Timber Vanities You'll Adore: This Is How To Design Them
I get it. You’re scrolling through pictures of bathrooms looking for ideas.
Finding the perfect vanity unit is hard. In fact, planning a new bathroom is hard.
You’ve got to make some good choices before construction starts and you’ve got one chance to get them right.
Oak vanity with concrete-look stone top, top mount basin and black wall tap. Love this! | designed by The Little Brick Studio
There’s several details most people forget to include in their vanity design. Some of them are vital for functionality and some of them are purely aesthetic. I’ll explain these in detail.
When you’re making selections and designing your vanity, there’s certain things that might trip you up. I’m here to help you avoid the bumpy road of mishaps and mistakes that can happen along the way.
Remember, the choice of vanity can make or break a good bathroom, ensuite or powder room design. Some clever planning before construction begins, goes a long way.
Today I’ve got several timber vanity images to inspire you. Together with guidance on designing, specifying and selecting a vanity unit to suit your space. One that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
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The genius of floating vanities
I love a good timber vanity, especially if it’s floating off the ground. Here’s a little design illusion trick:
the more floor area you can see in a room, the bigger the room feels.
Think about it... whether it’s conscious or not, the first thing we notice when we enter a space are the boundaries of a room, the junction between the wall and floor. If this is covered over with items and furniture, the illusion is that of a smaller room.
Floating timber vanity with stunning herringbone calacatta marble tiles | architect: Design Tribe Projects | tiles: Surface Gallery | joinery: Competitive Joinery | stylist: Kerrie-Ann Jones | Photographer: Maree Homer
The beauty of timber vanities
Now let’s talk about choosing timber on a vanity for a second. I think we all agree that you can’t go wrong with it, because it’s warm and timeless.
Natural materials are very welcome in any interior design. There’s something very comfortable and familiar about living with these types of finishes. Maybe it has something to do with human evolution and instincts. Remember timber has been used in homes for many, many generations. It’s very homely and relaxing to live with.
Biophilic design is an interesting concept to learn about, if you’d like your interior spaces to connect more with the natural environment -
Defined by Edward O. Wilson as the “the innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes”, the biophilia hypothesis is the idea that humans have an inherited need to connect to nature and other biotic forms due to our evolutionary dependence on it for survival and personal fulfillment. - Wikipedia
Another reason why designers incorporate timber (this is what they teach you in design school), is to create contrast and balance. The warmth of the timber finish contrasts and balances out all the other cold, hard, clinical surfaces in a bathroom.
And as trends go, walls and floors are typically white and grey at the moment. A very chilly colour palette, yet it’s also clean and fresh. Incidentally, that is exactly how you want to feel in your bathroom, after you’ve cleaned and preened yourself!
Custom made Wormy Chestnut timber vanity and shaving cabinets from Just In Place
The problem with poorly designed vanities
I get so inspired when I see images like these below, the vanities look so beautiful.... But when I take a closer look, I can’t help but see all the opportunities lost and wonder if these high end units have truly been designed for the homeowners.
The first issue I see is when the cabinets stop short of the wall. There’s unused space between the cabinet and the wall. Obviously they’re losing precious bench and storage space that are usually at a premium in a bathroom. Please don’t tell me this is a design decision, because I’m not buying it!
A harmonious balance between timber vanity, white benchtop and basin, black hardware and those beautiful blue glazed rustic tiles. | designed by Studio Black Interiors | ‘Iris Aguamarina’ wall tiles from Rivoland Tiles
Solid Tasmanian Oak vanity unit from Loughlin Furniture, top mount basins with chrome wall taps. | stylist Catherine Heraghty & builder Neil Hipwell for realestate.com.au 2 in Twelve project.
The face height shaving cabinet is so close to the tap that you conk your head on it every time you lean over to wash your face.
Custom American Oak vanity and face height storage in a Melbourne family home by Harrison Interiors
The basin height is so low that it could be mistaken for a men’s urinal. Ew! It’s nearly impossible to find picture of this because photographers are very skilled at taking photos from the best angle.
