Bath Sinks: Twice as Nice

By: Leslie Plummer Clagett (Page 3 of 3)

This bath, designed by Sutton Suzuki Architects of Mill Valley, California, packs a lot of functionality into a compact area. While the dark-stone countertops make these vanities feel like one, the 36-inch-tall slanted stack of cherry-wood drawers offers some visual variety to the white-painted cabinets on either side and adds clever storage.

CUSTOM VANITY: Adapting a piece of furniture like a farmhouse table or sideboard to serve as a vanity can have its limitations. In this case, the two undermount sinks are set close together, there isn't a lot of countertop area and the level of the lavs is fixed by the height of the table. Still, a one-of-a-kind look like this can make an ordinary bathroom special.

single slab vitreous china, Giamo double sink, Duravit

ALL IN ONE: A single slab of vitreous china gives this Giamo double sink a sleek appearance. The all-in-one construction of this Duravit fixture makes cleaning a breeze, especially when coupled with a space-conscious single-control lav set.

Kohler Vessel model lav set, deck-mounted

Above Counter Basins, below: Even as its shape recalls the basic washbowl of old, the Vessel model from Kohler brings a contemporary flair to the bath. Here, the lav set is deck-mounted, but this style sink lends itself to wall-mounted fixtures particularly well. For a wall-mounted fixture, the faucet should have a minimum 5-in. spout length and clear the rim of the basin by at least 1 in. Ideally, with an abovecounter basin, the water should make contact with the deepest part of the bowl.

Lavs with a Boost: Standing 36 inches tall, these lavs comfortably accommodate adults, and the pair of 6-inch pull-out steps gives youngsters a leg up on reaching the basins. Another kid-friendly option is to locate the faucet and controls off to one side of the sink (grown-ups can also benefit from this idea, especially where surface area is limited).

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Hooking Up a Second Sink

If you're going to install a second sink in your bath, you'll save time and money if it's placed next to the existing lav. This means you won't have to cut into the wall when making the drainage hookup.

The centers of the two drains should be no farther than 30 inches apart. And if the vanity tops are going to be installed at different heights, the new sink should be no more than 6 inches higher than the existing sink.

If you choose to hire a plumber to do the work, the process is straightforward. Get at least two estimates and check licenses, insurance, and references. It shouldn't take more than a day to extend the waste and supply lines and hook up the sink if everything is ready for the installation.

Although the work is all out in the open, you should be confident of your plumbing skills in order to take on this project yourself. Here's an overview of the steps involved:

After shutting off the water, install new T-fittings and run supply lines to the new sink.

Adapt the existing drain by removing its tailpiece and inserting a slip-joint T-fitting above the trap.

Connect this to the drain hole of both lavs with a tailpiece and a 90-degree slip-joint elbow under the new lav and a tailpiece at the existing bowl.

The drainpipe from the new sink should slope 1/4 inch for every foot in length. This slope will evacuate the sink quickly but keep water from being suctioned out of the trap.

Check the local building code to determine if a separate vent is required for the new sink. In many cases, you can extend existing supply and drain lines if the distance from the vent is less than the maximum distance allowed by the building code. If you do have to add a vent, seek advice from a pro.