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ANDREA BEHRENDS
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JUSTIN REARDEN
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ANDREA BEHRENDS
Picture this: You’re on a first date, celebrating a milestone moment, or just out for a fun night with friends.
You’re at one of the hottest restaurants in town and head to the restroom to do a little mid-meal appearance inventory and maybe even snap a quick mirror selfie if the opportunity presents itself. The moment you step foot in a restaurant’s bathroom can unknowingly set the tone for the rest of
the evening: either return to your table feeling like a million bucks or fixate on how your skin looked in that harsh overhead lighting as you washed your hands. An unsung hero when done tastefully and intentionally, restaurant bathrooms can be an unexpected mecca for design inspiration. And Powell, the award-winning Nashville-based design-build firm, is the mastermind behind some of the most exceptional restaurants and hospitality spaces in town—bathrooms included.
Powell has brought to life some of Music City’s most renowned restaurants including Audrey, June, Butchertown Hall, Butcher & Bee, Redheaded Stranger, Greenery Co., O-Ku, and Lola, to name a few. And just as the aesthetic of each space varies greatly, the bathroom of every restaurant is a unique opportunity to further ex- plore its personality in a playful and creative way.
“In all of these projects, bathrooms were not an afterthought. We designed them with as much intention as the rest of the space and carefully thought through the lighting design of each,” explains Katie Vance, Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Powell. “I love when even more personality of the chef or concept can come into a bathroom. You can take more risks in these smaller spaces.”
The importance a restaurant’s bathroom can play in the overall dining experience is not lost on Vance, and she recognizes just how impactful this often-overlooked space can be. As much as a bathroom is a place for functionality, and often the most custodial space of a building, Vance sees it as a chance to make guests shine as brightly as the design of the space itself.
“Top priority is getting the lighting right. Bathrooms should accent the guest and not be a stark contrast to the lighting in the space. Also, plumbing hardware finish can make a big impact. Unlacquered brass, for instance, can continually patina with use if the client likes that character being brought into the design,” Vance says.
Because design is never one size fits all, Vance and the team at Powell paid careful attention to the aesthetic of each restaurant when deciding on specific elements to incorporate into each bath- room. At Audrey, the bathroom’s paint color was selected as an ode to Chef Sean Brock’s Jimmy Red Cornbread, giving the space a moody feel with rich saturated color. Redheaded Stranger’s bathroom focuses on elements of Southwestern tile in a color palette that matches the overall scheme of the restaurant, and a fun custom mirror and dual sconces add to the playfulness the brand is known for. Texture was the name of the game when designing O-Ku’s bathroom, courtesy of gorgeous wood and copper elements highlighted at the sinks in addition to custom mirrors. At Greenery Co., wallpaper and tile reign supreme along with detailed light fixtures. And for Lola’s bathroom, Powell teamed up with local tile maker Lindsay Sheets to custom make tile that wraps around the door trim and sink elements.
Although each bathroom differs to fit into the overall design of the restaurant, some focusing more heavily on tile or wallpaper while others fo- cus more on lighting or sink design, the attention to detail remains constant. And it’s that strategic design that provides the wow-factor compelling many to indulge in an impromptu photoshoot.
“You have to consider the selfie and welcome it! Think through what will be in the background of the selfie: are you framing something behind the taker, where is the lighting coming from, what is the color temperature of the lighting, and even going as far as putting any sort of signage or messaging that would be captured in the mirror or background,” Vance explains.
As gorgeous as these bathrooms are aesthetically, functionality is a component that cannot be overlooked. And Vance and the team at Powell continuously explore creative ways to combine striking design with practicality.
“I think getting the layout is key; making sure plumbing fixtures and trash cans are in optimal locations. After the layout, it’s really diving into how does this design tie into the overall concept and how can we give the guest a wow moment when they walk in the door,” says Vance.
Vance is noticing (and loving) plenty of trends that are transforming bathroom design in the restaurant and hospitality space. Overall, she is seeing moodier bathrooms, which she notes are a lot of fun to design, plus a lot of thought behind smaller touches like soap dispensers, candle holders, music, and the addition of table lamps to create that moody feel. She has even been putting black toilets back into her design, which proves how much room there is for creativity in these smaller spaces.
As impactful as a bathroom can be in a restaurant, those same trends can be implement- ed at home to express a homeowner’s personality and dazzle guests in an unexpected space. With Powell’s recently launched residential division, homeowners can enlist the experts to bring their vision to life with Powell’s unique design-build model that encompasses architecture, interior design, construction, and furniture procurement all under one entity. And for those looking to incorporate the best in bathroom trends on their own, Vance has some tips for simple changes that make a world of difference.
“You can incorporate these trends at home in a few different ways. Providing a layered lighting effect like wall sconces are a good option so you can ditch the overhead lighting when you do not need it. Interesting hardware is now more accessible. Companies like Jaclo are launching faucets in a rainbow of colors, which is a fun element to bring into a powder bath or children’s bathrooms. Mirrors are another way to show some personality. Room & Board lets you order mirrors by the inch to get the perfect size and have some fun with scale in a bathroom,” Vance shares.