Upcycled Vanities
You’re so vain…and we like it! Lots of readers are turning vintage and antique pieces—from dressers to Coke coolers—into one-of-a-kind bathroom sink vanities. Want inspiration? See a few of our favorites right here.
Not a Public Restroom Anymore
Who: Emily W.
Where: Reno, NV
“The vanity was a garage-sale find for $15. The countertop was built out of wood using the same process my husband has been using to build a wooden sailboat. We saved a lot by not going with a granite countertop. It feels so clean and fresh and bright. We don’t feel like we are sending guests into a public restroom anymore. We love it!”
Who did the work: “We did all the work ourselves.”
See all the images from this entry.
Vanity on Consignment
Who: Sarah S.
Where: Amissville, VA
“This was a powder room before, but we gutted it and extended our 1913 house to accommodate a larger bathroom. We bought the vanity for the sink at a consignment shop, cut the top off and replaced it with marble to match the rest of the room. It saved us hundreds not having to buy the ‘perfect’ vanity with the right stone on it.”
Who did the work: “We did some of the work ourselves but a contractor did most of it.”
See all the images from this entry.
Antique Commode for Storage
Who: Michele O.
Where: Rome, NY
“This is our dream bathroom, and the antique commode turned sink is the favorite piece. We topped it with a stone vessel sink.”
Who did the work: “We did all the work ourselves.”
See all the images from this entry.
Unique and Different Design
Who: Nancy S.
Where: Denver, CO
“We converted an antique dresser set (including the mirror) into a vanity, placing the sink on top and mounting the faucets to the wall. I like the combination of old and new represented in the finished design.”
Who did the work: “We did some of the work ourselves but a contractor did most of it.”
See all the images from this entry.
A Great Place to Relax
Who: Debra B.
Where: Michigan City, IN
“I decided to take a spare room and turn it into the bathroom. I made a bath vanity out of an old dresser. I am so proud of the results!”
Who did the work: “I did most of the work myself.”
See all the images from this entry.
Fun Bath for Grandkids
Who: Matt and Shirley W.
Where: Southport, NC
“We wanted to make the bathroom fun for our granddaughters when they come to visit, so we chose a rubber-duck theme. We used an antique dresser for the sink basin. The room is bright and cheerful and the grandkids love it!”
Who did the work: “We did most of the work ourselves.”
See all the images from this entry.
A Room of Her Own
Who: Malinda M.
Where: Penn Valley, PA
“I did this bathroom as a gift to myself after going through a long period of ill health. The new Victorian-style bathroom is a marvel of things past and present. Bathtub gone; 200-year-old pine vanity in its place, with a handcrafted rose-covered bowl discovered online. I love how soothing it is. This, to me, is what Virginia Woolf called ‘A Room of One’s Own,’ although I’m sure Ms. Woolf did not mean a bathroom. I get an emotional lift every time I come in here.”
Who did the work: “A contractor did all the work.”
See all the images from this entry.
A Queen Anne Gets the Spa Treatment
Who: Rebecca S.
Where: Meadville, PA
“Living in a turn-of-the-century home is always an adventure. My husband and I are always working to return the house to its former glory. We repurposed an antique oak step-back into a vanity and towel cupboard.”
Who did the work: “We did some of the work ourselves but a contractor did most of it.”
See all the images from this entry.
Bright, Functional, and Timeless
Who: John M.
Where: Richmond, VA
“We repurposed an antique dresser bought at auction. We wanted a classic bathroom that would never go out of style and would be suitable for both a child and an adult. We had a vision, and it turned out exactly as we had hoped!”
Who did the work: “We did most of the work ourselves.”
See all the images from this entry.
A Bathroom Worth Celebrating
Who: Russ S.
Where: Granby, CT
“We spent countless hours looking for an old dresser or buffet to use as a vanity. We bought the buffet for $130, and it became a labor of love. It required countless hours of sanding, mixing milk paint, painting, sanding again, and finally waxing the body and coating the top with many coats of a water-based poly. Phew! Yet we have this custom piece that would have cost five times as much had it been built.”
Who did the work: “We did all the work ourselves.”
See all the images from this entry.
First-Time DIYers Make a Splashy Debut
Who: Erin N.
Where: Natrona Heights, PA
“My favorite part of our newly redone bathroom is the dresser turned vanity. It was very satisfying to take a $10 Craigslist dresser, paint it, strip and stain the top, and add a $20 sink (bought on clearance at a hardware store). The faucet was the most expensive part at $135. I absolutely love how it turned out, and the extra storage is wonderful.”
Who did the work: “We did all the work ourselves.”
See all the images from this entry.
A New Bathroom Without the Compromise
Who: Alex G.
Where: Van Nuys, CA
“My mother is a self-taught sub-contractor and a true genius! We refurbished a Montgomery Ward sewing-machine cabinet from a local thrift store and turned it into a great vessel sink. I like that the room is now so uniquely ours.”
Who did the work: “We did all the work ourselves.”
See all the images from this entry.
Cape Cod Cool
Who: Stephen F.
Where: Peterborough, NH
“I created the vanity out of a cabinet I found at a secondhand store. My wife loves it, which was the whole point of doing it!”
Who did the work: “I did most of the work myself.”
See all the images from this entry.
Vintage Coke Cooler Makes for a Fun and Unique Sink
Who: Stuart L.
Where: Leesburg, VA
“I took the standard pedestal sink out of the basement bathroom, then drove 16 hours to pick up the Coke cooler, which I bought on eBay for $300. I had to cut into the heavy-gauge steel on the back side, and it took lots of elbow grease, but it was well worth the effort—it’s very unique.”
Who did the work: “I did all the work myself.”
See all the images from this entry.
Dresser Turned Vanity is Focal Point of New Bathroom
Who: Kate S.
Where: Amherst, NY
“I have wanted to use a dresser as a vanity for as long as I can remember. We had a new piece of marble cut for the backsplash, and had it dirtied up to match the dresser marble. I almost changed my mind, but I had a vision as to what it could look like and trusted the skills of the contractor, so I went for it. So glad that I did!”
Who did the work: “A contractor did all the work.”