There’s no where to put your hairspray or tall bottles of moisturiser, unless you lay them down flat in a drawer. I can just imagine them rolling about every time you open the drawer, and the gewy leakage going everywhere.
Baxter double vanity from Loughlin Furniture. Those handmade, vertical stack wall tiles are stunning. | stylist Catherine Heraghty & builder Neil Hipwell for realestate.com.au 2 in Twelve project.
Slim-line oak vanity cabinet with concrete slab benchtop. In fact the rest of the bathroom is all concrete. | designed by Felipe Hess for a young actor that lives in Sao Paulo, Brazil
The top mount basin is so close to the wall that it’s extremely difficult to clean around it. Keep those old toothbrushes people, you’ll need them to do the scrubbing! This is another problem that you can’t really see from photos, unless it’s shot from above.
Artisan Above Counter Basin from Caroma
People have cried to me about water stains on their benchtop that they can’t get out. This is the case where they’ve selected the wrong type of material for a vanity top.
There’s something a bit odd about the position of the wall taps because they’re not centred to the basin. In this picture, the wall set is off centre but the round mirror saves it. Any other mirror wouldn’t do it justice. Notice the basin is round too, to align with the round theme that’s going on.
Another timber vanity by Loughlin Furniture. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I do adore their work :)
What would you do if one of these boo boos happened to you on installation day? Well, usually these things are too expensive to fix, so you’d probably just learn to live with it. Gosh, it would be a crying shame if you’d spent thousands of dollars on a new bathroom and it wasn’t perfect. :(
These are the reasons why vanities get designed badly:
Rushing the design process
I’ve seen so many instances where the cabinet design happens in a huge rush, towards the end of a bathroom project. The colours and finishes are chosen first, because it’s important to get the look right. I get that. But then as an after-thought, waaaay too far down the track they say, “Oh yeah, shouldn’t we put some drawers in it??” Then it’s a mad rush to make something work.
I think it’s such a shame that the functionality often gets overlooked or not given much weight when deciding on a bathroom vanity. Bathroom design should always start with function first, then colour and finishes selections second.
Bathrooms are primarily functional spaces. It’s obvious. You’re not going to go in there just to hang out …except for the times you feel like sitting on the loo for a bit, to escape the world while you scroll on Instagram (or is it just me?!)
Anyhow, in the bathroom we definitely need a nice atmosphere (a spa like experience would be ideal, IMO). But realistically, everyday we go in there to do what we need to do, then leave. Therefore a functional design is important. Design your vanity unit to be as useful as possible.
These clear organising compartments help you find everything in your vanity drawer. I use them myself, although I wish mine looked this neat! | Godmorgon storage unit from Ikea
Not seeing the big picture
Often people forget to think about the big picture. The best thing to do is gather together all the things you’ve selected, in the form of material samples and images, and make a simple mood board. This way you can see it all at once and make sure it’s a cohesive design. Both in colour and finishes, style, shape and function.
You may have spent so many weeks or months selecting things, and gathering information needed for installation, but then lost track of of your overall vision somewhere done the line. Perhaps you’ve had to re-select things and some of it doesn’t actually work together anymore. For instance, you need to make sure that the basin and tapware still works with the vanity unit design.
Drawing it all out, to scale, is also a great way to see the big picture and find out if all the pieces fit together.
“Off the shelf” culture
When it gets to the part of the project where a vanity needs to be ordered, most people will go to the store and buy a ready made unit. Let’s call it an “off-the-shelf” vanity. It’s the way we’re used to buying things, it’s a normal part of our lives and culture. We want something = we go out and buy it, off the shelf (or order it online).
They go to plumbing stores like Reece, Bunnings or even Ikea to buy their vanity. They search for something that will fit their space and their needs as best they can, with what’s available in the shop or online. The speed of buying something ready made and arriving on site quickly is a good thing, especially if they’re running out of time.
