Need medicine cabinet/lighting suggestions

uws2012

last year

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

last year

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/

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (15)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
last modified: last year
uws2012 thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
Related Discussions
Framed recessed medicine cabinet suggestions?
Q
Comments (1)
Have a look at Restoration Hardware. I've used two of their cabinets and have been pleased with the quality. One is a surface mount white model that has been in our main bath for 5 years - looks like new with daily use. The other is a recessed polished nickel model. Very nice interior - all mirrored with glass shelves, and you can get them with lighting/outlet inside as well (expensive).
...See More
Need slim vertical lighting ideas for surface mounted medicine cabinet
Q
Comments (3)
I installed a pair of these skinny Kovac fixtures in my bathroom remodel and they have been great: Kovacs sconce The backplate is less than 5" wide. The fixture comes in a variety of finishes and bulb types. I chose the halogen version because it puts out the most light (120 watts per fixture). Here is the kind of light they provide:
...See More
Need a bathroom vanity light to go over medicine cabinet
Q
Comments (2)
I installed the Tech Lighting Span above a mirror in my powder room. It's available in four finishes and down or up/down (aka Direct or Direct/Indirect) light distribution. Rather expensive, though, at $498. Sold on Amazon, ylighting, elsewhere.
...See More
Need advice on lighted medicine cabinet
Q
Comments (4)
You can do a search on this forum on Robern med cabs and read about issues with the silvering behind the glass coming off and showing black. Some say that you should only use water to clean the mirrors. Others say that they only used water and it still happened. Then people say not to spray anything on the glass and use only a water-dampened cloth to clean the mirror. I am not sure that this issue is even isolated to Robern. I have Pottery Barn med cabs and they have not yet had issues. Others will pop in and give more advice.
...See More
Related Professionals
Warwick Lighting · Champlin Furniture & Accessories · Bloomingdale Interior Designers & Decorators · Alexandria Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Saint Andrews Architects & Building Designers · Highland City General Contractors · Markham General Contractors · Titusville General Contractors · Schenectady Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Sunrise Manor Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Blasdell Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Fort Washington Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Green Bay Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Chantilly Glass & Shower Door Dealers · Wheat Ridge Cabinets & Cabinetry
uws2012
Original Author
last year
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.
0
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
GoogleSearch the image. I just had it in my bathroom lights file
uws2012 thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
wdccruise
last year
last modified: last year
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
last year
It'll be recessed.
0
wdccruise
last year
^^Those^^ can all be installed recessed.
0
uws2012 thanked wdccruise
uws2012
Original Author
last year
Do you have experience w/Fresca? I've read very mixed, some very negative, reviews.
0
wdccruise
last year
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.
0
PRO
SIDLER®
last year
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.
0
midcentura
last year
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
last year
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
last year
Hi! We have a lot high-quality lighting fixtures in our store and provide free customization. Please look through the variants I sent you.
0
pattyl11
last year
Multiple sizes, finishes and styles of medicine cabinets and mirrors.

sofiamedicinecabinets.com/our-collections.html
0
ncc44
4 months ago
@midcentura I love the look. How did you do the top and bottom back lighting on the medicine cabinets? Do you have them connected to a switch so you can turn them on and off?
0