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If you check out what's happening in bathroom vanities these days
you'll find out that old is new again. Instead of displaying the
usual styles, many vanities look more like fine antiques. They're
beautiful to behold, that is until you read the price tag and discover
that this is a very expensive way to dress up a bathroom. But if
you love the look, there's a way to bring it home for a fraction
of the cost of what you see in kitchen and bath stores. Search through
flea markets and antique stores or spend time at auctions, and there's
a good chance you'll find a chest or table that can be turned into
an elegant vanity.
Converting the vanity pictured here required removing the wood
top to make way for a more durable material. Granite was the choice
for this project, but any other stone, laminate or solid surface
material could also be used. The next step was to strip the old
finish with Formby's®
Furniture Refinisher.To enhance the wood's natural color, the
chest was stained with Minwax®
Wood Finish™ Cherry Stain, followed by two coats of Minwax®
Fast-Drying Polyurethane Semi-Gloss for maximum protection.
After a plumber installed the granite top and fitted it with a porcelain
sink and a brass faucet, the old chest gained a new function with
barely a change to its classic form.
Project Pointers:
- Besides looking good, a table or chest that works must be at
least 18 inches deep and 24 inches wide for one sink, and 48 inches
wide for two. Height matters, too: A vanity needs to be 30 to
36 inches high. If a piece you like is too tall, you might be
able to cut down the legs.
- Before ordering a new top, choose the sink and faucet that will
be installed in it. That will allow the supplier to cut and drill
the right holes for them.
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