Bathroom Vanities

Vanities hold built-in sinks and faucets. They are generally a smaller, special version of the kitchen cabinet. They are available from all kitchen cabinet manufacturers. There are basically three categories of vanities: North American frame, which is standard, Euro style, which is frameless, and Furniture.

North American frame is mass-produced by kitchen cabinet manufacturers. They are similar in style and construction to the kitchen cabinet. Framed cabinets have a "face frame" which is attached to a box where the doors hang. Less expensive cabinets will have MDF (medium density fiberboard) or plywood face frames and higher-grade cabinets have solid wood frames. Solid wood is less common for the sides of the cabinet box because the high condensation in the bathroom causes it to warp over time.

Euro-style cabinets are frameless on the face. The doors are hung directly on the cabinet box. The doors are usually made of particleboard and covered with high-pressure laminate. You can request a stronger alternative, furniture-grade flake board, because it's rigidity does not warp and split with age.

Furniture is fairly new, but more luxurious. This gives the look of fine furniture instead of a simple cabinet box. These are becoming available by more and more furniture manufacturers and are considered high-end vanities. You can have these custom designed or a small antique dresser converted to one for you by a qualified craftsman.

Materials
The most common materials for vanities are wood or synthetic. They are then veneered, laminated, or painted. Oak is the longest running favorite of woods, but maple and cherry are also quite common. For paint, white is still the most used, but second in line is biscuit color. You can also purchase thermafoil doors for an attractive yet durable alternative, which is a medium density fiberboard coated with opaque plastic.

Cost
Vanity costs range from $95 to $1000 depending on whether it's a stock, semi-custom (built at a cabinetmaker shop to your specifications, not on site) or custom made by a carpenter on-site. The material and design will vary depending on the cost.

Medicine Cabinets and Accessories
The details of the bathroom are what make the decor appealing and personalized. Cabinets, towel bars, soap and tissue holders, shower doors, and etc all contribute to these details. To be eye-catching, everything should blend together, compliment each other, and match on some level.

There are lots of style options available for medicine cabinets: recessed, flush mounted, integrated lighting, multiple doors, multiple mirrors, double door, double-sided mirrors for better viewing, and more.

The shower doors you choose can slide, bi-fold, or swing. There are standard sizes for tub-shower combinations or one-piece shower enclosures, but you do have the option for onsite-customized showers.

Towel bars, soap and tissue holders, toilet paper holders and holders for glasses and toothbrushes are all available in a number of finishes to match your faucets. Other items you may wish to consider are things like built-in soap dispensers, hot water dispensers and water purifiers. Almost all faucets have coordinating accessories, but make sure you buy all of your items from the same manufacturer because all similarly named finishes are not identical. Try a towel warmer to compliment your new decor and add some after showering pampering for yourself. These are basically heated shower racks. They can be costly and require electric and water hookup, but can be an exceptional high-class addition to your master or guest bath.