Stylish Sinks Rise Abovea Purely Functional Role

MILWAUKEE - It was 10 years ago that art arrived in the bathroom sink.

In the last decade or so, vessel sinks - those elevated basins in artistic shapes and creative colors - have gone from oddities to everyday products.

They now account for about 20 percent of bathroom sink sales, according to statistics released at the recent Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, and are growing so mainstream that they now are sold through big box home centers as well as through plumbing showrooms and bathroom and kitchen specialty shops.

"We have seen incredible growth in the sale of vessel sinks," says Skip Hicks, senior merchant for Home Depot. "They are an especially popular choice when people redo powder rooms or guest bathrooms. They are a way to get creative and to really show a sense of style - for not a huge amount of money."

The choice of artistic glass perched atop unusual countertops and cabinets arrived first in urban markets and lofts, says Mr. Hicks, then spread to contemporary settings such as Florida and California.

"But now there are so many choices, from brushed metals to stone to glass, they are at home in almost any decor and in middle- income households," he says.

Melvin and Bettye Walker, of Milwaukee, went to Lowe's Home Center last weekend to get ideas for a new vanity and sink for their powder room, but wound up considering a tempered glass vessel sink in cobalt blue on display there.

"This might be a practical solution as well as a pretty choice," explained Mrs. Walker. "It's a small space but we would like something for it that really stands out."

Michael Terrill, senior product manager for bath furniture and lavatories for the Kohler Co., says taking a distinctive, artistic approach in the bathroom is a form of self-expression in the home.

"FALLING STONE PRICES mean that granite and marble have become commonplace, so people are seeking to express themselves in other ways, through the glass, stone, china, marble and metals that can be used in above-the-counter sinks," he says. Kohler's shallow, rectangular "wading pool" sinks offer even more distinctive choices.

But manufacturers, retailers and plumbers agree that as pretty and affordable as vessel sinks are, more goes into the new look than choosing a bowl and bringing it home.

Factors to consider include what to place it on, what type of faucet to choose and how it should be installed.

"The height and depth of the vessel plays a role in what you put it on," says Mr. Terrill. "Because the vessel bowl generally is taller than a sink that is inset, just placing them atop an existing cabinet often means they are too tall. You want them to be at a height so that you can bend over and wash your face comfortably."

Bathroom cabinets usually range from 31 to 34 inches tall. But if you put a vessel that is six inches tall atop a 34-inch cabinet, "you would need a ladder to be comfortable when washing your face," he says, laughing.

Instead, many people choose cabinets, console tables or even repurposed dressers that are 28 to 32 inches tall and specifically designed for use with vessel sinks. Others have the vessels mounted on hardware, custom shelves or wrought-iron work attached directly to the wall.

WHEN IT COMES TO VESSEL sinks, plumber Jim Demerath, of Mequon, Wis., says that what goes behind the wall plays a big role in how successfully a new bathroom comes together.

"With traditional vanities and sinks, the plumbing is hidden underneath and below the cabinet," he says. "But with a vessel sink, it's right out there. You can't hide it."

Vessel sinks often require special drain and vent work, he says. The drain carries the water away and often is exposed, he says. "The vent does two things," he explains. "It preserves the trap seal so sewer gas cannot enter the building and it aids in the free- flow of waste in the drain so that the drain can be self- cleaning."

Costs depend on your taste and desires.

Mr. Hicks says Home Depot carries vessel sinks starting at $99 and going up to thousands of dollars.

Lowe's has an attractive dark wood table with a drawer and shelf, white slab countertop and tall white conical vessel sink for a total cost of $1,105, not including a faucet or plumbing costs.

Kohler has a wide range of vessel and wading pool sinks - 85 shapes in all and untold choices of colors - at a variety of price points. Some are available at home centers, others through plumbers, plumbing showrooms or specialty stores.

Mr. Terrill says that if a homeowner uses existing cabinetry and a wading pool sink, the new look can be achieved for as little as $600. But at the other end, Kohler's more artistic Botticelli series has vessel sinks alone costing $2,872.

Mr. Demerath says he has installed vessels ranging from less than $400 to as much as $18,000.

(c) 2006 Augusta Chronicle, The. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.