My problem is simple: We have a terribly uninteresting powder room. I would like to spruce things up, and my husband and I would like to do it ourselves. Can you help us? Jessica Marangelo Providence, Rhode Island The quickest, easiest way to spruce up any room is with color—more specifically, with paint. Faux finishes are popular, and many paint companies offer free instructions to help you get started. The room in this photo is a good example of a variation on sponge painting, which is both easy and offers texture and dimension. At times, it is difficult to say what color the room is with this technique; this will pique interest. Also, it will take on the colors of whatever else is in the room, so be sure to pick a hue you can live with comfortably. Aside from the paint, you need a good focal point. In this case, it is the mirror. Add a few personal knickknacks and soon you will have a brand-new bath. In a desperate need for a spare bath, we have decided to add one in our attic. It is an odd space: very high with rough walls, which we do not want to bother finishing. Any suggestions on how we can make this work? Heather Gilles Galena, Illinois First, paint the whole space off-white (when in doubt, I always opt for linen white). If you are lucky enough to have a pedestal sink and footed tub, there is no need to tile the room. In addition, a wood floor adds both dimension and visual warmth. For more interest, look for a hanging shade, easily found at either a home center or a secondhand store. It will add character as well as provide terrific lighting. (A punched-tin pendant like the one shown here also adds country charm.) Gather some interesting tables and shelves to give a rustic look to the room; here is a perfect place to display those odd pictures that you have been collecting, too. And remember, since the attic is at the top of the house, there is no need to cover the windows, so leave them bare and enjoy the view! We decided to carve a bath out of extra pantry space in our old farmhouse but are not sure where to begin. The ceilings are extraordinarily high, but the rest of the room is tiny. Deb Webster Canaan, Connecticut Yours is a good example of where wallpaper with matching borders can come to the rescue. Select a paper with a floral background, and apply a matching or coordinating border around the ceiling and at chair rail height to create an intimate feeling. Because your ceiling is high, place the top border starting 6" or 8" from the ceiling; by painting this “extra” space the same color as the ceiling, you will visually lower the ceiling height. For more cozy, country charm, make a handkerchief curtain. The one shown here is simple yet effective and easy to make. An old pine chest adds to the character of the room, and with this and the old mirror, you have created just the right amount of clutter (read: interest). Since you are starting with a relatively blank slate, try to just relax and have fun with it. Editor’s Note: Margot Gunther, ASID, is a designer who has worked on residential interiors, country inns and restaurants. • home • advertise • links