Input on bathroom makeup counter, medicine cabinets, and countertops

6 years ago

Hello. We are going to embark on a master bathroom remodel because our shower pan is leaking. This is coming on the heels of a kitchen remodel due to a dishwasher leak. :-(. The decorator recommended putting in a makeup counter and eliminating the medicine cabinets.

Looking for general input on whether makeup counters are something people like or dislike. I have a number of friends who have recently added makeup counters in their master bath remodels, but I walked through 9 model homes yesterday and noticed none had makeup counters. Also, while I get that they aren't super attractive, medicine cabinets seem super functional to me. Thoughts?

Finally, any general advice on countertop choices? I noticed all 9 model homes used quartz in the bathrooms (even with granite or quartzite in the kitchen). I usually prefer the look of natural stone to quartz, but am thinking there is a reason everyone else is choosing quartz?

Thanks for any input. To the extent it matters, we live in San Diego and housing is semi-pricey -- maybe $425-450/square foot.

Featured Answer

Nancy in Mich

6 years ago

If you are planning to sell, then do what you see the market doing, unless you have the room for a make-up counter and it would be an easy thing to add. I would think that quartz would be best in the bathroom, where all types of solvents are used in the various creams, dyes, polish removers, hairsprays, and body oil products that might be in use.

If you are not selling anytime soon, do what makes you happy or meets your own needs. I don't wear make-up myself, but I am trying to get a make-up type space in our only bathroom under the second med cab because I can't stand up to do my hair without my knee locking up on me. So if I have a place to sit and do that, I will be happier!

Yes, I am adding med cabs. I am with you, they are great places to hold things. I hate clutter and want everything put away after use. I don't have room for cabinets with drawers or towers, but I can pay my carpenter to frame in a place for a couple of in-wall med cabs! No brainer. You can get them in any style and countless sizes.

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Comments (6)

teaka123
6 years ago
We will have "his and hers" medicine cabinets. He can keep his shaving supplies, vitamins, trimmers, toothbrushes, etc on his side and I'll keep mine on my side. It will make mornings easier.
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Well, here's an opinion. I have a personal hatred of that kind of shower door. I'd take it out of there. Are you removing the tub, too? Do you need a tub in there? If not, I'd go with just a shower, but if the tub is a necessity, remove the sliding apparatus and just use a nice shower curtain that can be thrown in the wash and replaced inexpensively. Sure, extend the flooring in there if that is what you like. But I agree with Debbi W. that the flooring doesn't appear out of place, it's nice and neutral. The vanity looks fine to me. But if the finish is worn, I guess you can pay to refinish or paint, I don't know what that costs. Chrome fixtures are nice. Replace the mirrors. To me they look 80's-dated, and mirrors can be had inexpensively. I saw mirrors for $80 at Lowes, or Home Goods.... I'd lose the chair rail. No backsplash made of counter material, if you need a backsplash, do a nice complementary (to the countertop) large tile (not those mini-glass tiles--too much grout), I'd do a plainish tile if it were me. Backsplash made of counter material is not offensive to me, just not my preference. For lighting in a bathroom, like a long light-bar above the vanity, with maybe 6 down lights, because I like to be able to really see the mirror. I also like a flush-mount ceiling fixture, so there is some light in the shower as well. And get some chrome hardware to match the fixtures! Good luck.
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Andrea
6 years ago
My last two houses did not have a medicine cabinet. When we redid our tiny master bath we installed a medicine cabinet. Love it! Look at what you have and where you would store it, if you need the extra space then I would suggest it. No one sees your master bath, make it how you need it to be, plus a med cabinet will not break a sale of a house, if you think it will then replace it with a mirror just before you put it on the market.
dmpsd thanked Andrea
enduring
6 years ago
I would call your $/sf very pricey. In Des Moines Iowa, its around $133/sf, I believe according to a quick look on the internet. National average is $175/sf.

Anyway, I have marble in my bathroom and have been happy with it. Its not subjected to intense chemicals. No nail polish. Just toothpaste, hairspray, and soap. I love the marble. I have it honed. I also have a medicine cabinet that I think is terrific. Though I don't use it as much as I thought I would. I have drawers in the vanity for most things. I do love the large mirror. The history of my medicine cabinet is that I aquired the mirror for free back in the early 90's, before I knew what I had. I thought it was a lower cabinet door for a fancy home bar. So when I was redoing my one bathroom 4 years ago, I noticed mirrors in the show room that reminded me of the mirror I had stored in the basement. It was a Robern fairly large mirrored medicine cabinet mirror. So I had my wonderful carpenter make me a cabinet to go with the trim and cabinetry in the bathroom. I love it, and I think it's pretty.
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grannysmith18
6 years ago
Why would you eliminate the medicine cabinet? If you're going to put a mirror in the bathroom, why wouldn't you also arrange for storage behind it? How does the possibility of putting in a makeup counter mean you have to get rid of the medicine cabinet?

For the look? Get one that's recessed.
dmpsd thanked grannysmith18
Toronto Veterinarian
6 years ago
I don't have a medicine cabinet, and I don't miss it at all. I have shelves and drawers that are equally handy, so I really didn't see the need to add an over-the-sink cabinet. I'm not sure why they're considered more functional than any other type of storage - so, to me, they're good in small bathrooms with few other storage options (like a powder room, perhaps) but I'd rather use drawers for most things.
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Input on bathroom makeup counter, medicine cabinets, and countertops

Nancy in Mich

Comments (6)

teaka123

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Andrea

enduring

grannysmith18

Toronto Veterinarian

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