A double vanity is an embodiment of functionality and convenience in the bathroom. Advantages and disadvantages of the idea are as follows:
Double Vanity: The Sink.
Cons:
- – Much space is required. If all you have is a tiny or small bathroom, installation of such a functional piece is out of question.
- – Costliness. A double vanity costs significantly more than an ordinary one; it won’t fit into a tight budget of a young family. However, if you see this solution as the only means of instilling peace in your home in the morning hours, the price will probably be of little concern.
- – Cleaning-up. You’ll need to apply twice as much effort to clean the vanity, as now you have two sinks to brush squeaky-clean.
Pros:
- + Expansion of the sink area. A double vanity helps retain the peaceful atmosphere in your US home in the morning, when everyone is in hurry to wash their faces and brush their teeth. Two sinks will enable your home-mates to be done with the morning hygiene twice as fast.
- + Hygiene boost. If all members of a large family use the same bathroom, the issue of hygiene is crucial. The more often you all exploit an item (such as the sink) in turn, the higher is the probability of someone who’s got a cold infecting everyone else. USA general practitioners insist that adults and children within one family should do their washing-ups at different sinks, so that the children’s contacts with adults’ bacteria are minimized.
- + Personal space. A double vanity increases your home-mates’ personal space in the bathroom and gives them the opportunity to individualize it. This solution allows each member of a family of four to have a personal shelf in the vanity cabinet with all their bathing supplies stocked just as they like it.
The sinks can be built into the double vanity in one of the following ways:
• The sink is completely sunk into the counter-top;
• The sink is mostly sunk into the counter-top but has lips outstanding against the surface;
• The sink reminds a washbowl standing on the counter-top.
The choice of the material the sinks of your double vanity are made of is a matter of double responsibility.
1. Ceramics. Porcelain and Dutch ware sinks are commonly installed in double vanities. Their key characteristics include attractive appearance that suits any bathroom interior, high hygienic properties and environmental friendliness. Such washbowls never get scratched and are able to withstand water temperature fluctuations. However, the material is fragile: if you accidentally drop a heavy thing into the sink, chances are the bowl will fracture.
2. Ceramic granite (also known as porcelain stoneware). The difference between regular ceramics and this material is the addition of granite chips, which makes ceramic granite sinks durable. Such a fixture can withstand mechanical impacts, as in the above-mentioned accident.
3. Glass double sinks vary greatly and allow for many color options. The glass may be matted or shiny, reed or perfectly sleek. The material easily takes any shape, so the scope of designer’s ideas is really vast. For double vanities, they use highly durable tempered glass, which is neither fragile, nor afraid of mechanical impacts. The material is not prone to accumulating smells or moisture, but hard water may leave ugly stains (which are easily cleaned, though).
4. Composite materials are often used for sinks built into a double vanity. Artificial stone is environment-friendly, durable, and able to withstand impacts and household chemicals. The only drawback of such sinks is their great weight, which requires the vanity’s structure to be extra firm.
5. Natural stone is a highly decorative material; however, it requires careful cleaning and may accumulate smells and colorants.
6. Stainless steel is rarely used in bathroom vanities; the material is more suitable in kitchen sinks. However, designer’s ideas in styles such as Hi-Tech may employ double vanities with steel washbowls.
7. Bronze and brass possess a great decorative potential, but they are rather vagarious in terms of care.
Double Vanity: The Cabinets.
The three major types of double vanity cabinets are:
1. Suspended cabinets. Lacking a pedestal or legs, the structure appears feather-light and expands the bathroom space visually. Such a solution prevents the feeling of encumbrance in smaller bathrooms, while also making the interior more contemporary and stylish. The floor under the vanity is easy to mop, and no splashes and puddles of water on the floor can damage the cabinets. The only disadvantage is the complexity of installation. Also, avoid suspended double vanities topped with extra heavy sinks.
2. Pedestal-standing cabinets. This solution implies that the cabinet has no legs and stands directly on the floor, with a small pedestal between the floor and the shelves. On the advantageous side, installing such a vanity is quite easy. The drawback is: the cabinet contacts with any water you splash on the floor. Thus, make sure the double vanity of your choice has cabinets made of a very water-resistant material. Another disappointing thing is that you’ll be unable to clean the floor under the vanity.
3. Legged cabinets. A double vanity on legs is probably the best choice for most bathrooms. With the cabinets lifted above the floor, you’ll find it easy to mop up any puddles of water. Unlike the pedestal-based option, this solution does not produce the impression of a monolith structure – and thus it doesn’t make your bathroom interior appear “heavier.”