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Create some vanity flair

Furniture-grade wood vanities used to be a custom job, but now most major plumbing product companies carry them.

February 11, 2012 at 7:32PM

Q My husband and I have been planning for years to sell our home. But recently we decided it's best to stay put and use the money to update it. That means that I can put a little extra into the master bathroom area.

I'd like to have some nice "real" woodwork for our vanity. First, is installing expensive wood products a smart choice for a moist room? Also, what type of wood vanity products do you recommend we look at?

A What you're describing is a step up from a standard "box" vanity that may use a mix of wood-like materials. Basically, off-the-shelf vanities can be a nice choice, they're easy to install and hold up well in moist environments. But to move up, you'll want to look at vanities that may be considered "bathroom furniture" instead of a bathroom cabinet.

Bathroom vanities that fall into this category are actually constructed like pieces of furniture. They're made from premium natural wood materials, beautifully designed and nicely detailed.

Also, wood choices and finishes for quality bathroom furniture usually allow them to be installed in a moist area, so they should stay beautiful for a long time.

In the past, most bathroom "furniture grade" vanities were custom-made onsite by a finish carpenter. That could get very expensive. But today, most major plumbing product companies carry complete lines of bathroom furniture customized to fit their sink tops.

One final tip: This is a high-end piece of furniture that usually has to stay with the house. So, invest knowing that you won't be able to take it with you if you move.

Master contractor/plumber Ed Del Grande is the author of "Ed Del Grande's House Call" and host of TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com.

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about the writer

about the writer

ED DEL GRANDE, HGTVPro.com

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