Combining Ceramic Or Enameled Steel Fixtures With Bathroom Furniture

Using ceramic or enameled steel sinks and other fixtures adjacent to wood finishes provides a combined look that is quite appealing in many situations. Wood finished vanity units, for example, that are designed to accept wash basins can create very balanced and appealing wood/basin combinations that form a harmonious whole. The washbasin might be designed to sit on top of the furniture unit and serve as a washbowl as has been commonly used for some time. In that case the top of the vanity may be exposed to splashing water and will need to be finished accordingly. That can mean using a properly laminated surface or a lacquer painted surface as long as either one is appropriately water resistant and protective.

Wash basins can be designed to sit on top of a vanity furniture piece or be mounted beneath in an under-mount design. Photos courtesy of Duravit USA, Inc.

The alternative is to use an under-mount wash basin that is secured to the underside of the vanity top. In that case, the details of securing the undermount sink in place become critically important. The common details for doing this require that a finish surface passes over the top of the washbasin. That often means that the laminate itself passes over the basin unit while the base material is routed out to accept the basin and expose the underside of the laminate. The basin is then adhered in place and sealed all around the perimeter. The edge of the laminate is trimmed and the result is a very clean appearance without a surface gap or edge on the top of the vanity. This approach necessarily precludes the use of a lacquered top since there would be no surface to cover over the edge of the basin. It may also preclude certain wood and laminates from different manufacturers. When considering this type of solution, however, it is worth noting that it may be possible to select a vanity unit with the basin pre-installed under factory conditions rather than relying on combining differing trades in the field.

Beyond wash basins and vanities, wood paneling can be combined with other fixtures as well. An example might be the side of a bathtub that is receiving a panel to transform it from a purely fixture appearance into a full part of the furniture appearance of the bathroom. In this case a compressed laminate might not act as an overlay to a base material, but cover directly over the fixture itself. Therefore, only a very thin layer of material is needed to cover over a self supporting section of a free standing whirlpool tub or spa unit. This is a particularly attractive idea that eases field installation since the tub doesn't then have to be enclosed and tiled to finish it. Further, such wood-paneled bathtubs have the ability to create an inviting atmosphere in the bathroom.

Using Glass And Mirrors

Finally, for those designs that call for lighter appearances, particularly in smaller bathrooms, the use of glass or mirror panels set in chrome or other lighter finishes may be more appropriate. The addition of a shower, for example may be desired in a powder room to make it a fully-functional that, if necessary, can also be used as a second bathroom for overnight guests. A shower enclosure takes up a lot of valuable space in the bathroom, however, but the EOOS design group questioned if it really had to. They developed a design for an innovative folding shower enclosure built from a brilliant chrome frame with glass and mirror panels. Two large self-locking glass door panels are fitted in the frame, using clear or translucent glass or with an optional mirror on one side. After showering, these doors can simply be folded or swung back against the wall. This avoids the shower stall from protruding into the room, the faucet hardware and shower head are covered and the bathroom appears much larger, particularly when mirrored glass is used. Hence, with ingenious planning and the right product and material choices it is undoubtedly possible to transform a relatively few square feet into a truly amazing bathroom. The treatment and mounting of the glass obviously become important in the design and fabrication of the furniture. However, since safety is paramount the norm is to use tempered glass that shatters into blunt pieces rather than sharp splinters in all bathroom furniture wherever glass or mirrors are called for.

A shower stall that uses fold out glass panels can provide an elegant space saving solution in tight spaces. Photo courtesy of Duravit USA, Inc.