Bathroom design: what looks good
February 2, 2022 8:39 AM Subscribe
For reasons of style, we need to replace our bathroom sink. For reasons of space my choices of sink are VERY limited, and it looks like a console-style sink is the best option for something that is reasonably wide but doesn't stick out into the room too much. Vanity style sinks are difficult because there is a radiator halfway across the spot where the sink hardware goes.
My question: can I install a white console sink with black metal legs if all the other metal in this very small bathroom are chrome? Faucet, toilet handle, shower/tub hardware, all shiny chrome, sink legs are matte black. Will this look mismatched and weird?
There will probably also be a dark blue cabinet installed above the toilet. FWIW the walls, tub, and toilet are white, with light grey tile on the floor.
Replacing the faucet, toilet handle, and toilet paper dispenser are possible, but the tub/shower hardware is not changing anytime soon.
Response by poster: Technically yes, but I don't see us getting around to it for quite some time. There is a chrome-leg option, I just don't like the look of it.
posted by The Librarian at 8:50 AM on February 2, 2022
posted by The Librarian at 8:50 AM on February 2, 2022
Can the faucet of this sink be black, too, so at least the whole sink is a "set"? (Can you post a picture of the bathroom for additional intel, perhaps?)
posted by Charity Garfein at 9:00 AM on February 2, 2022
posted by Charity Garfein at 9:00 AM on February 2, 2022
How wide are the legs? Are they narrow or wide? Faucets and hardware are a pretty different size and shape, I'm guessing, which might mean that the black legs won't be conspicuous, especially if they have the same sort of design feel as the rest of the bathroom.
Do all the appliances in your kitchen match? Do you notice if they don't match if you visit a friend's house? If not, I suspect you'll notice the legs for approximately two days and then rarely again.
One thing you could do: add a few items to the bathroom that have some black matte, for example, a framed print on the wall where the heft of the frame feels equivalent to the heft of the legs.
Worse case scenario: if it's still bothering you in a year, you could find some metal-appropriate paint and paint the legs white so they blend a bit more. But, I would probably go for the black legs in my own bathroom.
posted by bluedaisy at 9:08 AM on February 2, 2022
Do all the appliances in your kitchen match? Do you notice if they don't match if you visit a friend's house? If not, I suspect you'll notice the legs for approximately two days and then rarely again.
One thing you could do: add a few items to the bathroom that have some black matte, for example, a framed print on the wall where the heft of the frame feels equivalent to the heft of the legs.
Worse case scenario: if it's still bothering you in a year, you could find some metal-appropriate paint and paint the legs white so they blend a bit more. But, I would probably go for the black legs in my own bathroom.
posted by bluedaisy at 9:08 AM on February 2, 2022
can I
Well yes, of course. It's your home, your bathroom, you can do whatever goddamn hell you please.
In my house, between the older wood flooring, the more modern laminate flooring, the kitchen cabinets, the bathroom cabinets, and the various pieces of furniture I own, I have about 25 different shades and grains of wood. It bothers me none. Zero. Not at all. Other people would lose their fucking minds about it. Another example, my mom, who has never been to my house and lives 1000 miles away, sent me a text asking what was wrong with my fence because she could see the gate door closed crooked on the far edge of an instagram story I shared of my dogs. Some things bother people more than they bother others.
If you think there's any chance this bathroom sink will bother you when you look at it, keep searching for an alternative sink option, because it will bother you always and forever. If you're only concerned about people like my mom having their opinions, go ahead and get that sink!
posted by phunniemee at 9:13 AM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
Well yes, of course. It's your home, your bathroom, you can do whatever goddamn hell you please.
In my house, between the older wood flooring, the more modern laminate flooring, the kitchen cabinets, the bathroom cabinets, and the various pieces of furniture I own, I have about 25 different shades and grains of wood. It bothers me none. Zero. Not at all. Other people would lose their fucking minds about it. Another example, my mom, who has never been to my house and lives 1000 miles away, sent me a text asking what was wrong with my fence because she could see the gate door closed crooked on the far edge of an instagram story I shared of my dogs. Some things bother people more than they bother others.
If you think there's any chance this bathroom sink will bother you when you look at it, keep searching for an alternative sink option, because it will bother you always and forever. If you're only concerned about people like my mom having their opinions, go ahead and get that sink!
posted by phunniemee at 9:13 AM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
Have you considered a wall-mount sink, doing away with the legs all together?
posted by jon1270 at 9:21 AM on February 2, 2022
posted by jon1270 at 9:21 AM on February 2, 2022
Sew a skirt for it to hide the legs?
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:55 AM on February 2, 2022
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:55 AM on February 2, 2022
If you are a changing the sink as a matter of style, then it’s only your opinion and the opinion of your partner that matter. If you are concerned about it, you could do a suggested above and add other elements of black to the bathroom so the overall effect looks more intentional and coherent if that matters to you.
