Need medicine cabinet/lighting suggestions

uws2012

10 months ago

I'd appreciate your thoughts! I need a medicine cabinet for a 50-54" custom-built vanity in a master bath that is 8x8 with 10' ceiling. The single sink will be centered. I want an internal electrical outlet. Lights are nice but not necessary. I've looked at a LOT of cabinets. For folks who might want to know about some of these brands:

Madeli Illusion - lots of great features, probably the most I saw. Disliked the frame. Not as substantial - but still fine - as the Robern.

Sidler Quadro - favorite design. Sidler has the most gorgeous mirrors - flawless silvering. The plastic sheath covering the lights looks too plastic-y, especially when the light is off. The door felt too delicate. I'd worry about it chipping.

Robern - AiO only available in 36" wide - is that too narrow for the vanity? Considered ganging PL Portray cabinets with Vesper edgelights: 12":24":12". This requires the most demanding installation - lining up three cabinets and 4 lights. I know some folks here dislike Robern. However, I've had good experience with them and think they are the most solid of the brands I saw.

Kohler Vedera - the 40" x 30" lighted is perhaps the best compromise (and cheapest) but have read negative reviews, especially about the LED lights failing.

Regarding LED lights - I thought I'd like the 4000K cool light over the 3000K warm light - but found the bright cool light to be too antiseptic. The 3000K will be bright enough - especially in our bathroom with a large window next to the vanity. I highly recommend getting a dimmer if it's not integrated. All of the above models are dimmable. Some lights - e.g. Robern Tenor lighting - can be "tuned" - allowing you to toggle from 2700K to 5600K.

A few questions:

1. What size cabinet would be too small? I'd like 40-48" wide. Is 36" too narrow?

2. I like the clean lines offered by a cabinet with integrated lights but open to sconces. Avoiding LED lights may be a good idea. I've read lots of accounts of light failure - e.g. the Kohler above. Thoughts on LED lights or sconces?

3. Any other suggestions for medicine cabinets? I also looked at Keuco and Electric Mirror - neither have design/function that match what I want.

Pictures below: Sidler Quadro - favorite design and Robern - three PL Portray cabinets ganged with Vesper edgelights.

Featured Answer

PRO

Patricia Colwell Consulting

10 months ago

I do not like integrated lights and IMO LED 4000K is a must in kitchens and bathrooms both spaces are work spaces with color used and the need for good lighting for sure.As for the other choices I have no idea what the vanity looks like so hard to say what size or stlye of cabinet above. BTW natural light in a bathroom is great but only if you never use the space on cloudy days or after the sun goes down. I actually do not like sconces I much prefer a really good LED bath bar light over the medicine cabinet that provdes good over all lighting and in your space you will aslo need pot lights and all of those should also be 4000K unless you love the yellow cast on everything with 3000K So pst some pics in a comment here showing us the vanity you are planning for sure .I lkme Robern cabinets , what do you need the internal outlet for ? I need t o see that vanity .Please do not start another post just all issues with this dilemma posted here in a comments/

Comments (14)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
10 months ago
last modified: 10 months ago
uws2012 thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
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The distance between the vanity and the wall is ( 77.5" - 73" ) / 2 = 2.25" The centerline of a sink is ( 17.5" / 2 ) + 7" + 2.25" = 18" from the wall. If you center a 24" mirror over the sink you will have 18" - ( 24" / 2 ) + 2.25" = 8.25" between the mirror and the wall. If centered, you'd have a sconce 8.25" / 2 = 4.125" from the outside edge of the mirror. You will have 77.5" - ( 8.25" x 2 ) - ( 24" x 2 ) = 13" between the mirrors. If centered between the mirrors, you'd have a sconce 13" / 2 = 6.5" from the inside edge of a mirror. "I would like to use a recessed mirrored medicine cabinet on top of each sink, with sconces on each outside side of the mirror and one in the center, between the two mirrors." That won't work. Put a light over each mirror. (Check calculations.)
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uws2012
Original Author
10 months ago
Thank you, Patricia and Beverly. We'll have 3 cans in the room, including one over the vanity.

