Project House Austin Guest Bathroom and Pantry

Written by Laura Shimko

Photography by Courtesy of Cottage & Key

With a beautiful blend of functional features and a cozy yet sophisticated look and feel, our Project House Austin guest bathroom and pantry shine with an array of textures and a touch of European style.

Often overlooked, the smaller yet hardworking areas of a home are the perfect opportunity to elevate the overall design of the home. For Melissa and Brent of Cottage & Key, the Project House Austin guest bathroom and pantry provide the perfect opportunity to craft functional features while keeping a sense of cohesion with the rest of the house. The result is two spaces with a beautiful blend of timeless English cottage charm and a cozy modern vibe.

Gorgeous in Green

In the guest bathroom, Melissa’s combination of an updated and traditional look has another opportunity to shine. “I want to create a transitional space that combines traditional charm with some modern trends while also staying true to the cottage look and feel,” she says. At 9 x 6 feet, this guest bathroom will include a shower. “When designing an overall floor layout, I like to make sure that the bathrooms are just the right size to be functional while not taking up too much space from the other rooms,” Melissa says. She selected a 36-inch vanity that provides storage while leaving space for other features.

As with the rest of the home, the material selections for this space keep to a neutral palette with a variety of textures. “This bathroom pulls from some of the traditional materials, such as natural stone, that will be found throughout the house, while pulling in some unique color tones and textures,” Melissa says.

The rich green color for the vanity is a striking choice. Melissa elaborates, “One of the first pieces I chose for this space is a gorgeous green vanity by Willow Bath & Vanity. That gave me the pop of color I wanted to build from by incorporating some natural stone elements in the vanity countertop and tiles and brass hardware to add warmth from some of those cooler tones,” she says. “A guest bath is a great place to play a little with color.”

Delightful Details

Nearly an 8 x 8 foot cube, the Project House Austin pantry is an open concept with a walkway dividing it from the breakfast nook and is tucked away behind the kitchen wall. “Since this is a small cottage house, we had to get creative with defining spaces,” Melissa says. Even with a compact layout, the pantry is more spacious than in a typical cottage home—and every bit of it is carefully planned to make the best use of storage space. “We maximized the use of the 9-foot ceilings and created storage drawers below, and lined two walls with upper shelves featuring a ladder that can move to either side and provide easy access to higher shelves,” Melissa says. Partnering with Putnam Ladder, Melissa opted for a white oak and brass ladder that beautifully brings together functionality and style. “The quality and detailing are amazing, and it will really elevate the pantry,” she says.

Project House Austin pantry moodboard — One of the most important aspects of home design is ensuring a cohesive look throughout the entire home. Melissa’s repeated use of certain elements is intentional. “Some of the textures in this space such as the rattan light, brass fixtures, and varying wood tones can be found in many other instances throughout the house to tie the rooms together,” she says.

As for the material selections, Melissa continues a rich mixture of textures, neutral tones and colors that provide a calm and classic look and feel, while punctuating with pops of color and patterns. The herringbone white oak flooring from Mullican Hardwood Flooring provides continuity with the rest of the home. “One of the design features I’m excited about is incorporating café curtains into the space, which is a traditional detail that has been trending this year,” she says. “And choosing a fun, traditional pattern like a small paisley design gives the space some personality and visual interest.”

Looking to see beyond the Project House Austin guest bathroom and pantry? Find more with Project House Austin: A Warm Texas Welcome and Project House Austin: Living Room Design. To see more of Cottage & Key, visit their site and shop.

Check out our fantastic and indispensable Project House Austin sponsors here. Of course, don’t forget to follow along for more Project House updates and daily doses of farmhouse inspiration on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest!