All About Bathroom Sinks

So many styles, so much to choose from,  Where to start?

Because of the limited purpose (hand washing) of a bthroom sink, manifacturers have had the opportunity to develop a wide variety of styles for the bathroom sink.  Every bathroom sink has their own pros and cons, let's take a look -

PEDESTAL SINK-
looks like a bird bath and is often seen in powder rooms and smaller main bathrooms

Pros: attractive option when there is limited or no room for cabinetry, can make a smaller bathroom feel more spacious, open at the back to provide access to the drainpipe and supply lines

Cons: offers no storage or counter space



WALL MOUNT -
attach o the wall and are open underneath. Not as attractive a bit more of an idustrial or old fashion school house look

Pros: work in small bathrooms, they do not take up any floor space, easy wheelchair access

Cons: no storage or counter space



INTEGRAL SINK -

is a one-piece option with a surrounding counter

Pros: simple installation, one-piece construction means seamless (no gaps, no crevices for trapping dirt, hair etc...)

Cons: replacing a sink means replacing the countertop as well, no opportunity for creatively matching a counter with a sink



DROP IN SINK -

also known as 'self rimming sinks' fit inside a whole in the counter top.  the rim rests on the edge of the hole and is secured to the counter top with a waterproof sealant.

Pros: vanity cabinets hide the drainpipe and water supplies, cutouts in the cabinet do not need to be finished because they will be covered by the sink and the fixtures

Cons: these sinks lean a bit more to practical than to beautiful, the sink rim makes it impossible to wipe water from the counter into the sink



UNDERMOUNT SINK -

unlike a drop in sink this sink is installed from below.  This means the counter edges must be finished as they won't be covered by the sink

Pros: has a sleeker appearance than drop ins, without a rim you can wipe water from the counter into the sink

Cons: unless the vanity top can be removed you cannot install an undermount as a retrofit, because edges are exposed (counter) these sinks can only be used with waterproof countertop materials such as granite, marble, quartz or a solid-surface synthetic



VESSEL SINK -

sit on top of the vanity and are completely exposed and come in a variety of materials including glass, marble, and cast bronze.  No faucet holes - faucets are installed in either the wall or the counter top (be sure to get a faucet that is tall enough for a vessel sink)

Pros: visually striking, because the cut outs are so minimal you really maximize the impact of your countertop - so if you have purchased an expensive natural stone countertop you'll will get to see more of it. 

Pros: no over flow holes (you will want to install a grid drain to be sure to not have any overflow), can be very expensive, because the vessel sink sits on top of the vanity you may want to customize the vanity height



CONSOLE SINK -

a blend of characteristics from the wall mount sink and the pedestal sink.  Lots of variation in terms of look, size and style

Pros: can accommodate a wheelchair (depends on the distance between the legs of the console), extra width usually allows for some counter storage space, in some cases towel bars can also be added

Cons: extra width means most consoles are too big for smaller bathrooms, plumbing is usually exposed

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

So I just finished decorating an office for the Christmas holidays.  the office is a converted old home from 1910 - so we wanted to keep a very traditional look for the decorations to stay true to the feel of the home/office.

The main floor has 12 ft ceilings so we were able to use a 9 ft tree (typical height for trees is 7.5 ft - since most homes have 8 ft ceilings).  We went to Home Depot to purchase the tree (which was pre-lighted) and many of the decorations.  We went with a very warm colour concept of gold, red and chocolate brown.  We were able to find so much inspiration from the Martha Stewart Collection - where she has all the accents including bobbles, birds, beads and ribbon all in coordinating colours. 

I love a full looking tree so once we left the Home Depot, we headed out to HomeSense to look for some more ornaments for the tree.  I wanted lots of bling and I found it!  I found these amazing clip on red and gold, beaded butterflies - just stunning and oh, how they sparkle!  I also found some fabulous red apples with lots of sparkle and shine. I also found a very traditional brocade looking tree skirt.

Once we bought all the decorations that we could fit in the car, we set off to the office. We unloaded everything from the car and it was a bit overwhelming but when you have a plan - it makes it easier.

1. Start by setting up the tree and spreading the branches apart so the tree looks fuller

2. Set up the lights (test first for burnt out bulbs) or get a pre-lit tree (so easy!) and the tree skirt

3.  If using ribbon, start with that.  Start circling around the tree, start at the top.

4.  I like to start with the basic balls in various colours.  As you hang them up, be sure to step back now and then to make sure the colours and the balls are spread out evenly

5.  Move on to other decor items like clip on birds, or other hanging ornaments.

6.  Last the angel or start on the top (use a ladder, step stool or chair for some extra height)

For this office tree, I even purchased some beautiful boxes and placed them under the tree so it looked like there were gifts under the tree.

We also used a natural looking garland to wrap up the staircase.  Plus a stunning wreath in the same red, golds and chocolate brown colour theme on the front door.