Let There Be Lights

 

The Bathroom

• "People think of lighting for the bathroom as utilitarian or industrial," says interior designer Larry Laslo, who chose bold black crystal sconces for his dramatic space.
• Designers Laura Bohn and Thomas Jayne take a similarly flamboyant approach, sometimes adding a chandelier over the sink. "It's the Liberace effect," Jayne says.
• For a more practical look, architect Calvin Tsao suggests sconces on either side of the mirror, and, for skin-loving light, frosted- or milk-glass shades with a mid-wattage halogen bulb on a dimmer.

Light sources:
A pair of dramatic Baccarat crystal sconces by Philippe Starck frame a beveled mirror in Laslo's white marble his-and-hers bathroom. Neutral-colored accessories keep things simple: glass apothecary jars ($18 to $32, the Bathroom); linen hand towels ($28, Takashimaya); pedestal soap dish ($42, Waterworks); and marble-and-oil-rubbed-bronze washstands by Walker Zanger.

Get the scoop on sconces.