DIY Network

Blog Cabin '08: Repurposed Antique Bathroom Vanity Amy Matthews turns a garage-sale find into a bathroom showpiece. Get all the info DIY's Blog Cabin '08. From "Blog Cabin" episode DBLG-210

Amy Matthews retrofitted this antique cabinet with a porcelain sink and fixtures to create a stylish vanity.

Amy Matthews, host of DIY's Sweat Equity, comes to town to help Ahmed and the Blog Cabin team impart a bit of added value to the cabin's bathrooms.

Starting with the master bath, she interprets and implements online voters' chosen theme of "lakeside Zen" using natural bamboo flooring and a rustic double-sink vanity made from eco-friendly materials.

Upstairs in the kids' bath, Amy creates a unique vanity by repurposing a garage-sale-purchased antique, outfitting the wood cabinet with a porcelain sink and rustic faucet fixtures.

Below is a summary of the basic steps as seen in the Blog Cabin repurposed-antique vanity project, along with a list of tools and materials used.

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Online voters chose the warm hue of oil-rubbed bronze, over alternate choices of brushed nickel or chrome, for the finish on the bathroom fixtures.

Tools:

orbital saw
adjustable wrench
drill and drill bits

Materials:

reclaimed piece of antique furniture
bathroom faucet kit
plumber's putty

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G
	Figure H
	Figure I
	Figure J

Tips:

• While looking for a reclaimed piece of furniture to use, keep in mind that the average bathroom countertop is 34 to 36 inches in height.

• When selecting a piece, make sure that the top is strong enough to hold the sink you've chosen to drop in. It's best to have your template with you of your sink if you can. You'll be able to make your measurements and figure out the best place for the faucets to go.

• Another thing to consider is the style of the front of the vanity. If the piece you have chosen has drawers, you'll need to retrofit the drawers inside in order to have room for all the plumbing underneath. A vanity with doors, instead of drawers, works best.

Steps:

• Cut out the template for your sink (figure A). When you order a sink like the one we did, the manufacturer will usually send a template along with it. If not, make your own so you will be able to cut an accurate hole to drop the sink into.

• Trace a hole for the sink onto your vanity (figure B). By doing this first, you'll be able plan the best place for the faucet and hot and cold water handles.

• Cut the hole for the sink using an orbital saw (figure C).

• Once the hole is cut to the proper size, drop the sink into place (figure D). With the sink in, you'll be able to determine where the faucet and hot and cold water handles will look best.

• Once you have an idea of where you want the faucet and handles, trace the cartridges for accurate sized holes to drill (figure E).

• Cut holes, using the appropriate drill bit, for the faucet and handles for hot and cold water supply. We used 1-inch drill bits for our handles (figure F).

• Push the cartridges up through the vanity and attach the handles (figure G).

• Before attaching the faucet, create a waterproof seal using putty around the faucet base that rests on the vanity (figures H and I).

• Press the base tightly to the vanity, and drop the faucet in (figure J).

• Then, make the cutouts in the back for the plumbing from the wall. Move the vanity flush to the wall to get an idea of where the plumbing needs to come through. Make a reasonable-sized hole — enough space to access the plumbing comfortably in the future.

• Note: On our retrofitted vanity, we had to take out one of the existing shelves inside the cabinet to make room for the plumbing underneath.

• Once you've got all the cuts made for all the plumbing, slide the vanity into place. The p-trap is now ready to be installed.

• Screw the p-trap onto the drain of the sink from underneath. You should be able to screw this on using just your hand, but you may want to use a wrench to make sure there will be no leakage.

• After the faucet and p-trap are tightly secured, you will need to attach the water supply line that will eventually be connected to the shutoff valve on the main water supply pipes.

• Tip: Use caution while securing the water supply lines. The lines are usually just brass or plastic and can be easily stripped. To avoid stripping the lines, try tightening the fittings by using your hands only.

Return to Blog Cabin 2008 home page.