Glamorous master bath

Southern Living, Jan 2003 by Staab, Nancy

A skirted sink, luxurious wallpaper, and attractive accents bring sophistication to this room.

Interior designer Laura Miller resides in an elegant 1891 home, so it's not surprising that her master bath possesses the same charm. She capitalized on the room's assets by incorporating several stylish additions of her own.

Vintage Fixture

First, Laura replaced the unattractive wooden sink with an older marble-top one found in her garage. She dressed up the sink by skirting it with fabric panels trimmed in gold fringe. Tortoiseshell soap dishes and a piece of coral under a glass dome accessorize the counter. Sconces flank the mirror, while two brass rings in the shape of lion's heads hold towels.

Antique Accessories

Yellow wallpaper, which resembles the pattern of watered silk but at a fraction of the cost, blankets the bath. Dainty botanical prints and platters decorate the walls. Another feature-- Laura's china-may seem like a novel decorating idea, but these antique dishes lend a delicate air to the room.

Laura believes that there's no reason why fine antiques and collectibles can't work in practical spaces such as the bath or kitchen. To prove her point, she covered the marble floors with an antique carpet. Likewise, a corner chair features a needlepoint pillow that picks up the carpet's patterns.

Sparkling Touches

An arched and mirrored vanity niche, built into a wall of cabinetry, displays an antique silver brush set and some of Laura's favorite cuff bracelets and earrings. "Why," she muses, "store all your baubles and beaded party bags in jewelry boxes when they can be part of an artful display?" For a shot of glamour, she installed a miniature crystal chandelier overhead. The fixture's light is reflected in the mirror.

Window Dressing

Even the window nook is decorated with pieces of pretty china, potted topiaries, and a black lacquer Oriental jewel box. The windows are draped with inexpensive scrim fabric that costs about $3 per yard. Surprisingly simple to install, this cross-draped window treatment is tied back with decorative tassels. Such finishing details lend Laura's master bath the glamour of a Hollywood starlet's dressing room.