As we started the bathroom campaign, we made duty stops at Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware…
And realized quite quickly that our bathroom vanity would be found elsewhere in the universe. 1986 is a year – not a price.
So in a knee-jerk reaction to that, we bought something very different indeed. And because we’re so great at planning, we did it before we’d even started the bathroom, made a design plan or even measured. Hey – it worked with the floor. Evacuating Restorationery Hardbarn, we fled – fled – to Ikea.
Talk frugal to us, Sweden!
Ikea, too, was disappointing, as the Ikea sink cabinets in our price range felt little and dinky.
Displeased with the day’s third failure, we headed out – via the kitchen section. Walked past the Groland kitchen island- both stopped short. Paolo pointed and raised his eyebrows. I nodded.
“But will it fit?”
“I think so. It doesn’t seem as long.”
“Ok. Hang on. Stand there. Be in my way and I want to get some toothpaste.”
We pantomimed Paolo taking up space and determined that Groland was indeed shorter and narrower than our current bowling ball vanity:
“But what about storage? Will we miss drawers?”
“Can’t we just keep everything in baskets?”
“Ok by me.”
“So… we just… cut out a hole for the sink?”
“Yup”.
In a very unscientific test of “how far apart do you think my fingers are” – Paolo put a hand above and below the counter-top.
“Yea – we can totally get a jigsaw through that”.
And with as little discussion as that, we both shrugged, wrote down the pick-up code and headed downstairs to collect our very own.
Ok guys. This is a massive secret ok? Seriously – don’t tell people about this. Keep it quiet! Under wraps. Especially don’t tell the people who buy this place. Our-bathroom-vanity-is-an-Ikea-kitchen-island.
Eeeee hee hee. It’s this guy! This guy right here!
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Screencaps via Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and Ikea.
Hey, you want a s'more? Some more of what?
love this idea. If we didn’t have need for hidden storage in our bathroom, I would totally go with this method, too.
Thanks! Fingers crossed — hopefully the basket-storage-thing will work…. I’m not very neat. Hmm..
Welcome back! I love this idea, too. Are you going to stain it or paint it? I’ve seen vanities like this a lot, I think Ana White even has a plan for one. Can’t wait to see it finished.
Thank you! Feels like everything bloggy is back to normal now, I like it. When we graduate from building “wood that comes the right size and holes already in it” — I’ve got about 32948903 Ana White projects in mind. But I’ll gladly join her wooden vanity band wagon. Staining/painting…. yes!
I love it! I hope you end up staining it dark .. like ebony. But that could just be that I ahve a love affair with black…
Woohoo! Glad it passes the Karrie Test.
Black, you say? You just stick around, little lady.
Great idea, Lauren! I’ve considered doing just the same for my bathroom, using this thing:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/S39825996
It’s a toss-up between that (which would require retiling the floor first, or refinishing what I already have (which is okay, but has been done before a few times already in the name of “revitalizing” said bathroom.
Totally random question: if your apartment wired in Aluminum or Copper?
Second Random question: is your Mr. Spray Man those bathtub saver people? Or another company?
Oh that would be great – drawers and shelves! I’ve never noticed Varde at our Ikea… must not have been paying sufficient attention.
Random question 1 – it’s whichever is the more annoying of the two, can’t remember.
Random question 2 – Mr. Spray Man exists only in theory so far, but I liked Mend A Bath’s website & response — results very much pending.