E73 – Vanities - Bathroom Design Essentials

In this episode of the podcast, Frances walks through the different types of vanity options available, along with custom Vs off-the-shelf designs discussing what may work best for your requirements. She also looks at material types and what to consider when specifying for wet areas.    SHOWNOTES:    Vanities are a strong focal point that can make or break the overall design and functionality of a bathroom.     Custom Design Vanity  Allows you to customise the design, shape, configuration of the material and the material being used for the vanity.   Flexible in design   Scaled for the space  Created based on your needs, storage requirements, and bathroom usage .  Custom materials – any combinations – i.e colours, styles  Customise size and configuration    Off the shelf  Sometimes able to  customise certain elements  Choose between different stone tops  If you want a coloured cabinetry, choices are limited  Generally available in standard sizes- 600, 900, 1200, 1500 and 1800 mm.   Standard size may not be the right scale for the room, so it may not be ideal  You may not be able to choose the material type that you want  Limited colour choices – specific colours may not be available with off the shelf products.  Storage Configurations  What you need to store is going to drive the design and functionality of your vanity.   Drawers- How deep and wide you need your drawers Open Shelving- Combination- For instances, a combination of drawers, cupboards and open shelves.  Cupboards  Benchtop only with exposed pipework  Freeform concrete or a piece of stone that forms a vanitytop.   No storage – very minimal look  Can be used in bathrooms where storage is not critical- i.e guest powder room     Different Types of Vanities  Floating/wall hung vanity  Creates an illusion of space as you can see the floor underneath.  Ideally 25-30 cm off the floor.   Looks a lot more sophisticated as things don't feel bulky Ideal for smaller bathroom space   Has a more refined, superior finish If you have a well-designed floating vanity, then you are going to get much more functionality and usability  More often than not, more expensive than floor mounted vanity  Floor Mounted vanity  Has a kicker at the bottom   It can look bulkier  Doesn't maximise on creating an illusion of space  Benchtops  Stone- all types of stone  Opt for a lighter coloured stone  if you don't like the watermarks  Laminate  If you like an under mounted sink, laminate will not be a great choice  Timber  Need to be sealed to prevent watermarking and damage  Cabinetry  Laminate  2pac  Thermo wrap  Timber- veneer and solid timber needs sealing as moisture can affect it.      Links mentioned in the podcast:     Episode 36: Kitchen Design Essentials – Benchtops part 1  Episode 38: Kitchen Design Essentials-Benchtop Criteria and Materials – Part 2  Episode 41: Kitchen Design Essentials – Cabinetry Materials      Join the '5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them' Webinar If you like this and want to learn more, I've got a webinar coming up on 24th November from 7PM-8PM AEDT. Click here to find out more and register. Book a Chat   If you're thinking about renovating or creating a new home  get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.    Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group   Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.