Shou Sugi Ban Industrial Chic Bathroom

Susie Davis calls the style of her powder room “Charles Dickens Meets Jack the Ripper.” It exudes an Industrial Revolution era vibe with a factory chic aesthetic.

Lamenting that “vanities are stupid expensive,” she convinced her husband to help her build one. She found the plans online and they went to work. Davis, who claims that she used to be far more extroverted but now desires nothing more than to retreat to her garage — her girl cave — and watch DIY videos, found exactly the treatment she wanted in one such screening: Shou Sugi Ban.

This Japanese technique of charring wood essentially encases the wood in a layer of carbon that makes it ideal for a bathroom: waterproof and highly resistant to mold. It also resists insects and fire. Plus, it creates striking striations and contrasting values of browns and blacks.

To achieve the look, Davis dragged the new pine and red oak vanity out to her suburban front porch and set upon it with a blow torch. An hour later, she had a beautiful, unique piece of furniture to show for her pyrotechnics. She varnished hers, but you can instead rub wood charred in this way with natural oil.

To learn the technique, she recommends watching a YouTube video and cautions that composite or treated wood, including pressure treated, should not be used, as burning it will produce toxic fumes. A heavy char will last longer than a light char; this technique is best for indoor applications.