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Lighting Design Dilemma Bathrooms

Lights above the vanity mirror, or set into the mirror glass?

4 years ago

We are in the midst of renovating our master BA. We have to decide about vanity lighting. We are going to have a single mirror spanning our double vanity, probably trimmed out top and bottom in cherry to match the vanity. The builder suggested using two modern light fixtures set into the mirror rather than above the mirror; he thought it looked more modern. Do Houzzers agree, or see any pros or cons to either approach? Sorry, I can't post photos as the BA is completely gutted at the moment.

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Comments (2)

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Lauren Jacobsen Interior Design
4 years ago
Without photos, I am going to semi-guess here, but if you have recessed in the bathroom, you probably could go with sconces on the full length mirror, they will provide the proper fill light for applying makeup or shaving. Overhead light creates shadowing on the face. If you decide to do this, then the sconces must be selected, placement on the wall determined and the mirror laser cut for the opening to the electrical box. You cannot install sconces on a mirror after the fact, you will crack the mirror. Builder should understand this, but discuss it in detail.
Joyce Oliner thanked Lauren Jacobsen Interior Design
juliab51
4 years ago
I definitely prefer side lighting. We put two fixtures on top of the mirrors on each side of the medicine cabinet in our master bath remodel, and were very pleased with the results. We also put can lights in the ceiling but rarely used them.
Joyce Oliner thanked juliab51
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Have somebody hold a flashlight at different levels pointing down at you while you lean into the mirror and imagine that you're trying to get an eyelash out of your eye. If you are working in your own shadow, the lights are too high. This is why sconces, one on either side of the mirror, are better for best lighting/visibility.
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I think you have to pick and fall in love with your light fixture before you decide! Once you have it in hand, you can really play around with how high to hang it. The mirror and shower doors are the last things to go in usually so you can see how your vanity/backsplash/etc. work on the wall before having to decide. The fixture I bought has 4 individual handblown glass globes that can hang either pointed up or down (very modern) and I realized that I like them down more but DH is very tall-oops. I had the electrician move the box up to suit my needs and to cut the hole in the mirror is only around $50 so affordable to have it "custom" done. Just be careful not to go too close to the edge, the mirror guy said he had to have at least 3 inches from the edge to do a cut out. Now that I am getting close, I am not sure that I am going to do a full wall mirror afterall-lol. The trend seems to be for nice framed mirrors and I am finding a bunch I like!
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Here is your dilemma. if you take down those fixtures there will be two holes in the mirror, that being said, they will be up high and most likely off center. So, to get new lighting that is not stuck in the corners, and covers the holes behind it, might be next to impossible unless you run a thick bar that covers the space. But some times back in the day they only drug wire over and did not put in actual junction boxes, so the bringing it to code might be another issue. 1. take one of the lights down and see what is going on 2. probably have to replace the mirror and move the electrical location.
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This is the OLD vanity & mirrors- I don't have a pic of the new cabinets BUT the new vanity is standard height, (same as in pic) as you can see the mirror is even taller than the vanity- so maybe 48" tall mirror in pic? The new vanity has towers on either end, sinks moved closer together, but lighting still at same height. There will be new, individual mirrors over each sink
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