A Designer Transforms a “Tiny & Sad” Bathroom into a Sleek Showpiece
When designing a mid-century-modern-style home for a couple based in Wake Forest, North Carolina, designer Ayten Nadeau of i-TEN DESIGNS wanted to have some fun in the hybrid powder and laundry room. It all came down to her unexpected source of inspiration for the small-but-mighty space: a vintage Pontiac Trans Am.
Turns out the inspo wasn’t exactly out of left field for Nadeau’s clients, who own a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am and affectionately refer to it as “Freddie the Firebird.” Freddie’s importance to the family — and its classic car good looks — made it an unlikely but very worthy visual to kick off the project. “With its striking white body and bold black accents, this car was more than a mere vehicle,” says Nadeau. “It embodied an era of style and nostalgia, capturing the essence of timeless elegance.”
Inspiration aside, putting the space together ended up involving a bit more than Nadeau had initially anticipated. First, she chose to move the tiny, somewhat sad powder room from its original spot to the east side of the home for additional privacy and convenience. She carved out a spot that made sense for the flow of the entire floor and then got to work putting together a full plan. Next, windows would be added to the laundry/powder room to allow more sunlight to flow inside. Once the bones of the space were set, all new fixtures, finishes, cabinets, and appliances would be brought in.
The design scheme would center on a high-contrast black and white color palette — just like Freddie’s black louvers and pristine white paint job. Even the room’s layout — long and narrow, with the bath sink wall serving as the focal point at the end of a galley-style laundry area — is meant to reference Freddie’s sleek, elongated shape.
For the bathroom walls, Nadeau selected a “popsicle stick” tile from Wow Tile’s Grace Collection, which pairs a classic white finish with a beveled edge. “Black grout was chosen to create a striking contrast, emphasizing the tile’s shape and aligning with the black finish of the floor tiles, reminiscent of a racetrack,” Nadeau says, keeping the automotive theme going.
Nailing down the vanity area was next on Nadeau’s list. She decided to go the custom route here while still incorporating a budget-friendly hack. “We strategically designed it to fit perfectly within the existing space and align with the door opening, which helped us avoid additional costs associated with complex installations or modifications,” Nadeau says of the black vanity. This way, the couple could eke out every inch possible for storage, but also not worry about the room feeling disjointed. It also matches the laundry area’s custom cabinet beautifully. To warm up the space, Nadeau opted for a wooden pocket door for the bathroom and brass hardware and fixtures throughout the tiny nook. The laundry area, on the other hand, sports sleek matte black handles.
One area she didn’t go custom? The lighting. Both the ceiling lights in the laundry area and the wall sconces in the bathroom portion of the room are from West Elm. “These fixtures provided stylish, modern designs at an affordable price, proving that you don’t have to spend a fortune to achieve a chic look,” she says.
Now that the space is complete, her clients don’t know how they lived without it — and it never fails to put a smile on their faces when they walk by it or use it. “We crafted a stunning laundry room and powder room combination that not only honored Freddie the Firebird, but also celebrated its enduring legacy,” she says. “The result is a seamless, functional tribute to the car’s timeless allure, blending nostalgic charm with modern elegance.”
Further Reading
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