| "body"> | | | | number of very colorful epithets to your vocabula ry |
| Planning on remodeling your bathroom? You'll find out | | | | as you pull the entire unit out for a mid-project supply |
| very quickly that one of your major decisions involves | | | | line revision. As they say in the army, however, proper |
| the selection of a new vanity base and vanity top. | | | | planning prevents poor performance. |
| Let's see what the choices are and which one is right | | | | Freestanding Vanities - From Contemporary to |
| for you. | | | | Eclectic |
| There are two basic types of vanities, built-in and | | | | Free-standing vanity bases allow you to be a little |
| freestanding. Built-in is exactly what the name implies, a | | | | more adventurous in design. Unlike built-in vanity bases, |
| vanity base and a solid countertop that installs against | | | | they typically come complete, with the vanity top. |
| the wall and is designed to look like part of the | | | | Because of this, you have a chance to evaluate the |
| structure. | | | | whole look before making a commitment to a |
| For those who lean toward modern décor, or | | | | particular style. Some free-standing bases look like fine |
| are remodeling the bathroom in a contemporary home, | | | | furniture and use tops similar to the built-ins, made of |
| loft, high-rise condominium, or upscale townhouse, a | | | | granite or glass. The holes for the vessel and faucet |
| free-standing vanity will definitely appeal to your | | | | are pre-drilled and ready for installation. |
| creativity due to the greater range of more unique | | | | These vessel bowls are contemporary, artistic, and, |
| designs that are available. These vanities also enhance | | | | sometimes, exotic. They range all the way from |
| the visual space of smaller bathrooms and powder | | | | tempered glass to antique hammered copper, cultured |
| rooms found in today's new construction. | | | | stone, real stone, and stainless steel. Some of them |
| Built-In Vanities - The Traditional Experience | | | | are designed to mount on top of the flat counter, while |
| Deciding on a built-in vanity is a two-stage process. | | | | others sit inside the vanity top with only a few inches |
| First, you choose the vanity base. Walk into any home | | | | of the vessel above the counter surface. In either |
| remodeling center and you will find rows of stock | | | | case, many leave exposed the supply lines and drain. If |
| vanity bases bolted to the wall, ready to take home. | | | | you enjoy being on the cutting edge, these types of |
| There are variations in style, including length, height, | | | | vessels or sinks are made to order for you. |
| number and placement of doors and drawers, but | | | | Also available are tops integrated with sinks as one |
| that's about it. If you have an older, traditional home, this | | | | piece, usually in interesting ceramic shapes or out of |
| style is most likely your best choice. | | | | glass. Other vanities are designed with flat surfaces, |
| Now that you have your vanity base selected, there's | | | | where you can use some of the avant-garde sinks |
| still something missing...the vanity top. Most of the time, | | | | (vessels) by mounting them on top of the solid stone |
| the vanity top will be made from cultured marble, | | | | or glass vanity top. |
| ceramic, or granite, and usually the sink (or basin or | | | | You can find everything from chrome pedestals that |
| vessel, depending on the manufacturer's description) | | | | stand on the floor to cantilevered wall mounts that |
| will be an integral part of the top, forming a one-piece | | | | support the basin in mid-air. Prefer fine cabinetry? |
| unit that will not leak. In some cases, a vanity top will | | | | Common wood choices range from wenge (usually |
| have a cut-out (or cut-outs in the case of a double | | | | painted ultra dark brown, almost black) to oak. Exotic |
| vanity) to allow the basin (or basins) to drop in. | | | | hardwoods, such as sapele or zelkova become |
| Whatever type of vanity top you choose from one of | | | | available from time to time. These rich grained woods |
| the big box suppliers, the tops that you can take with | | | | are highly prized by custom furniture makers. It's even |
| you are fairly limited and conventional in appearance | | | | possible to find a free-standing vanity that looks and |
| and configuration. However, those retailers always | | | | functions exactly like an antique chest of drawers. |
| have a wide selection of vanity tops from various | | | | Freestanding vanities eliminate the installation problems |
| manufacturers that can be custom ordered. Prices are | | | | mentioned above because the open designs are easily |
| reasonable and you can choose from a wide variety | | | | accessible. The drain hardware is also designed to |
| of sink shapes and placements in the top. If you're | | | | stay out in the open. P-trap drains, in particular, are |
| re-doing an older house or simply prefer a traditional | | | | very modern in design so you don't mind them being in |
| built-in vanity, this is an excellent way to add a little 'pop' | | | | plain view. |
| to your bathroom while maintaining a traditional | | | | Odds and Ends - Build it Yourself |
| appearance. | | | | There is a third vanity alternative that deserves a brief |
| Another thing to consider, if you're planning on doing it | | | | mention,namely, custom building a vanity base from |
| yourself, is the relative difficulty of connecting the | | | | scratch. This option provides the ultimate in flexibility |
| supply lines and the drain. When it comes to modern | | | | (and is sometimes your only choice if you have an |
| sink and faucet installation, it has gotten simpler for | | | | oddly shaped space) by allowing you to build from any |
| do-it-yourselfers to make the necessary connections. | | | | kind of exotic hardwood. Think long and hard before |
| The problem lies in access to the connecting points. | | | | taking this route, however, because it often takes an |
| With built-in vanity bases, as well as some of the fine | | | | experienced woodworker with an ability to visualize in |
| furniture versions and the occasional free-standing | | | | three-dimensions to make such a project successful. |
| ones, you're going to wind up with your head stuck in a | | | | Conclusion |
| cabinet, trying to thread a nut in a hard to reach area. | | | | An old adage in woodworking advises that one should |
| Much of the problem with access to these built-ins | | | | measure twice and cut once. When choosing a new |
| comes from their name. You cannot move the base | | | | vanity, take the time to browse the home remodeling |
| or countertop to get to the water lines. Depending on | | | | stores to see the common offerings and search the |
| the exact set-up of your bathroom lines, it may not be | | | | Internet, if you are looking for something more |
| that much of a problem, but other times a complete | | | | expressive. In other words, research much, choose |
| re-rerouting of the water supply line will be necessary | | | | once. Do that, and you will wind up with a new |
| in order to avoid a structural element of the cabinet. In | | | | bathroom of which to be proud. |
| a worst-case scenario, you could end up adding a | | | | |