Here on the Homethangs blog, we spend a lot of time talking about bathroom vanities – vanities of every size and shape and style, for every kind of bathroom and every sense of style. But while a vanity is certainly the most common choice for a bathroom remodel, it certainly isn’t the only one. That’s why today I want to take a look at one of the less well-known alternatives: console vanities. Also known as a console sink or console lavatory, these are like a hybrid sink/table, with usually two slim legs attached to a partially wall mounted sink.
A Bit Of History
Console vanities have been around as long as bathrooms have been. Now, I don’t mean they’ve been around since the days of chamber pots, but when the bathroom became its own separate room in the Western world, console sinks were one of the first solutions for creating a furniture-styled fixture that incorporated indoor plumbing. Along with pedestal sinks, that makes them very much a go-to for historical design, especially fixtures made entirely of porcelain like this Sonnet Petite Console from Porcher. With “tooled” legs that hearken back to historical French design, and a non-porous, easy to clean ceramic surface, it’s an option that’s both elegant and convenient.
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Not Just Old Fashioned
Now, that introduction might have you feeling like a console lavatory is a good choice for a turn-of-the-century bathroom and not much else. But console vanities have actually been very nicely appropriated by modern designers as well. Replacing the shapely ceramic legs with chrome or stainless steel and opting for a simpler, more angular sink like the one on this Lloyd Console from Toto simply and easily brings a 19th century design into the 21st century. Plus, the thin lines and straight, 90 degree angles are perfectly in line with the stark minimalism of modern design, making for a piece that’s striking in its simplicity.
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Playing With Expectations
Regular readers will know that I like putting a classical twist on modern design, and I think console vanities offer an excellent opportunity to do this. After all, the form of a console vanity is a very classic one, especially with a shapely vintage sink like the one on this Monarque Washstand from Herbeau. But putting that sink on chrome legs and in this boldly colored bathroom immediately turns it into a dramatic statement piece, an aggressively modern move that’s eye catching for its sheer unexpectedness.
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Making The Most Of White Space
Whether you opt for a classic ceramic or a more modern metal, all console vanities have one thing in common: white space. Because the legs, sink, and counter are all thin, slim, and trim, the space that would ordinarily be totally filled by a bathroom vanity is left wide and open, often contrasted against shapely legs. This can make your bathroom seem larger and more spacious, especially paired with light colors and natural light. Better still, there’s little or no room for clutter – paired with a towel ring and wall mounted soap dish and toothbrush holder, this Lutezia Console is left looking prim and clean (and makes the rest of the bathroom look it, too!).
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So, What About Storage?
I’ll confess that the main drawback of console vanities – and probably the main reason they went out of vogue in the first place – is that they lack storage space in a serious way. Unlike a standard bathroom vanity, there are no cabinets, no drawers, no concealed storage at all. Now, the Victorians addressed this problem by fitting a pretty, patterned cloth skirt around the base of the sink and using the space underneath as storage anyway. But this retro fix is neither particularly effective nor particularly stylish, so if you know you’re going to need that space, it might be better to opt for a more traditional vanity. That said, console vanities like this EC25 Console from Empire Industries do offer more storage than a pedestal vanity, with a single storage shelf and a convenient towel rack on either side of the sink.
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More Storage (Sort Of)
Finally, while I personally prize console vanities for their elegant use of white space and ability to make a bathroom seem a little bigger, the lack of storage is going to come up, especially in a small bathroom. But even if you opt for a traditional ceramic style, it doesn’t leave you entirely without storage options. In fact, I kind of like the solution used with this Milano Console from Barclay – putting a decorative basket filled with towels (or hair care products, or whatever) underneath the sink. It certainly isn’t private, but it’s actually sort of pretty in it’s own way. Bonus points for a long-necked decorative toilet paper holder to keep your spare rolls close on hand!
Console vanities might not be the first things that come to mind when you’re choosing a new vanity for your bathroom, but they definitely should make the list. What they lack in storage they make up for in style, offering a classic alternative to a modern conundrum. What do you think of console vanities? Do you love the style, or would you hate to give up the storage?
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