New This Week: 4 Great Bathroom Vanity and Backsplash Pairings
Look to these spaces for inspiration in creating a cohesive design in your bathroom
Mitchell Parker
June 16, 2017
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
They say good things come in pairs. In bathroom design, that’s true of vanity and backsplash combinations. These four spaces show how getting those elements right makes the whole design come alive.
1. Modern
Designers: Heidi Bonesteel and Michele Trout of Bonesteel Trout Hall
Location: Newport Beach, California
Size: 42½ square feet (3.9 square meters); 8½ by 5 feet (2.5 by 1.5 meters)
Homeowners’ request: Make over a guest bathroom.
Vanity: Custom, painted in Fiesta with a high-gloss finish by Benjamin Moore.
Backsplash: Charcoal gray rectangular tile installed vertically with gray grout.
Other special features: Carrara marble countertop.
Vanity: custom by Joe Worland of H & J Cabinets; cabinet hardware: Flute reveal knob, Rocky Mountain Hardware; mirror: custom by Bonesteel Trout Hall; light fixtures: Small Bluff City pendants, Design Within Reach; faucet: Waterworks; tile and countertop material: Concept Studio
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Designers: Heidi Bonesteel and Michele Trout of Bonesteel Trout Hall
Location: Newport Beach, California
Size: 42½ square feet (3.9 square meters); 8½ by 5 feet (2.5 by 1.5 meters)
Homeowners’ request: Make over a guest bathroom.
Vanity: Custom, painted in Fiesta with a high-gloss finish by Benjamin Moore.
Backsplash: Charcoal gray rectangular tile installed vertically with gray grout.
Other special features: Carrara marble countertop.
Vanity: custom by Joe Worland of H & J Cabinets; cabinet hardware: Flute reveal knob, Rocky Mountain Hardware; mirror: custom by Bonesteel Trout Hall; light fixtures: Small Bluff City pendants, Design Within Reach; faucet: Waterworks; tile and countertop material: Concept Studio
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2. Traditional
Designer: Annette English
Location: Beverly Hills, California
Size: 50 square feet (4.6 square meters)
Homeowners’ request: A comfortable, inviting guest powder room with Cape Cod style.
Vanity: Custom transitional-style vanity cabinet painted in Antique Pewter by Benjamin Moore, with fabric and metal door inserts.
Backsplash: Beadboard paneling painted in Grant Beige by Benjamin Moore; raffia wallpaper and Stellar White marble.
Other special features: Cast bronze vessel sink. Onyx accent plumbing. Antique bronze mirror. Antique mirror and metal sconces.
Designer secret: “We decided to hang the mirror in an unconventional way, with a decorative chain and an antique doorknob,” designer Annette English says. “Due to the thickness of the backsplash, we had to find a way to hang the mirror away from the wall. This allowed all of the parts to work together and created a solution that was both functional and aesthetically interesting.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “A frequent challenge that occurs is deciding the placement of a wall-mounted faucet in conjunction with a vessel sink, the backsplash height and the mirror,” English says. “You always need a taller backsplash, making the placement of the mirror sometimes higher than the standard. In this case, our client was also below the typical eye level, so we had to be careful that everything worked together. There were no standard dimensions here. We tailored the heights of the cabinets and placements of the fixtures to work with the client.”
Cabinetry: Lotus Fine Woodworking; wallpaper: Donghia; vessel sink: Kallista; faucet and accessories: Sherle Wegner; fabric on vanity doors: Galbraith & Paul: mirror and sconces: Reborn Antiques; pendant: Paul Ferrante
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Designer: Annette English
Location: Beverly Hills, California
Size: 50 square feet (4.6 square meters)
Homeowners’ request: A comfortable, inviting guest powder room with Cape Cod style.
Vanity: Custom transitional-style vanity cabinet painted in Antique Pewter by Benjamin Moore, with fabric and metal door inserts.
Backsplash: Beadboard paneling painted in Grant Beige by Benjamin Moore; raffia wallpaper and Stellar White marble.
Other special features: Cast bronze vessel sink. Onyx accent plumbing. Antique bronze mirror. Antique mirror and metal sconces.
Designer secret: “We decided to hang the mirror in an unconventional way, with a decorative chain and an antique doorknob,” designer Annette English says. “Due to the thickness of the backsplash, we had to find a way to hang the mirror away from the wall. This allowed all of the parts to work together and created a solution that was both functional and aesthetically interesting.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “A frequent challenge that occurs is deciding the placement of a wall-mounted faucet in conjunction with a vessel sink, the backsplash height and the mirror,” English says. “You always need a taller backsplash, making the placement of the mirror sometimes higher than the standard. In this case, our client was also below the typical eye level, so we had to be careful that everything worked together. There were no standard dimensions here. We tailored the heights of the cabinets and placements of the fixtures to work with the client.”
