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Need medicine cabinet/lighting suggestions

2 years ago

I'd appreciate your thoughts! I need a medicine cabinet for a 50-54" custom-built vanity in a master bath that is 8x8 with 10' ceiling. The single sink will be centered. I want an internal electrical outlet. Lights are nice but not necessary. I've looked at a LOT of cabinets. For folks who might want to know about some of these brands:

Madeli Illusion - lots of great features, probably the most I saw. Disliked the frame. Not as substantial - but still fine - as the Robern.

Sidler Quadro - favorite design. Sidler has the most gorgeous mirrors - flawless silvering. The plastic sheath covering the lights looks too plastic-y, especially when the light is off. The door felt too delicate. I'd worry about it chipping.

Robern - AiO only available in 36" wide - is that too narrow for the vanity? Considered ganging PL Portray cabinets with Vesper edgelights: 12":24":12". This requires the most demanding installation - lining up three cabinets and 4 lights. I know some folks here dislike Robern. However, I've had good experience with them and think they are the most solid of the brands I saw.

Kohler Vedera - the 40" x 30" lighted is perhaps the best compromise (and cheapest) but have read negative reviews, especially about the LED lights failing.

Regarding LED lights - I thought I'd like the 4000K cool light over the 3000K warm light - but found the bright cool light to be too antiseptic. The 3000K will be bright enough - especially in our bathroom with a large window next to the vanity. I highly recommend getting a dimmer if it's not integrated. All of the above models are dimmable. Some lights - e.g. Robern Tenor lighting - can be "tuned" - allowing you to toggle from 2700K to 5600K.

A few questions:

1. What size cabinet would be too small? I'd like 40-48" wide. Is 36" too narrow?

2. I like the clean lines offered by a cabinet with integrated lights but open to sconces. Avoiding LED lights may be a good idea. I've read lots of accounts of light failure - e.g. the Kohler above. Thoughts on LED lights or sconces?

3. Any other suggestions for medicine cabinets? I also looked at Keuco and Electric Mirror - neither have design/function that match what I want.

Pictures below: Sidler Quadro - favorite design and Robern - three PL Portray cabinets ganged with Vesper edgelights.




Comments (15)

  • PRO
    2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago










    uws2012 thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
  • 2 years ago

    Thank you, Patricia and Beverly. We'll have 3 cans in the room, including one over the vanity.

    Beverly - what is the 2nd to final bar?

    Picture of the inspiration for the custom-built vanity. We'll have Kohler's Purist deck mount, lever handles in polished nickel.




  • PRO
    2 years ago

    GoogleSearch the image. I just had it in my bathroom lights file

    uws2012 thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    You didn't specify how the cabinet would be mounted: recessed, semi-recessed, surface. If you're planning for non-surface, you must know the depth of the cutout and compare it with the depths of the cabinets you're considering. Also examine the specifications and installation instructions, and be sure that you'll be happy with the appearance of the cabinet from the side, not just head on.

    uws2012 thanked wdccruise
  • 2 years ago

    It'll be recessed.

  • 2 years ago

    ^^Those^^ can all be installed recessed.

    uws2012 thanked wdccruise
  • 2 years ago

    Do you have experience w/Fresca? I've read very mixed, some very negative, reviews.

  • 2 years ago

    Fresca sells a wide variety of products. I would consider irrelevant reviews of products other than the type you're considering (i.e., medicine cabinets). I installed three vanities myself. They're fine.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    We came accross your post and hope you don''t mind if we provide you some more information about our mirrored cabinets.

    The Integrated LED lighting in our medicine cabinets increases the volume of lighting llumination in a bathroom space especially, in the case of the Quadro. It is the quality of the LED used is what makes the difference. We use our own proprietary CRI plus 90 LED manufactured in our Swiss factory. We manufacture our own LED's in our cabinets based on our own specs in order to provide the most clear and vivid illumination where our medicinec cabinets can function to illuminate the vainty and marjority of the bathroom depending on the collection. So, the lighting we use in our mirrored cabinets especially, the Quadro you have pictured here in your post can be the main light source of a bathroom (depending the size of the bathroom).

    There is a misconception about the thin profile of our doors. They are 1/4" thick, but they are not delicate and do not chip nor will they desilver. We manufacture our doors with a thinner profile for a more seamless and less bulky appearance, but our doors weigh exactly the same as a thicker door. The best analogy we can use is compare a $500.00 thicker framed bike with a $3000.00+ high-end competive bike used by bike racers.

    If you want to surface or semi-recess the medicine cabinet vs. recess mount it, we have side mirror kits so, the edge on the side will look polished and finished.

    We also offer a 5 year warranty on all of our products.

    Thank you for your comments about our medicince cabinets. We are are honoured. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us on our contact information on our website, and we can help answer your questions or address any concerns.

  • 2 years ago

    We just had our bathroom remodeled and mounted 3 Kohler Vedera medicine cabinets side by side to form a continuous span of mirror above the vanity and over the toilet which is adjacent to the vanity. The bathroom is a tiny 5’x8’ with a 32” vanity and a centered Kohler sink. The medicine cabinets span 55”(20” width / 20” width / 15” width) and have a walnut surround to unify them. Led light tape at the top and at the bottom channels of the walnut surround with a dimmer switch adds so much wonderful light and when dimmed, so much ambiance.

  • 2 years ago

    Here’s a photo of the Kohler Vedera medicine cabinets mounted together. I love the mirrored interior and shelves. It feels so stable.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Hi! We have a lot high-quality lighting fixtures in our store and provide free customization. Please look through the variants I sent you.









  • 2 years ago

    Multiple sizes, finishes and styles of medicine cabinets and mirrors.

    sofiamedicinecabinets.com/our-collections.html


  • last year

    @midcentura I love the look. How did you do the top and bottom back lighting on the medicine cabinets? Do you have them connected to a switch so you can turn them on and off?