If you’re obsessed with design and Instagram like we are, chances are you’ve heard about the One Room Challenge. If not, let us key you in! Designers all over the world take on and complete a single room makeover during the course of six weeks, documenting everything from demolition to product selections, all the way to the finished product. You can read more about the details here.

Hi! I’m Ainsley, an Interior Designer at Gardner/Fox. I recently moved back to the Main Line from New York City. My new hubby and I were married last year and we purchased our first home! Previously we had rented all of our apartments in New York, which meant we couldn’t truly create the spaces I dreamed about. But now that we’re homeowners we’re ready to upgrade and renovate every inch of this new house.

A little background about our home: It’s HUGELY 80’s (minus the cassette or VHS players)! Constructed in 1987, the house is mostly traditional with some Pennsylvania stone details, as well as some 80’s contemporary vibes. It sounds like a stranger combination than it is, and we love it. We are eager to stamp the place with our own pretty excellent (WE think) taste and style! But here’s the problem: Creating a harmonious theme throughout an entire house is a delicate—not to mention, intimidating—process. Am I ready?? Hmmm. Let me tiptoe into this with a tiny space. A powder room! Who really knows what goes on in there? Kind of mysterious, right? So, we decided that our first floor-to-ceiling renovation would be the powder room. A powder room, I think Kelly Wearstler would agree, can stand alone!

When you look at the pictures you’ll concur that this space needs an upgrade. We can deal with some dated designs in spaces behind closed doors (at least for the time being) but we love to entertain, and this is a room that guests always see, so I want it to be a reflection of my sensibility. We’re ditching the dated color scheme, and are especially excited to lose the funky brown toilet. The mural and faux finished walls are unique, but a little saccharine. We want LUXURY AND DRAMA! Everything must go.

Last but not least: the blinds. The window in the space is caulked shut (which we will be addressing), but what’s worse are the blinds sandwiched between two sheets of glass. I hate them! They make the entrance to the house look super sterile and they collect unreachable dust. My husband won’t let me remove them because he is afraid neighbors and guests will watch him use the toilet. (Brandon, really? They would have to hike a quarter-mile to our property, and hack their way through foundation shrubbery…but okay…).

So, I am ready to unleash my design skills in my own home! Living and working in New York has given me so much great inspiration. But, not being able to use my ideas has given me a serious design back-up. I HAVE BIG PLANS. Because this is the smallest room in the house and the layout is completely functional, it makes the most sense, financially. AKA we can go all out on materials (by my standards!)

Big goals for this little space! I want to create an atmospheric experience where our guests can freshen up. I want it to surprise and wow them. I’m excited to use bold colors and unique finishes to help the room pack a seriously luxurious punch. I love a deep, aubergine purple, but haven’t yet had a client adventurous enough to use it in their home. Not to mention the fact that I can’t wear it – no one pulls it off as well as a silver fox!

My love of purple has triggered a year-long admiration of the Milas Lilac tile from the Tile Shop ever since I saw this photo.

This dreamy marble has purple and lavender veining through a bright white background. This beauty, combined with the Limerence Rose Quartz wallpaper from House of Hackney, is the loud, unapologetically purple look I am going for.

The wallpaper will be my color map to achieve some bold color coordination through accessories and styling for the rest of the space.

Here is our to do list (in no particular order):

• Pick out and install new tile floor
• Pick out pattern from Milas Lilac line at Tile Shop
• Install new countertop
• Install new faucet
• New towel bar and paper holder
• Install new sink
• New mirror
• New sconces
• New chandelier
• New toilet
• Paint vanity or price out new console-style vanity
• Pick out wallpaper
• Design “wainscoting” (really just applied shadow boxing) using Metrie Molding
• Remove old school interior blinds
• Pick out fabric for window treatment
• Pick out window treatment style – roman shade?
• Deal with the floor and the ceiling vent somehow
• Pick out purple color for ceiling
• Paint ceiling purple
• Pick out white for wainscoting
• Come up with décor solution for the empty corner
• Organization system for vanity
• New hand towels
• New door hardware

Next week I’ll post a material board and share some demo pics (sayonara brown toilet). Follow us on Instagram to see more photos of the space! While you’re waiting, visit the ORC Blog to see more of the participating designers!