Specifying Bathroom Furniture

With an understanding of the design opportunities, material basics, and production processes, writing a specification for bathroom furniture becomes a matter of making some fundamental decisions and coordinating some specific choices with the overall design.

Quality Assurance

Performance criteria and testing standards are promoted by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) which is a voluntary, non-profit trade association representing North American cabinet manufacturers and suppliers to the industry. KCMA is an influential advocate for the industry and since 1955 has administered the nationally-recognized performance standard for cabinets known as ANSI/KCMA A161.1. All quality bathroom furniture should have no problem complying with this recognized standard.

Products

When it comes to specifying products, it is appropriate to specify choices and criteria for the furniture materials used in specific furniture/fixture pieces. Obviously, this needs to be coordinated with any other bathroom fixture selections to be sure that all items are coordinated and work together. In that regard, it may be prudent to specify that all items need to be supplied from the same manufacturer. The material selections would then logically be identified to match all pieces that are part of a particular bathroom design such as bathtubs, sink counters, fixed or mobile storage units, spa tubs, etc. If mirrored cabinetry is used, that should also be clearly specified and the mirror locations identified.

Regarding finishes, those also need to be identified. If lacquered painted surfaces are to be used, the color and paint characteristics should be called out. If wood veneer laminated products are used, then the specific wood species and color needs to be identified and selected. Where décor style is used the color or pattern of the laminate similarly must be identified and selected.

Bathroom furniture can be specified in a range of real wood, décor, or lacquer paint finishes. Image courtesy of Duravit USA, Inc.

Installation

Installation of bathroom furniture is consistent with installing bathroom cabinetry and other fixed in place furniture. Of course, it is always advisable to consult manufacturer's installation instructions and recommendations for assurance that particular products are installed correctly, securely, and in a way that will not compromise performance over time.

Proper cleaning and care is of course important, not only for the installing contractor but for the end user. It's appropriate to wipe the furniture with a damp microfiber cloth and to regularly ventilate the bathroom. And to ensure that wood in the bathroom retains its look for a long time, direct, prolonged contact with water should, of course, be avoided.

Conclusion

The choice of using furniture grade fixtures with a wood finish not only enhances the bathroom experience consistent with current trends, it helps the bathroom become better integrated with the rest of the building spaces around it. Understanding the basic materials and production processes allows for specifications to be written that take advantage of the best quality and latest available offerings. In the end, the overall design and performance characteristics of the finished bathroom can allow for a timeless solution that can be functional and enjoyable for the users for many years to come.

Peter J. Arsenault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED-AP practices, consults, and writes about sustainability, design and practice issues nationwide. www.linkedin.com/in/pjaarch

Founded in 1817 in the heart of the Black Forest, Duravit is a leading manufacturer of ceramic sanitaryware, bathroom furniture, whirlpool tubs and wellness products. Duravit’s collaborations with internationally renowned designers such as Philippe Starck, Norman Foster and sieger design yield forward-thinking, environmentally-conscious and award-winning products that bring the bathroom to life. For more information please contact Duravit USA, Inc.: 888-DURAVIT or pro.duravit.us.