Cabinetry: Lotus Fine Woodworking; wallpaper: Donghia; vessel sink: Kallista; faucet and accessories: Sherle Wegner; fabric on vanity doors: Galbraith & Paul: mirror and sconces: Reborn Antiques; pendant: Paul Ferrante
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3. Transitional
Designer: Rebecca Van’t Hull of Martha O’Hara Interiors
Location: Wayzata, Minnesota, near Lake Minnetonka
Size: 54 square feet (5 square meters); 9 by 6 feet (2.7 by 1.8 meters)
Homeowners’ request: A new home with interesting materials, wallcoverings, lighting, cabinetry and more.
Vanity: Custom, painted in Seersucker Suit by Benjamin Moore.
Backsplash: Quartz, from Cambria, that looks like marble.
Other special features: Quartz countertop matches the backsplash. Geometric wallpaper. Metal sink.
Designer secret: “Don’t be afraid of patterns and color in a small space,” designer Rebecca Van’t Hull says. “I think it’s a common misconception that you can’t do anything bold or dark in a smaller space. This room proves my point, because the ground of the wallpaper is almost black, and yet the room reads with a lightness that is probably unexpected.”
Cabinetry: custom by Mona Hurkadli of John Kraemer & Sons; wallpaper: Orden in charcoal, Romo; sink: hammered nickel Oval Manet, Thompson Traders; lighting: Visual Comfort; floor: white marble tile, The Tile Shop; mirror: Jonathan Wilner for Renwil
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Designer: Rebecca Van’t Hull of Martha O’Hara Interiors
Location: Wayzata, Minnesota, near Lake Minnetonka
Size: 54 square feet (5 square meters); 9 by 6 feet (2.7 by 1.8 meters)
Homeowners’ request: A new home with interesting materials, wallcoverings, lighting, cabinetry and more.
Vanity: Custom, painted in Seersucker Suit by Benjamin Moore.
Backsplash: Quartz, from Cambria, that looks like marble.
Other special features: Quartz countertop matches the backsplash. Geometric wallpaper. Metal sink.
Designer secret: “Don’t be afraid of patterns and color in a small space,” designer Rebecca Van’t Hull says. “I think it’s a common misconception that you can’t do anything bold or dark in a smaller space. This room proves my point, because the ground of the wallpaper is almost black, and yet the room reads with a lightness that is probably unexpected.”
Cabinetry: custom by Mona Hurkadli of John Kraemer & Sons; wallpaper: Orden in charcoal, Romo; sink: hammered nickel Oval Manet, Thompson Traders; lighting: Visual Comfort; floor: white marble tile, The Tile Shop; mirror: Jonathan Wilner for Renwil
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4. Contemporary
Designer: Evelyn Eshun
Location: Toronto
Size: 200 square feet (18.5 square meters)
Homeowners’ request: A fresh and contemporary bathroom that still feels traditional. “The goal was to make it feel familiar yet very brand new,” designer Evelyn Eshun says.
Vanity: Floating vanity with marble countertop.
Backsplash: Marble mosaic.
Other special features: Vessel sinks. Polished marble floor tiles (24 by 24 inches).
Designer secret: “Balance and proportion, a shot of texture, a dash of sparkle and, most importantly, a focus on functionality make this room a success,” Eshun says.
Wall paint: Moonlight, Benjamin Moore; cabinet hardware: Upper Canada Hardware; faucets: Grohe; tile: Tycos Tile; countertop: Bluemar; light fixtures: Union Lighting
See more of this home
More
You Can Turn That Into a Bathroom Vanity?
Bathroom Design: How to Pick Out a Vanity
More Resources on Houzz
Find a bathroom designer
Shop bathroom vanities
Designer: Evelyn Eshun
Location: Toronto
Size: 200 square feet (18.5 square meters)
Homeowners’ request: A fresh and contemporary bathroom that still feels traditional. “The goal was to make it feel familiar yet very brand new,” designer Evelyn Eshun says.
Vanity: Floating vanity with marble countertop.
Backsplash: Marble mosaic.
Other special features: Vessel sinks. Polished marble floor tiles (24 by 24 inches).
Designer secret: “Balance and proportion, a shot of texture, a dash of sparkle and, most importantly, a focus on functionality make this room a success,” Eshun says.
Wall paint: Moonlight, Benjamin Moore; cabinet hardware: Upper Canada Hardware; faucets: Grohe; tile: Tycos Tile; countertop: Bluemar; light fixtures: Union Lighting
See more of this home
More
You Can Turn That Into a Bathroom Vanity?
Bathroom Design: How to Pick Out a Vanity
More Resources on Houzz
Find a bathroom designer
Shop bathroom vanities
Scott Davidson founded Davidson Builders in 1998. Scott graduated from Michigan State with a BS in Construction... Read More
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Thanks Kristi. I'll keep this in mind if ever I replace my vanities. Of course the sinks would also need to be the kind that sit on top of the vanity as well, else they also take up most of the space below the surface. Despite having big bathrooms, the original contractor managed to install the vanity on the narrow wall, and the toilet as well next to it. I have this great expanse from the vanity to the tub (now replaced by a shower) on the opposite wall, I could use a skateboard. One day, maybe we'll remodel this as well.
Great backsplash ideas! I love the scalloped edge on the Cambria backsplash (image 3). Very creative and different!
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