Beverly - what is the 2nd to final bar?

Picture of the inspiration for the custom-built vanity. We'll have Kohler's Purist deck mount, lever handles in polished nickel.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
10 months ago
GoogleSearch the image. I just had it in my bathroom lights file
uws2012 thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
wdccruise
10 months ago
last modified: 10 months ago
You didn't specify how the cabinet would be mounted: recessed, semi-recessed, surface. If you're planning for non-surface, you must know the depth of the cutout and compare it with the depths of the cabinets you're considering. Also examine the specifications and installation instructions, and be sure that you'll be happy with the appearance of the cabinet from the side, not just head on.
- 42"-48" wide cabinets with outlets at build.com
- 42"-48" wide Fresca cabinets with outlets at decorplanet
uws2012 thanked wdccruise
uws2012
Original Author
10 months ago
It'll be recessed.
wdccruise
10 months ago
^^Those^^ can all be installed recessed.
uws2012 thanked wdccruise
uws2012
Original Author
10 months ago
Do you have experience w/Fresca? I've read very mixed, some very negative, reviews.
wdccruise
10 months ago
Fresca sells a wide variety of products. I would consider irrelevant reviews of products other than the type you're considering (i.e., medicine cabinets). I installed three vanities myself. They're fine.
PRO
SIDLER®
9 months ago
We came accross your post and hope you don''t mind if we provide you some more information about our mirrored cabinets.

The Integrated LED lighting in our medicine cabinets increases the volume of lighting llumination in a bathroom space especially, in the case of the Quadro. It is the quality of the LED used is what makes the difference. We use our own proprietary CRI plus 90 LED manufactured in our Swiss factory. We manufacture our own LED's in our cabinets based on our own specs in order to provide the most clear and vivid illumination where our medicinec cabinets can function to illuminate the vainty and marjority of the bathroom depending on the collection. So, the lighting we use in our mirrored cabinets especially, the Quadro you have pictured here in your post can be the main light source of a bathroom (depending the size of the bathroom).

There is a misconception about the thin profile of our doors. They are 1/4" thick, but they are not delicate and do not chip nor will they desilver. We manufacture our doors with a thinner profile for a more seamless and less bulky appearance, but our doors weigh exactly the same as a thicker door. The best analogy we can use is compare a $500.00 thicker framed bike with a $3000.00+ high-end competive bike used by bike racers.

If you want to surface or semi-recess the medicine cabinet vs. recess mount it, we have side mirror kits so, the edge on the side will look polished and finished.

We also offer a 5 year warranty on all of our products.

Thank you for your comments about our medicince cabinets. We are are honoured. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us on our contact information on our website, and we can help answer your questions or address any concerns.
midcentura
9 months ago
We just had our bathroom remodeled and mounted 3 Kohler Vedera medicine cabinets side by side to form a continuous span of mirror above the vanity and over the toilet which is adjacent to the vanity. The bathroom is a tiny 5’x8’ with a 32” vanity and a centered Kohler sink. The medicine cabinets span 55”(20” width / 20” width / 15” width) and have a walnut surround to unify them. Led light tape at the top and at the bottom channels of the walnut surround with a dimmer switch adds so much wonderful light and when dimmed, so much ambiance.
midcentura
9 months ago
Here’s a photo of the Kohler Vedera medicine cabinets mounted together. I love the mirrored interior and shelves. It feels so stable.
PRO
MIRODEMI
9 months ago
Hi! We have a lot high-quality lighting fixtures in our store and provide free customization. Please look through the variants I sent you.
pattyl11
9 months ago
Multiple sizes, finishes and styles of medicine cabinets and mirrors.

sofiamedicinecabinets.com/our-collections.html