Some off-the-shelf units will have to be put together, flat pack style. Some units will be beautifully crafted pieces of furniture that come already assembled. Of course the price points for these will be very different.
Natural timber vanity with bohemian style tiles | styling & interior design: Sophie Bell | photography: Hannah Blackmore
That’s all great, but there’s a problem because there’s no “one size fits all”. You might have to compromise on something, which would be a shame. Wouldn’t it be better to have perfectly built-in furniture, maximising every little bit of space?
Hey, I’m not judging. There are some fantastic vanity units out there, and there’s a chance you’ll find something that fits what you need. But just so you know, there is another option...
This is what I do instead (and you can too)
Plan for it and have it custom made.
Why waste so much time searching for the perfect vanity when you can have one made exactly to your specifications?
Custom Made
I’m sure everyone knows about custom made vanity units. I’m not so sure everyone realises that it’s a viable option though. You’ll get something better quality, more personalised AND at a reasonable price, if you use a local tradie to make it for you. In fact they can make it exactly how you want and you’re also supporting your local industry and community.
Think about it... it can be made to fit your space exactly, wall to wall (maximising space). It can be made to fit the items you want to store in it, perfectly. For example: measure your tallest bottle and have the drawer made deep enough.
If you’re already working with a builder or designer, they usually recommend this option and even direct you to the trades they prefer to work with. Be it cabinet maker, joiner, or possibly a furniture maker.
Utilising every inch of space in this bathroom, apartment loft in Oslo, Norway | Haptic Architects
The differences between cabinet maker, joiner, and furniture maker
“What’s the difference between these trades? They all make things out of wood, don’t they?”
They all work with wood, making things, but there’s different areas that they specialise in. Let me explain...
Cabinet makers: mainly work with manufactured board (MDF, HMR, melamine, laminate, timber veneered board, etc) and plywood. Mostly they’re building white melamine, box like carcasses and then cladding them in the finished board colour. They make (you guessed it) cabinets, including shelves and benches.
It’s very detailed work and they need to be very precise. They often work with expensive machinery and computer systems. These are the trades I work with most. They use my drawings to create custom cabinetry. If you access my drawings, you could use them to work with your own cabby.
Joiner: The term joiner and cabinetmaker are used interchangeably. Most cabbies are joiners too, so they kind of get lumped together. There is actually a difference between the two: a joiner specifically makes joins without using nails. Such as for cabinets, shelving, windows, and stairs.
Furniture makers: specialise in making furniture - usually a particular style of furniture and they work with a particular type of timber. They stay in their niche and usually the pieces are unique, like a work of art. They make tables, chairs, cabinets, and so forth. Typically loose furniture, rather than built-in.
If you’re interested in sourcing a solid timber vanity (perhaps using recycled wood), I would start by looking for local furniture makers. They usually offer ready made units as well as custom. Alternately if you want to shop online, these companies keep popping up everywhere: Loughlin Furniture and Ingrain
The Oak Vanity from Ingrain. Solid Tasmanian Oak with a fabulous finger pull detail.
Carpenter: in case you’re wondering what a carpenter (chippy) does, since they work with wood too, they usually work on a building site putting together the structure - house frames, decks, pergolas, that sort of thing. Often the general builder is also a chippy (or started off as one). The other trades I’ve mentioned will work in their workshop and later install their items on site. A chippy is on site all the time.
Things to talk to your cabinetmaker about
Let me tell you the best way to work with a cabinetmaker (since this is most likely the trade you’ll be in contact with). First, use your own initiative to put together some drawings and selections. Then take them with you to your first meeting and discuss them.
Don’t get me wrong, they’re definitely creative people and are more than capable of coming up with a design. It’s just that they’re equally concerned with producing a good quality product the fastest way possible. They don’t muck around.
