18 Sumptuous Vanities for Singular Bathrooms

lyvia These are gorgeous, but they look like museum pieces. I love the textures, but do they wipe clean? dried toothpaste? A real vanity should look great holding toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, mouthwash, a hairbrush, and a few prescriptions and grooming tools. I once saw one with a large box between the sinks, where the lid flipped up to be a mirror, and putting away was as simple as closing the lid.

I wonder if the whole idea of a mirror over the sink isn't about over, as people age. I don't need a mirror for washing my hands or brushing my teeth, and I don't need a sink for my hair. I would put storage at elbow height over the sink, with a smaller mirror, then put a second mirror where a nearsighted person can see it without crawling over the sink.

But then again, these really are beautiful! There must be some way to marry form and function.

astraea I wish there were a law that all of these things had to show a price-tag, for the design and/or fixtures! There's one bathroom where the wall is a whole slab of granite. I priced the more unique granite designs a few years ago, when replacing a vanity top, and some of them go for $400/sq ft. So a whole slab can run $10,000 .. how many people can afford a "statement" like that, just to cover one wall of a bathroom?! I agree with other comments, that some of these look like museum pieces & aren't very practical in a bathroom either .. unless you have a maid.

judywildwood I agree with the other comments that some of these vanities look like museum pieces. I am especially disturbed that someone used the legs from an 1800's piano to attach to a bathroom vanity. I would like to think that the piano somehow was already destroyed and the legs were all that remained. That would make me feel better. I have the same piano handed down from my great-great grandfather, and I treasure it. It shocked me to see the legs of an identical piano on a vanity.

astraea While I do like having a large mirror (great for flossing & checking your gums), I totally agree that I wish designers thought about having a small, attractive, possibly pull-out mirror, to put on make-up & get something out of your eye. I'm short, and having to lean over a sink to do that, is inconvenient. I DON'T want a separate mirror that takes up room standing on the vanity, where I'd have to sit down to use it!

smoore My heart sings at the absence of builder grade white cabinetry!! I especially love the mirror framed in copper.

rockyri How about examples of a tiny full bath? These can be challenging.

lorirobinson Not to be snarky, but the average homeowner would have neither the space nor the budget for most of these bathrooms. Having said that a gal can dream can't she? ;)

Architectural Antiques Great designs! Check out our antique sinks at www.archantiques.com

Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR Well, let's see ... the countertops above are made from stone, wood, glass and stainless steel. Yes, I think the toothpaste will wipe up just fine. Somehow people seem to get the idea into their heads that because something looks beautiful "like a museum piece" that it just MUST be impractical. Not true, and not to put too fine a point on it, I think it shows a serious lack of imagination to think that standard cabinets are the only thing that can be functional.

lyvia -- I disagree that a vanity needs to look great holding deodorant, mouthwash, etcetera. There is nothing attractive about a plastic tube of deodorant. Those things should be put away. None of these photos shows the entire bathroom, so no way to know what storage is available. But even with basic builder white cabinets, I don't want to display the plastic bottles of toiletries.

rockyri -- this ideabook is specifically about dream vanities. For tiny bathrooms there are several good idea books. Try these.
Ideabook: Uncramp Your Small Bathroom
Ideabook: Make a Tiny Bathroom Work Wonders

rose130 -- Funny. :0) After 13 years, I would say it is time to hire a designer and contractor and let your husband know when it's done.

lorirobinson -- It is a little snarky and yes, most people like to dream. :0) If Houzz only showed what the "average" person could afford, people would be bored really fast. It is the beautiful, imaginative and unique that we love to see. That said, with some ingenuity and imagination, several of the examples above could be pulled off relatively affordably. No less than 4 of them were created from old pieces of furniture. One is made from a granite counter and twigs from their property. Architectural salvage pieces are a wild card -- you might get something for next to nothing or you might pay a lot for it. And some are expensive works of art made from fine materials. What they all have in common are creativity and a willingness to think outside the box.

ddelora I couldn't agree more with many of the statements made here. Our bathrooms are not bigger than our living room, as shown in these pictures. Wooden vanity tops? Not with hairspray, gels, toothpaste, water, etc.

What about storage? A cute basket under a floating counter just doesn't cut it in my world. I have towels, washcloths, Comet, disinfecting wipes, and toilet paper stored in my bathroom vanity. In a basket on top of the vanity, we have a hairbrush, comb, blow dryer, electric razor, sonic toothbrushes, etc. You know, things you use EVERY morning.

Granted, our bathrooms are small, but I would like to see common sense solutions for real living. Storage items with a decorative touch, innovative shelving/cabinets, etc. Most of us don't live in multi-million dollar homes with 1,000 square foot bathrooms.

