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Recycled Vanity, Part 2 Finish turning that "washed up" vanity into a custom planter, dry sink or fountain. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-301

Top off your refurbished vanity in style.

Finish turning a discarded vanity into a fabulous dry sink, planter or fountain with this easy how-to from Michele Beschen. In Part 1 of this project, the B. Original host showed how to take the old finish off a vanity cabinet and give it personality with carving tools, a rotary tool and even a propane torch. Next, she dresses up the sink and countertop with tile and glass mosaics that complete the piece.

Scroll down for Michele Beschen’s easy how-to, and give new life to a drab vanity.

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Recycled Vanity, Part 2

Materials:

partially completed vanity from Part 1
small wrench and/or pliers
clear silicone sealant or caulk
electric sander or medium-grit sandpaper
tack cloth
deglosser and an old rag
mosaic pieces (ceramic and/or glass)
adhesive appropriate for the mosaic pieces
soldering iron, solder and flux (optional)

	Figure A
	Figure B

• Remove the faucet if it is still attached to the sink. To do this, remove the nuts holding the faucet to the underside of the sink; you may need to use a basin wrench to reach the nuts.

• Remove the lever that controls the pop-up drain, but leave the drain pipe attached to the sink. If the drain trap – the curvy pipe attached to the drain pipe – is still attached, remove it also.

• With the pop-up drain closed, seal the drain shut with clear silicone sealant or caulk (figure A).

• Use an electric sander or medium-grit sandpaper to rough up the shiny finish on the sink and countertop (figure B). After sanding, wipe the surfaces with a tack cloth to remove the dust, then wipe down with a deglosser to dull the surfaces further.

• Lay out bits of stained glass, broken tile (figure C), broken mirror pieces, translucent beads (figure D), stones or other materials to create a mosaic design for the sink and surrounding countertop. If the sink will become a planter, don't waste the time and materials to create a mosaic on the inside of the sink – it'll be covered with dirt and plants.
  

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

  	Figure E
  	Figure F
  	Figure G

• Use contact adhesive to attach translucent or transparent items. For larger or opaque items, butter the back of each item with tile adhesive and create ridges in the adhesive with a notched trowel or even a plastic fork before firmly placing it in position (figure E). Let the adhesives dry completely according to package instructions.

• Michele Beschen added a stained glass box to her countertop. To build the box, dry-fit pieces of stained glass together, wrap the edges in foil tape, apply flux to the taped edges and solder them together. To attach the box to the counter, apply foil tape to the sink where the box will attach. Brush flux on the tape, then solder the box to the counter (figure F).

• When the mosaic is complete and the adhesives are dry, apply grout across the entire surface. Force the grout into the gaps between items and let it cure according to the package instructions (figure G).

• Once the sink is complete, reattach it to the vanity cupboard from Part 1 of this project. If your sink is becoming a planter, put in a layer of gravel, some potting mix and your plants. You also can fill the sink with ice and drinks for entertaining, or even add a small pump to create a bubbling fountain.

Now you’re ready to show off your creation—after all, why do you think they call it a vanity?