One of the latest trends today are decorative bathroom vanity chests.  Originally, people would take an existing piece of furniture (sometimes an antique) such as a washstand, buffet or dresser and modify it to be used in the bathroom.  This can be an expensive undertaking by cutting out the back to run plumbing, replacing the top with marble or granite and then cut holes for the bowl and fixtures.  Now there is furniture already made for this purpose: just install it, run your plumbing and add appropriate fixtures to match your decor!

Most people start with their powder bathroom, the most private public room of your home.  First you will need to determine what size chest you will need.  Most power baths are very small, limiting the size of chest you can use.  An average size is 30 - 36 inches, but sometimes you can find a unit as narrow as 25 inches.  Once you have chosen a chest that will fit your space, it will be easy to match the rest of your decor (faucet, mirror , lighting, wall paint or paper and flooring.)

Like many fine home furnishings today, a majority of these chests are made in China.  These chests are constructed from solid woods and composition (such as medium density fiberboard and poly resin applique) to withstand high humidity and moisture.  Imported furniture made mostly of solid woods is susceptible to warping and splitting when brought to drier climates.  Remember to seal the stone countertop of your chest - sealers available at most hardware store.  If the chest you choose has a metal bowl, be sure to follow the cleaning instructions (use soap and water only) so that you do not stain the bowl.  Some bathroom chests also include faucet sets.  I recommend testing them before installing on your unit to make sure the valves close properly.  It is also recommended you purchase new "O Rings" at your local hardware store.

I hope this guide has answered many of your questions.  Fell free to contact us if there is anything we have missed and also be sure to visit our eBay store where we have dozens of chests listed and categorized by size.  See what our customers have said about our product on our Feedback Page.