
Home touch: Oh, vanity of vanities
The bathroom vanity serves as a crucial focal point in both guest and master bathrooms, requiring a harmonious integration of various elements such as water, wood, stone, and metal to achieve both aesthetic appeal and functionality. Sandra Diaz-Velasco, principal architect and designer of EOLO Design, emphasizes the vanity's prominence as often the first and last thing one sees, whether looking in the mirror or washing hands. She advocates for a design that complements the home's overall furniture style, citing her award-winning master bathroom design in Coral Gables, Florida, which features a walnut wood vanity, copper-colored tubing, and a round mirror suspended against a glass backdrop for natural light. The design also incorporates a rectangular overmounted sink for dramatic effect, with the wooden structure neatly storing personal items, emphasizing the vanity as a personal space deserving careful attention to lighting and presentation.
Faye Nielsen, owner and designer of The Nielsen Collection of Interiors, echoes the sentiment that the vanity is a functional focal point, stressing the importance of organized storage through features like drawer pullouts. Vanities come in diverse shapes and sizes, influencing the bathroom's overall character. Options range from single or double sink configurations to freestanding cupboard/dresser styles, custom contemporary designs with sleek storage, or wall-mounted "shelf" vanities resembling large mantelpieces. The choice of sink also makes a significant statement, with a current trend favoring larger, rectangular trough sinks. Homeowners can select from self-rimming sinks, which are dropped into a custom-cut countertop hole with a waterproof outer lip; undermount sinks, mounted beneath the countertop for a seamless look; or vessel sinks, which sit atop the vanity for dramatic visual impact.
The selection of countertop material is equally important for a clean bath design. While marble remains popular, engineered stone or quartz surfaces are highly recommended for their waterproof, stain-resistant, heat-resistant, and scratch-resistant properties. These materials can mimic natural stone and, lacking surface holes, do not require sealing and inhibit bacterial growth. Glass, concrete, and stone countertops with integrated sinks are also custom choices, with colored glass offering a streamlined style. Nielsen advises that countertops should generally not exceed 3 feet in height and 2 feet in depth.
When it comes to fixtures, chrome remains a classic choice, but designers are increasingly incorporating other metal finishes such as oil-rubbed bronze, matte black, or warm copper. Wall-mounted faucets are gaining popularity for their added aesthetic appeal over traditional top-mounted options. Lighting is another critical aspect, extending beyond faucets. Mirrored medicine cabinets with integrated side lighting are preferred, as a single fixture above the mirror can create harsh shadows. A layered lighting plan, combining ceiling fixtures with task or accent lights on either side of the mirror, is recommended, with finishes matching the faucets. For a cohesive look, knobs or pulls on the vanity should complement the bathroom's accent color or metal finishes. Ultimately, natural light, whether from windows or skylights, is considered the most illuminating element for a captivating vanity, aiming to create a spa-like, clean, austere, yet warm and welcoming atmosphere.
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