Two sinks, no storage
September 26, 2013 8:36 PM Subscribe
My new place has a great bathroom with two separate sinks...and NO storage. Two sinks is clearly overkill, what can I use the sink area (it is a flat top with a large sink bowl and plenty of vertical space above) to create some storage? I'd love it if it was a slightly more elegant solution than a wire three-drawer thing from Ikea. Thanks!
Can you mount an over-the-john type cabinet over it?
posted by radioamy at 8:43 PM on September 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by radioamy at 8:43 PM on September 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think a photo might help people get a better idea.
posted by trip and a half at 12:35 AM on September 27, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by trip and a half at 12:35 AM on September 27, 2013 [2 favorites]
Yeah, we need a pic. Assuming a couple of things here, 1) that this is a rental, 2) that a mirror is on the wall behind it. If true, then maybe some kind of ceiling-hung/suspended shelf?
If you have a cool landlord, it might not hurt to suggest your favored storage alternative. S/he might be willing to let you make a permanent change. Removing that sink altogether would give you tons of options.
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 12:55 AM on September 27, 2013
If you have a cool landlord, it might not hurt to suggest your favored storage alternative. S/he might be willing to let you make a permanent change. Removing that sink altogether would give you tons of options.
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 12:55 AM on September 27, 2013
My thought (without visual aids) is to plop a small, say 3-4' tall cabinet, like a nightstand, over the extra sink. Find a wood piece at a thrift store and paint it, if you are so inclined. Maybe even install a towel bar on the side that faces the useable sink.
posted by sarajane at 4:28 AM on September 27, 2013
posted by sarajane at 4:28 AM on September 27, 2013
I hate etageres over toilets (the bases always attract hair and dirt, and if they're particleboard they start breaking down from the base because of moisture), so I ended up with a wall cabinet, similar to this one, mounted above the toilet. It took a couple wall anchors but I plan on a lot of wall patching anyway. It's not perfect, but it gives me enough storage for the essentials.
posted by pie ninja at 5:57 AM on September 27, 2013
posted by pie ninja at 5:57 AM on September 27, 2013
A wire four door shelf from Ikea?
But seriously, assuming it's truly free standing (or even if not, use something short) just get a cabinet with doors, really nice looking that matches, cut out enough of the back to slide it over the sink, and basically put the sink away in the cupboard. Then turn off the water BELOW the sink so it isn't accidentally turned on. Store stuff within.
posted by tilde at 6:24 AM on September 27, 2013
But seriously, assuming it's truly free standing (or even if not, use something short) just get a cabinet with doors, really nice looking that matches, cut out enough of the back to slide it over the sink, and basically put the sink away in the cupboard. Then turn off the water BELOW the sink so it isn't accidentally turned on. Store stuff within.
posted by tilde at 6:24 AM on September 27, 2013
You mentioned IKEA disparagingly, but they actually make these freestanding washstand cabinets that fit around the base of your sink. Use two, and you'll get a lot of storage, and it's a more elegant solution than a cabinet you open only to find a creepy ghost sink inside.
posted by Acheman at 6:30 AM on September 27, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Acheman at 6:30 AM on September 27, 2013 [3 favorites]
Are we talking about something like a 5-foot vanity with two sink bowls, and all you really need is one bowl? Or a whole freestanding sink? And is there already storage under and you're just looking for a countertop unit?
It's pretty easy to reach under the sink and shut the water off, which should be your first step before building anything around it. Assuming it's one bowl of a 2-bowl vanity, I'd look for a pre-made or ready-to-assemble doored cabinet with depth almost equal to the counter depth, and width so that it's bigger than the cutout of the sink bowl. Then you can just cut a hole in the floor of the cabinet for the faucet to stick up through, and it'll look like a normal cabinet when the door is closed.
Another idea, if you're short on counter space, would be to get a sheet of laminate from home depot, and cut out an oval for the active sink, and through-holes for both faucets. Then you've got a cover over the inactive basin that's strong enough to set most toiletry-sized items on. (just don't stand on it).
posted by aimedwander at 11:18 AM on September 27, 2013
It's pretty easy to reach under the sink and shut the water off, which should be your first step before building anything around it. Assuming it's one bowl of a 2-bowl vanity, I'd look for a pre-made or ready-to-assemble doored cabinet with depth almost equal to the counter depth, and width so that it's bigger than the cutout of the sink bowl. Then you can just cut a hole in the floor of the cabinet for the faucet to stick up through, and it'll look like a normal cabinet when the door is closed.
Another idea, if you're short on counter space, would be to get a sheet of laminate from home depot, and cut out an oval for the active sink, and through-holes for both faucets. Then you've got a cover over the inactive basin that's strong enough to set most toiletry-sized items on. (just don't stand on it).
posted by aimedwander at 11:18 AM on September 27, 2013
We had a similar setup and we took out one sink and built a floor-to-ceiling pantry-like closet into the space. It worked because the second sink was in the corner so it fit the room nicely. YMMV.
posted by Mchelly at 6:55 AM on October 1, 2013
posted by Mchelly at 6:55 AM on October 1, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by oceanjesse at 8:43 PM on September 26, 2013