You don’t want to be in a situation when they ask, “what do you want?” and your mind goes blank - you look like a deer in headlights. Then the meeting proceeds with them making suggestions, you agreeing to them because time is of the essence. A quick decision’s a good decision, right? Wrong.
A few months later, when you’re talking to your neighbour about your exciting renovation, you’re embarrassed because you’ve completely forgotten what colours he’d picked, let alone how many drawers there were. You might even say, “Oh well, it’ll be a nice surprise when it’s all installed” (this is fine if you like surprises that cost $30k or $40K!).
Under mount basin and wall tap with a framed mirror that creates a shelf, genius! | photography: Derek Swalwell | design: Rob Kennon Architects
Have your design drawn up
A badly designed vanity can be fixed so easily, as long as you make a good plan from the beginning. To start with, I always recommend getting designs drawn up properly, into layout plans, elevation views and 3D views of the room.
In fact, this is the service I provide for interior designers, builders, and cabinetmakers. I turn their hand sketches and notes into construction documents and presentation drawings that can be referred to by everyone on the project.
A drawing that’s done to scale, with all the measurements of the space available, really helps you to visualise how it would look and get your brain thinking of all the possibilities. Develop the design on paper, it’s so much easier than trying to do it in your head.
Doing it this way, you won’t only minimise mistakes but you can even take your design to the next level.
Basin Types: undermount, top mount or semi-recessed.
Which is best? The jury is out.
Some people will say top mounts will give you more room inside your vanity for storage because the basin isn’t sitting inside it. I beg to differ. With top mounts, the benchtop is lowered to allow for the finished height of the basin and taps, therefore the whole cabinet height and capacity is less.
I would say you get more storage space with under mounts, on custom vanity units. This setup also makes life easier for cleaning. The join where the top mount basins meets the benchtop acts like a dust and grime trap.
On the other hand, I really like the look of a nice sculptural basin sitting on the vanity top. There’s some superb statement basins available that can bring something special to the overall design. You could create a feature or add something interesting with an unusual colour, material or shape.
Here’s the link for more details: Caroma Artisan Above Counter Basin, Rectangle 490
Another reason why top mount basins are so popular is because of their ease of installation onto the cabinet. In fact you could mount them onto just about any piece of furniture or surface. It just needs a small cutout in the benchtop for the waste (and perhaps some fiddling around inside the cabinet to allow for the waste pipe). When the waste is plugged in, the basin is simply secured in place with silicone.
I think a semi-recessed basin should only be considered if you have a very small space to work with. These cabinet depths (at about 300 mm) are tiny - almost not worth it to use a cabinet at all. A wall hung basin with perhaps a nice little bench is much better. Then try to fit a small shaving cabinet above, recessed into the wall.
Wall taps & top mounted taps
You know, every time you reach for a wall tap with wet hands, you’re going to splash water on the wall and benchtop. But hey, they look great and I want one!
Please be aware that there’s a possibility you’ll need to open up the wall, in order to repair them. And another thing to consider is, if you have kids in the house they’re a bit harder for them to reach. However, they give you lots of space behind the basin, for a nice clean look.
Here’s the link for more details: Phoenix Vivid Slimline wall basin mixer set 180mm curved
Top mounted taps have their issues too (there’s good and bad in everything). They’ll accumulate water and grime around their base, for starters.
They’re most problematic if they’re installed straight into the benchtop because water that pools around their base can’t easily drain into the basin . Also they tend to wobble a bit after a few years, if the fixing becomes loose. And if the silicone join wears out, water can end up inside your cabinet, causing awful water damage.
Whatever tapware you choose, obviously it has to be compatible with your basin for functionality and have the right look and feel for the space. Don’t forget that you’ll use them everyday, so choose quality. If you’re looking for ways to save money, skimping on your tapware should be your last option. It doesn’t have to be super expensive, pick something from a reputable brand with a good warranty. Remember, fixing plumbing problems down the track is expensive!
Good luck with choosing and designing your new vanity unit. I wish you well on your journey towards first-class bathroom bliss!