Diamondflame I see a lot of vanity envy right here, haha. I too hate the sight of toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. And I hate hvg to lean over a sink to get something out of my eye. But I am all for gorgeous outlandish vanity tops as long as they incorporate smart well-designed/disguised storage areas. Perhaps then we'll see less vanity envy and far fewer snarky comments.

newmouse This ideabook definitely lived up to the promises of the title - sumptuous, rarefied, uncommonly beautiful. Houzz is a great resource for design ideas and provides the full range - from inspirational/aspirational to DIY and improving a small space on a budget.

lorirobinson I do love to think outside the box and dream, however even with reclaimed pieces none of these bathrooms would be in my budget. I come to the site to get inspired and find out how real people solve their every day design issues which I find exciting, because most people can make a gorgeous space with a big fat budget, few can make beautiful space on a shoestring. Many folks on here have done just that, and I find that way more interesting than how to create a really expensive bathroom.

Dana Veach I have to agree with you, Pangaea: this is a design site, not Walmart. And while I shop at Walmart, my dreams don't live there. This site is a place for ideas, inspiration, and innovation. It is a place where those without design training can train their eyes and elevate their understanding as to what constitutes good design. In so doing they may actually become better able to recognize opportunities for creative and even elegant solutions to design problems at bargain prices.

I sometimes get frustrated with design "snobbery" and skyrocketing prices, but I drink in beautiful design as avidly as the air I need to survive. The loss of beauty is the loss of imagination and creativity, and that is at least one factor in the loss of hope in the world. The absence of hope is the essence of Hell. Keep the beauty coming!

Savena Doychinov, CKD/Design Studio International rockyri, for a small full bath that went from Drab to Fab, please visit my page:
http://www.houzz.com/pro/designstudiointl and click on the last project -
"Timeless Small Bath in Falls Church". It won the 2011 NKBA Baltimore/Washington Chapter Best of Class for Small Bath and one of Houzz'
Best of 2012 for Bathroom Design in DC Metro. If you would like to see the "Before" and "After" photos for it, please go to our website (link on my page).
I would love to hear what you think.
Savena Doychinov, CKD/Design Studio International

scoobydubious I just don't understand how these pretentious art-projects are practical AT ALL. How do you use these dainty little bowls without splashing water on the antique wood furniture, or other non-waterproof "counters"?

Try to wash your face or brush your teeth with these things and you'll just make a mess.

taureg Most are hideous. And the extravagance matches that of people who don't cook but have $100K kitchens.

The reason practicality doesn't matter is that there are probably enough other bathrooms that these aren't used that much.

An exotic wood credenza as a vanity? With a bowl sink? Unless that is poly-urathaned, which I doubt it is, how on earth will it withstand water damage?

smoore I am so glad there are people out there who can afford 100k kitchens and extravagant bathrooms. If not, Houzz would be as exciting as browsing a Lowe's flyer. I enjoy looking at the pics and although I don't share the same taste as a lot of them, I am ever so grateful they (and Houzz) gave me a peak into their homes.

CAROLE MEYER Some very beautiful designs here....all so different.

lyvia Your piece did make me think, and I thank you for that, as well as offer fabulous eye candy, and inspirational color/texture ideas.

Every project has to balance function, beauty and budget; but the inspiration's balance doesn't have to match the final project. So I think it is great that Houzz does not impose any particular balance. I like to see it all: the innovative function, the low budget and the sumptuous.

So I should probably have phrased my comment more in terms of what I personally would do, and less as a prescription for the rest of the world. I certainly never meant to limit Houzz. Just because I don't keep the clutter off my vanity, doesn't mean nobody else can. I just meant to muse about how to adapt these colors/textures to my needs and my lifestyle.

lyvia ok - here's what you inspired - start with the Walters wood vanity with hammered metal legs. Then think of those narrow kitchen pull outs, maybe six inches wide, thirty inches tall and eighteen deep. Put two or three pieces of the hammered metal into the mirror space over the sink as doors, such that when you pull them out, you get a lot of storage, and it echoes the legs. That would be pretty.

But you would lose space behind. Hmm. Not a finished idea yet.

Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR lyvia -- You made my day! Anytime I can play a part in sparking some creative thinking I'm happy. Your project sounds very interesting. You'll have to come back and post pics when it is complete. Would just love to see what you come up with.

General note here to commenters:
You don't have to like the rooms and examples you see here. How boring would that be if we all liked the same things? But please remember that you are commenting on real people's homes and be as polite as you would like them to be if they were commenting on your home. Insulting comments are just not cool -- ever.

