by Inside&Out
Thursday, December 18, 2008

Editor's Note: Hudson interior designer Pamela Bayer helps solve readers' design dilemmas. Have a problem you'd love solved by Pamela? E-mail here or go to her Web site.

Dear Pamela,

Okay - here goes!

I am redecorating my master bedroom/dressing room, which are adjoining and very open to one another. Currently the permanent lighting over the sink is 20+ years old and is brass with clear glass sconces.

As part of the redecoration, the new bedside lamps and accessories will be an antiqued gold color. I'd like to update my bathroom sink and cabinet hardware and light fixture to coordinate and not look so dated.  

Should I just do them all in a brushed nickel finish and not be concerned about the use of the gold in the adjoining space? Or should I go with the nickel on the sink and cabinet hardware and find a light fixture that is more of the antiqued gold?

Thanks!

Janis Worley

Dear Janis,

The reformation of your bedroom and adjacent dressing room provides the perfect opportunity to both preserve and modernize your existing antique decor. Design continuity is important in open spaces to maintain the visual flow. To that end, I suggest thoughtfully coordinating the styles in both areas.

For the bathroom, consider replacing your antique brass lighting fixture with a new one in the same finish and updating your cabinet hardware, and sink and shower faucetry to match.

Alternatively, higher end brands like Hansa and Delta's Michael Graves collection offer glass lever handle faucets. Either of these ideas will complement the gold antique lamps and accessories you're planning for the bedroom better than brushed nickel.

You could also use glass knobs or pulls as your cabinet hardware to break up the brass bathroom theme. Glass will work well whether or not you decide to have a brass and glass light. It also introduces a contemporary element, which is an interesting juxtaposition to your antique look.

Bathroom accessories such as your soap dispenser or dish, towel bars and shower curtain rings could also be in glass to complete the merging of modern and traditional expressions.

All of these little touches will enhance your adjoining rooms and create one great space from two.

Good luck!
Pamela