PubKicks

If a bathroom design needs to be not only functional, but also eye-catching, vessel sinks will help anyone achieve their decorating goal. The good news is the vessel style sink can be anything a homeowner wants it to be: traditional, rustic, modern, whimsical, classic or even avant-garde. While the idea may seem new, these sinks are actually based on an old design. The ancient Chinese used decorative washbasins for hand and face washing in the days before indoor plumbing and running water.

Defining the Object

Vessel sinks are free-standing and can be mounted on a piece of furniture that can be adapted for plumbing use or even on top of a bathroom vanity counter. These sinks can be made from a variety of materials and devised into countless colors, shapes, sizes and even depths. If the homeowner has a particular decorating theme in mind, there will likely be a host of options to choose from that would complement their design. And guess what? The vessel style sink does not have to match the rest of their bathroom fixtures, such as the tub and toilet. While it should marry well with the rest of the fixtures, there is no rule that says the sink has to be the same color, material or even style.

Practical Planning for Home Decor

Before any homeowner plans a bathroom remodel, or even when starting from scratch on a new home, the type of vessel sink wanted should be taken into consideration. The sink chosen will impact the placement of the plumbing pipes, the height of the countertop and even the faucet fixtures selected.

Many vessel style sinks must be installed at a counter height which is atypical of most traditional bathroom sink installations. The standard counter height for a regular recessed sink is 32 to 36 inches from the floor. However, the design of the vessel sink will dictate how high the countertop should be, so that when the homeowner uses the sink, it will be at a comfortable height for them. This is especially useful for homes with small children, people in wheelchairs or those with a height disadvantage. Of course, some vessel type sinks may be mounted on a wall or piece of adaptable furniture to suit specific needs as well. Another thing to keep in mind is that everything in the bathroom will be secondary, because the vessel sink will naturally draw the eye and be the main focal point.