Joan Steffend, host of HGTV's Decorating Cents, seeks help with her own decorating dilemma. Her two daughters, aged 9 and 14, share a bathroom that needs to incorporate a sophisticated style for the older girl as well as a fun, colorful look for her younger sister. Designer Joan MacDowell takes on the challenge of remaking a little-girl bathroom into a pleasing teenage powder room. New paint is the first step in redoing the space. Since the room lacks windows and natural sunlight, the colors must be light to keep the room bright. Joan MacDowell selects ocean blue for the ceilings and lime green for the walls. To add interest, she recommends a flogging technique for the walls. To try it yourself, mix 2 parts paint with 3 parts glaze and 1 part water. Using a regular brush, apply the paint with haphazard crisscross strokes, concentrating on a small area at a time. Then drag a stiff-bristled flogging brush both vertically and horizontally across the paint. To break up the lines, hold the flogging brush parallel to the surface, and slap the painted area. When you move to the next area, overlap the sections to create a continuous effect. The color scheme comes together with a multicolored plaid shower curtain in citrus hues. The shower curtain is made from a tablecloth hemmed to shower-curtain size; leftover fabric is used to make tab-top ties. Now the bath has a bright, cheery look despite the lack of natural light. Storage is provided with a stack of colorful wicker storage units. Tropical-colored accessories in pale orange, turquoise and yellow are added to the countertop, and a colorful rag rug in coordinating citrus green and blue warms the floor. To add sophistication, the designer employed several chrome details, including a wall shelf, a wastebasket, a hand-towel holder and chrome-and-resin drawer pulls.
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