough for outdoor use, yet stylish enough to make the move indoors (and at an affordable price point as an added bonus)!

Want The Look?

Portfolio Stainless Steel Outdoor Wall Light - Item #295589

TIP: When installing sconces beside your mirror instead of above, the rule of thumb for height above the floor is 60"-66" depending on whether the fixtures and bulb point up or down.

Metal light

A Touch Of Whimsy

A narrow space doesn't limit your ability to use a decorative sconce. Instead of placing a single sconce above the mirror, why not install a pair of sconces on the side walls of a narrow powder room? This way, the sconces will wash the walls with light and provide ample illumination while allowing you to opt for a design that brings a touch of whimsy to a functional space.

Want The Look?

Portfolio outdoor Galvanized Outdoor Wall FixtureItem #190827

Decorative Choices

Decorative Choices

When planning your electrical layout, make sure you leave enough room between your sconces for a decorative mirror. It's a good idea to consider important decorative choices like the mirror so you can achieve the look you want. Consider the overall size of the backplate on the sconce and allow at least 2" breathing room between the edge of the mirror and the outside edge of the sconce.

Want The Look?

Allen + Roth 28 3/4" Hollywood Octagon Mirror - Item #111053

Bright Ideas

Shadows

Consider a sconce with a seeded glass shade to add interesting shadow play to your bathroom. The little bubbles in the glass create a decorative pattern on the wall which is reminiscent of bubbly water!

Want The Look?

Portfolio Bronze Outdoor Wall Mounted Light - Item #80551

TIP: Always use a clear bulb in any fixture where the lightbulb is visible - it creates a crisp and sparkly effect!

Bright Ideas

A Unified Look

If you are installing both a wall sconce and an overhead light, try to ensure that the metal finish on both fixtures match so the end result looks unified.

Want The Look?

Portfolio Bronze Outdoor Wall Mounted Light - Item #80551

Allen + Roth 6-1/4" Oil-Rubbed Bronze Clear Glass Semi-Flush Mount - Item #210144

Bright Ideas

Making a Statement

kes a statement. Halogen pendant lights are sold with an adjustable cord length that allows you to adapt the fixture to the amount of ceiling height you have available. With a wide variety of blown glass shade options in many colours of the rainbow, you'll be able to find one that ties your scheme together!

Want The Look?

Bel-Air White Swirl Art Glass Capsule Pendant - Item #270642

Source Guide:

All materials available at Lowe's

Master Ensuite Bathroom

pedestal top Memoirs Fire Clay Topmount Bath Sink (white) Kohler 167220 | pedestal Base Memoirs Lavatory Pedestal Base (white) Kohler 35421 | floor tile 12" x 12" Polished Iceberg Marble Faber Stone & Tile 4975 | toilet Memoirs Stately White Toilet Kohler 335319 | faucet Pinstripe with Cross Handle Kohler K-13132-3A | accessories Murano Lotion Holder 355946 | accessories Murano Tumbler 355943 | accessories Murano Soap Dish 355944 | accessories Murano Toothbrush Holder 355945 | towel bar 24" Towel Bar Allen + Roth 272318 | shelf Glass Vanity Shelf Allen + Roth 272322 | toilet paper disp. Toilet Paper Tissue Holder Allen + Roth 272319 | mirror Decorative Oval Wall Mirror Allen + Roth 291538 | medicine cabinet 25" Surface Mount Mirrored Medicine Cabinet Allen + Roth 169378 | fan 100 CFM 1.5SN Humid Energy Star Sensor Fan Broan Elite 256739 | sconces Galvanized Outdoor Wall Fixture Portfolio outdoor 190827 | baseboard 19/32" x 6-1/4" MDF Base Evertrue 165037 | casing 1" x 3-1/4" MDF Case (PT3) - 8'-0" lengths Evertrue 85847 | crown 19/32" x 4-1/2" MDF crown (5982) Evertrue 268736 | door stop 3/8" x 1-3/16" Primed Evertrue 268600 | chair rail 1" x 2-7/8" MDF CHRL (L300) Evertrue 85834 | door knobs RP Hancock Privacy Knob Weiser 315565 | doors 6 Panel Pine Interior Doors 30" x 80" ReliaBilt 272747

Main Bathroom

vanity 48"x21" Mocha Ballantyne Vanity Allen + Roth 156803 | counter 49"x22" Natural Granite Coastal Sands Top Estate 331230 | sink Caxton Undermount Bath Sink Kohler 76842 | lav faucet Ashfield Widespread Trough Faucet (rustic pewter) Pfister 168704 | door hardware Jameson Knob Hickory 385023 | mirror 24"x36" Travertine Mirror Allen + Roth 239707 | tub Freestanding White Tub 66" x 32" American Standard 349096 | toilet Cavata EB Complete 4.8L Toilet (white) Kohler 99276 | shower system Ashfield Tub/Shower Faucet (rustic pewter) Pfister 231250 | towel bar SAGE 18" Towel Bar (rustic pewter) Moen 68343 | toilet paper holder SAGE Toilet Paper Holder (rustic pewter) Moen 68051 | towel bar SAGE 24" Towel Bar (rustic pewter) Moen 68503 | toilet brush holder Brinkley Metal Toilet Brush Holder Allen + Roth 328058 | stone floor Alara Cobblestone Pattern Faber Stone & Tile 6666 | marble accent tile on floor 2" x 4" Silver Lining Brick Pattern e2d 303254 | marble floor & wall accent tile 1"x1" Cool Blend Marble Mosaic Faber Stone & Tile 155825 | accent wall tile 3" x 6" Gloss White Field Tile American Olean 64396 | accent wall tile 2" x 6" White Chair Rail Faber Stone & Tile 190931 | shower floor 1" Hexagon Bianco Carrera Mosaic e2d 397152 | decorative accessories Terra Natural Marble Square Waste Basket Indialnk 357245 | decorative accessories Terra Natural Marble Soap Dish Indialnk 357242 | decorative accessories Terra Natural Toothbrush Holder Indialnk 357253 | decorative accessories Terra Natural Marble Lotion Dispenser Indialnk 357244 | decorative accessories Terra Natural Marble Tumbler Indialnk 357241 | fan 100 CFM 1.5SN Humid Energy Star Sensor Fan Broan Elite 256739 | shower threshold 3"x36"x3/8" Riviera Marble Shower Threshold American Olean 308517 | shower jambs 6"x76"x5/8" Riviera Marble Shower Frame American Olean 308515 | mirror Vanity Mirror (brushed nickel) Conair 33032 | sconces Bronze Outdoor Wall Mounted Light Portfolio 80551 | fixture 6-1/4" Oil-Rubbed Bronze Clear Glass Semi-Flush Mount Allen + Roth 210144 | baseboard 19/32" x 6-1/4" MDF Base Evertrue 165037 | casing 1" x 3-1/4" MDF Case (PT3) - 8'-0" lengths Evertrue 85847 | door stop 3/8" x 1-3/16" Primed Evertrue 268600 | chair rail 1" x 2-7/8" MDF CHRL (L300) Evertrue 85834 | door knobs RP Hancock Privacy Knob Weiser 315565 | door handle Black Monaco x Wickham Handset Weiser 45030 | beadboard paneling 48 Pine Wainscot Beaded 9.33 sf C&C Wood Products Ltd. 261975 | doors 6 Panel Pine Interior Door 30 x 80" ReliaBilt 272747

Guest Bathroom 

faucet Boardwalk 2-H SRN WS Moen 356591 | mirror 28 3/4" Hollywood Octagon Mirror Allen + Roth 111053 | decorative hardware Knob 1-1/4" Square Hickory 384923 | toilet Memoirs Stately White Toilet Kohler 335319 | medicine cabinet 30" Surface Mount Mirrored Medicine Cabinet Allen + Roth 169525 | shower system Hanover BN SC T/S Faucet Pfister 290890 | toilet paper holder Boardwalk Toilet Paper Holder (brushed nickel) Moen 376822 | marble floor 12" x 12" Polished Iceberg Marble Faber Stone & Tile 4975 | accent marble floor tile Carerra Extra Mosaic Plus Faber Stone & Tile 3932 | accent wall tile 3 " x 6" Gloss White Field Tile American Olean 64396 | accent wall tile 12" x 12" Polished Iceberg Marble Faber Stone & Tile 4975 | accent wall tile 2" x 6" White Chair Rail Faber Stone & Tile 190931 | shower floors Moonbeam Pebbles Mosaic e2d 399157 | fan 100 CFM 1.5SN Humid Energy Star Sensor Fan Broan Elite 256739 | decorative accessories Erika Antique Pewter Lotion Dispenser Zenith 371138 | decorative accessories Erika Antique Pewter Cotton Ball Holder Zenith 371143 | shower threshold 3"x36"x3/8" Riviera Marble Shower Threshold American Olean 308517 | shower jambs 6"x76"x5/8" Riviera Marble Shower Frame American Olean 308515 | brackets Fan Bracket Pine Unfinished Evertrue 47669 | table leg Country Pine Evertrue 833 | countertop 49" x 22" Natural Granite Vanity Top Estate 365939 | house trim SP 48 Spandrel Pine Evertrue 35846 | mirror Brushed Nickel Vanity Mirror Conair 33032 | sconces Stainless Steel Outdoor Wall Light Portfolio 295589 | pendant White Swirl Art Glass Capsule Pendant Bel-Air 270642 | baseboard 19/32" x 6-1/4" MDF Base Evertrue 165037 | casing 1" x 3-1/4" MDF Case (PT3) - 8'-0" lengths Evertrue 85847 | door stop 3/8" x 1-3/16" Primed Evertrue 268600 | chair rail 1" x 2-7/8" MDF CHRL (L300) Evertrue 85834 | door knobs RP Hancock Privacy Knob Weiser 315565 | doors 6 Panel Pine Interior Doors 30" x 80" ReliaBilt 272747 | beadboard paneling 48 Pine Wainscot Beaded 9.33 sf C&C Wood Products Ltd. 261975