Some designers call powder rooms jewel boxes. We think of them more as a party trick.
A powder room is one of the only places in a house where the regular homeowner feels like they can really go for it.
It doesn’t have to soothe anyone to sleep.
It doesn’t need to hold a sectional, hide the dog toys, or make the whole family feel emotionally regulated.
It just has to deliver a moment. A tiny, fabulous, slightly unhinged moment of “holy $h*t.”
Virginia has a whole philosophy on this, including strong opinions shaped by nightclub bathrooms of yore. The full story and a shopping list of the mirrors we keep coming back to are on our Substack. Comment "SUBSTACK" and we will send you the link.
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One of the first things we do on a basement project like this one is to remove the door.
A door at the end of a hallway, a cheap railing, carpeted treads. That combination tells you, before you have even walked down, that the space below is secondary.
The house treats the basement like an afterthought, so everyone who lives there does too.
When we can, we open the stair completely. We carry the flooring down from the level above. We match the railing. We repeat the trim details. The basement stops reading as downstairs and starts reading as another floor of the house.
This is what cohesion looks like in practice. Small, early, architectural decisions that make the whole home feel like one idea instead of five.
Comment "SUBSTACK" and we'll send you the link to read the full piece, including why the basement is now one of the most ambitious rooms in a house over on Substack.
Surrounded by ocean views. 💙 This is our Home of the Week and was picked as our cover story for the April/May 2026 issue. Tap the link in our bio for the full project + all the details. 🩵🌊
The oceanfront-inspired home balances modern minimalism, organic textures, and effortless entertaining spaces just steps away from the shore.
Project Team: Interior Design by @kandcoliving . Build by Callan & Moeller Construction. Photograph by @jacobsnavely .
