Page 9 - Advance Plumbing and Heating Ultimate Bathroom Planning Guide

STYLEGUIDE
Vanities
Start selecting cabinetry, fixtures, and materials early so you’ll have time to research all the options and figure out what’s right for you.
The right vanity will make a statement in your bath.
CABINET BASICS
Like kitchen units, ready-made bath cabinets come in two basic designs. American-style framed cabinets have a face frame applied to the front of the cabinet boxes. Door hinges are often visible. European, or frameless, cabinets have no face frame. Doors cover almost all of each cabinet box, and hardware is hidden when the doors are closed. The former suggests a traditional look; the latter feels more contemporary.
Stock cabinets offer the fewest variables in materials, finishes, sizes, and details, but they’re also the most affordable. Semi- custom and custom cabinets increase your options — but also your cost, and typically your delivery time.
STYLE DETAILS
Exotic woods, specialty finishes, and milled details can bring a fur- niture look to the vanity area and upgrade your bath’s overall style. Remember the decorative impact of knobs and pulls. Use this cabinet jewelry to dress up a simple style or emphasize a design theme. Match your faucet finish or not—it’s up to you. The hard- ware can and will change the entire look and feel of the cabinets.
STORAGE FEATURES
When selecting a vanity, consider how you’ll use it. Must it also store towels and cosmetics? Most vanities combine drawer and shelf space. Customize the capacity of stock models with wire shelves, a pull-out wastebasket, towel rods, hooks, hair dryer and curling iron holders, and drawer dividers.
Look for medicine cabinets with adjustable shelves, built-in electrical outlets, and a mirror defogger (if you can afford to splurge). Use cosmetic organizers to keep small items tidy. If you’re remodeling, choose the same type of medicine cabinet that you’re replacing (a surface-mount or recessed unit) to avoid breaking into the wall.
ULTIMATE BATHROOM PLANNING GUIDE PAGE 7