Two-Room Transformation

Designer Maria Bowers reimagines a living room and primary bath for comfort and style

Over the nearly 10 years that Julie and Liam Power have owned their home in Hunterdon County, they have made numerous upgrades, from new lighting fixtures to updated kitchen countertops. Recently, however, they recognized the need for a significant refresh of their living room and primary bathroom.

“Since we have a large family room, we rarely used the front living room, which was filled with mismatched furniture and was generally uninviting,” Julie Power explains. Similarly, their 1990s-era bathroom, complete with outdated fixtures, a small shower and a large, unused jacuzzi — was clearly due for a makeover.

The bold wall color and drapery panels in the refurbished living room not only enliven the space but also add a cozy factor, designer Maria Bowers says. Seating options were enhanced, and dark side tables that provide additional storage create a striking contrast against the white trim and cream sofas.

“We wanted to completely reimagine these spaces,” Power says. “Our goal for the living room was to create a warm and inviting atmosphere where we could read, entertain friends and relax. In addition, “We wanted the bathroom to be bright, open and sort of Zen.” Power, the owner of Slipcover Studio LLC, a drapery workroom in Pittstown, turned to designer Maria Bowers for a fresh perspective, creative solutions and the challenge to step outside of their comfort zone.

“The living room is separated from the rest of the house and is close to the first-impression entryway, so I knew it needed to stand out,” says Bowers, founder of BDesign’D, an interior design studio in Lebanon. The room already had a great base, she notes, pointing out the nice wooden floors, beautiful bay window and classic picture molding. “It just lacked personality.”

An oversized coffee table was custom built to suit the space. The owners selected the artwork from an artist in Berlin, Maryland.

Bowers selected “Slate Tile,” a deep blue/gray paint color by Sherwin-Williams, to provide the dramatic backdrop the room needed while complementing the existing swivel chairs that Power had recently reupholstered. The window treatments, made of bold patterned fabric combined with sheer lining, accentuate the bay window while ensuring privacy when needed.

The room’s new layout incorporated additional seating and storage options along with an oversized coffee table that offers ample space for food, games, books and more. “The bold wall color and drapery fabric enliven the room and add a cozy factor to the space,” Bowers says. “It’s definitely a room that you gravitate to as soon as you walk in.”

“I wanted to highlight the bay window but give the owners privacy at the same time so I selected a bold patterned fabric by Stout and sheer lining,” Bowers says.

In contrast to the living room, the primary bathroom underwent a gut renovation that was complicated by varying ceiling heights and angles, Bowers says. Relocating the vanity and shower, along with removing a small closet, made way for a custom built-in vanity and makeup station as well as a spacious walk-in shower.

A once tired and dysfunctional early 1990s bathroom was gutted and reconfigured into a timeless, Zen-like space with modern features and amenities.

By replacing the bulky Jacuzzi with a soothing soaking tub, Bowers was able to create a “spa-like area to relax and unwind,” she says. The toilet room remained open as it did in the previous design. “We didn’t want to open up the wall to put a pocket door in,” Bowers explains. Additionally, they wanted the room’s Roman shades to be prominently visible and not impede the visual flow. While the homeowners were initially hesitant to incorporate such a bold pattern in the bathroom, with a little nudging from Bowers, “they trusted my vision and went with it!”

The enlarged custom vanity and make-up station is topped in quartz. Seamless medicine cabinets with antiqued brass trim provide additional storage and echo the metallic finishes elsewhere in the room.

According to Power, the owners are “delighted by the results.” Not only is their primary bathroom “a completely new room” featuring all the upgraded amenities they envisioned, but “the living room has become an important space for us,” she adds. “We love the color scheme, the layout and the overall relaxing experience.”

Left: Replacing an outdated, space-consuming Jacuzzi with a modern soaking tub “created a spa-like area to relax and unwind,” Bowers says. The tub’s ribbon matte porcelain tile surround “adds a distinctive design element that also ties in with the wood stain on the vanity and the shower inserts.” | Right: The blue hexagon floor tiles in the spacious walk-in shower beautifully complement the other blue accents in the room.