Long before vanities were confined to bathrooms, dressing tables were prized bedroom additions that gave women their own sanctuary for performing beauty tasks amid trays of perfumes, knickknacks and jars. A prized three-paneled mirror mounted to the wall and a comfy vanity chair completed the picture. That all changed when bathrooms grew to be the size of bedrooms, at which point unique vanity designs were limited only by money and imagination. Does this Spark an idea?
The Floating Vanity
Glass vessel sinks, uniquely-designed fixtures and a willingness to incorporate plumbing into a bathroom decorating scheme ushered in the era of the floating vanity. These prefabricated sections of granite, composite and other bathroom countertop materials are mounted to walls rather than being supported by cabinets and other furnishings. Once installed, they appear to float in space. Floating vanities require superior wall supports since natural stone is heavy. Add the weight of a thick glass or ceramic vessel sink, and you understand the importance of structural bracing required to keep these vanities "afloat" beneath large vanity mirrors.
The Antique Vanity
Hunt antique stores until you find a good-looking piece of furniture that's an ideal fit for your vanity space. Height is obviously the biggest criteria; you may fall in love with a massive Victorian bureau, but if only a member of the LA Lakers can reach the top, it's not a suitable candidate. Instead, choose a size-appropriate bureau, hutch, desk or vanity, and seal it with polyurethane to protect it from splashing water. You may have to remove drawers to accommodate plumbing, but if you glue drawer fronts in place, nobody will notice. Drill drain and faucet holes, and mount a sink and faucets. A framed period mirror completes your antique vanity project.
The Roman Vanity
Support your Roman spa theme by purchasing tall plinths or columns to create a sumptuous vanity fit for Caesar. Cement together or just stack short, thick columns to obtain the right height, use tall pillars to size or pair columns with plinths to make your support system. Bolt the pillars to the wall, and place either a countertop or a thick slab of glass that has been drilled to accommodate the sink drain and faucet on top. There should be plenty of room for your Roman bath and body potions once you install your vessel sink. Don't forget a pretty mirror to reflect your handiwork.
The Repurposed Vanity
Turn anything you choose into a vanity. For example, purchase a used gurney, set the height to suit your needs (gurneys adjust to between 28 and 42 inches high) and throw out the mattress and padding. Remove the wheels, side rails, IV poles and hydraulics. Bolt the stripped-down gurney to your bathroom wall so it remains stationary. Place a stain and water-resistant countertop that has been drilled for sink drainage and faucet installation atop the gurney and hang a mirror. This is but one unusual way to repurpose a found object into a vanity; you can come up with more.
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