Regarding the practicality of wood counters: There are marine varnishes which render wood quite practical. I have seen wood sinks and bathtubs for that matter. It also depends on how messy one actually is. I have a friend who takes a piece of toilet tissue and wipes down the sink and counter after each and every use. Bless his heart. I wish I could be a little more like that.

Dana Veach, smoore & Carole Meyer -- Thank you all for your comments. Nice to have some fellow dreamers and lovers of beauty here.

Since a number of people have brought up cleaning, here is a link to an Ideabook I wrote on designing bathrooms with an eye to making them easy to clean. Note -- it isn't about making them inexpensive, just easy to clean, so some ideas are very affordable and some -- not so much.

professorlilith I like this article, and I thought several of the designs were affordable, practical and/or small. I live in an 1100 sq ft two bedroom and i definitely can see some of these in my own remodel. I love the one with the spring green cabinet and the Asian inspired one.

mmsalg Beautiful ideas here. The custom basins ar amazing! Check the link for makers who would love to help you make yours.

marcie
http;//custm.co/hz/82

deedavidson as lovely as these are, they are'nt for the everyday homes.

trasgorshek Oh Dana Veach I'm so with you! I absolutely love looking at beautiful, creative designs...even if I can't afford them. They do inspire me to get creative, recreate, reimagine at a much lower price point. But, I also love it when Houzz showcases, what I guess most would call, "normal" homes. I just love this site because it gives you everything.

And can I just say I am in love with that copper surround and it's patina...just gorgeous. I absolutely love all metals and get a thrill from architectural salvaged pieces when used in fun ways.

Ohh, and final thought, for the comments about wood vanities...completely doable. We have one that I put several coats of poly on and works just fine.

Savena Doychinov, CKD/Design Studio International As a professional kitchen and bath designer I really appreciate Pangea's efforts to bring us this cornucopia of vanity styles. I personally always try to make the vanity distinctive, as it's often the only piece of bath furniture in the room and contributes a great deal to the ambience of the space. Pangea's collection was meant to show us the imagination and creativity that designers are capable of,
as well as homeowners. I really like that on Houzz we're exposed to so many styles, material sellections, design solutions. It educates our eye and expands our understanding and appreciation of great design.
Savena Doychinov, CKD/Design Studio Int'l

barbav I sooo love this site! I've been looking at pictures of baths and kitchens to find some inspiration and these did the trick. Thanks Pangaea.
LOVE the stone top, sink, and twig base. Any idea what that stone is?
Also love the aged copper wall and the simplicity of the counter.
The wood top with the carved (metal?) supports and the framed mirror looks like it was made for our bath. We live in an 80s post and beam with knotty cedar ceilings and mahogany trim everywhere. I never considered adding more wood but I think it may look very cool.
Iyvia, I'm with you on the mirrors. The older I get the less I look in them!
Also wondering about the importance of a double sink. Now, there's just one sink and a makeup area (which I've come to love) to the side. In the redo, we're pondering 1 sink or 2. Anyone have a thought on that?
I like that the photos show different flooring, too. I keep going back and for- light travertine/dark granite- then the practicle side kicks in and says maybe porcelain that looks like stone. Geesh, lots of choices.
Thanks.

olldroo Pangaea, you really encourage people to think outside the square - if people can just see things that way. There isn't a thing here I could take on face value and use, but I just love the green chest with the wallpaper, and although it wouldn't suit my bathroom, I can see the chest, wallpaper, mirror and lights idea in an entrance way, or a nook in a bedroom. Expanded it could also become a feature wall in a dining room, with full width storage and larger mirror and the lights set further apart. The design of the paper and colours can be changed to suit taste and style, it could even be adapted for a child's room, but the basic idea is there.

My favourite saying is "You are only limited by your imagination", I don't have the greatest imagination but this website really challenges me - you just have to let it.

marcie31 I like the copper surround one, but doesn't the bowl sink seem too small?

jojosail2 Love the first one, but the visible plumbing ruins the whole look. Build a small box/screen out of the beadboard to hide the plumbing. Otherwise people, get a life. This is supposed to be fun, where you can pick and choose ideas to adapt to your own situation. No one is trying to say one must spend thousands on a bathroom and make it a showpiece. Ideas, food for thought. Take a deep breath.

Diamondflame @jojosail2. Re: pic 1. Unless the plumbing is a crusty, rusty eyesore, I'd rather leave the plumbing visible like a piece of sculpture. Imho hiding it behind a beadboard box breaks the clean lines of the background and mars the aesthetics especially when viewed from the sides. The exposed plumbing actually adds to the charm of this quaint style.

ankelly301 I love the Spanish style of #9 but can't imagine doing that unless the rest of the home was similar like the home owners did.