This stuff is surprisingly hard for some of us. If something feels off to me, it will just worry me and worry me and worry me until I can figure out a way of changing it. Is it maybe possible for you to use some kind of system that will let you upload an image of the sink you are considering over an image of your bathroom so you can get a better idea of how it will look?
posted by Bella Donna at 10:04 AM on February 2, 2022
This stuff is surprisingly hard for some of us. If something feels off to me, it will just worry me and worry me and worry me until I can figure out a way of changing it. Is it maybe possible for you to use some kind of system that will let you upload an image of the sink you are considering over an image of your bathroom so you can get a better idea of how it will look?
posted by Bella Donna at 10:04 AM on February 2, 2022
IKEA has an actual vanity that is very compact and might fit
posted by genmonster at 10:14 AM on February 2, 2022
posted by genmonster at 10:14 AM on February 2, 2022
Response by poster: To those suggesting that it only matters if it matters to me...not quite. It has to look more or less normal because we plan to live here for a few more years and then sell to buy something bigger (small house with one bathroom is fine when the children are small, but we think it will feel very cramped when they are older and physically larger).
My kitchen appliances are mostly stainless, but the dishwasher is ivory and the toaster is white. This dishwasher bothers me but the toaster does not - I'm hoping that the sink legs would be more of a contrast-that-compliments situation.
I am considering the wall mounted option, but I worry that the 4yo will eventually pull it off the wall, probably by climbing into it to see herself in the mirror.
This is the sink: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Swiss-Madison-Claire-30-in-Console-Sink-White-Basin-Black-Legs-SM-CS772/311454377
posted by The Librarian at 11:30 AM on February 2, 2022
My kitchen appliances are mostly stainless, but the dishwasher is ivory and the toaster is white. This dishwasher bothers me but the toaster does not - I'm hoping that the sink legs would be more of a contrast-that-compliments situation.
I am considering the wall mounted option, but I worry that the 4yo will eventually pull it off the wall, probably by climbing into it to see herself in the mirror.
This is the sink: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Swiss-Madison-Claire-30-in-Console-Sink-White-Basin-Black-Legs-SM-CS772/311454377
posted by The Librarian at 11:30 AM on February 2, 2022
I like that sink! I think it could work if you carried the black from the legs up to other parts of the room—if you can change your curtain rod to a matte black one, or switch out your mirror for a black-rimmed one like in the product gallery, or maybe a white cabinet above the toilet with black knobs (or just black knobs on blue if that makes more sense).
We have black accents in our bathroom that’s otherwise all white/grey and I think it gives it more depth than if it were all white/light.
posted by stellaluna at 11:41 AM on February 2, 2022 [4 favorites]
We have black accents in our bathroom that’s otherwise all white/grey and I think it gives it more depth than if it were all white/light.
posted by stellaluna at 11:41 AM on February 2, 2022 [4 favorites]
Is the same sink with chrome legs not available?
In terms of selling: I hear you on resale value, but that is not going to make a break or sale. (An ivory dishwasher also seems outdated, I think? Is it just annoying because it doesn't match or also because ivory itself is not really a contemporary kitchen color?) Add some other black accents to the room. I like the idea of having a shower curtain rod that's black in addition to some art. You could also get one inexpensive black hand towel and see if you like how it looks, and if so, get a few more and have your bathroom rug be black as well. So, lean into the black a bit, and it'll look like you did it on purpose.
You might also search around the web or pinterest for photos of mixed metal finishes in bathrooms. This person did it on purpose. Here's a roundup of several examples.
posted by bluedaisy at 12:28 PM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
In terms of selling: I hear you on resale value, but that is not going to make a break or sale. (An ivory dishwasher also seems outdated, I think? Is it just annoying because it doesn't match or also because ivory itself is not really a contemporary kitchen color?) Add some other black accents to the room. I like the idea of having a shower curtain rod that's black in addition to some art. You could also get one inexpensive black hand towel and see if you like how it looks, and if so, get a few more and have your bathroom rug be black as well. So, lean into the black a bit, and it'll look like you did it on purpose.
You might also search around the web or pinterest for photos of mixed metal finishes in bathrooms. This person did it on purpose. Here's a roundup of several examples.
posted by bluedaisy at 12:28 PM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Sink legs are an entirely different kind of fixture than faucets. Black is neutral in this context and will be fine. I don’t even particularly agree that you need to have something else black to tie them in, but they offer the option of using black accents in decoration.
posted by itesser at 1:31 PM on February 2, 2022
posted by itesser at 1:31 PM on February 2, 2022
it ill meed assembly, to at least some extent. There's chrome (or galvanized, or gray) spray paint that will do the job and dry fast, if the idea bugs you. It wouldn't bother me in the least. i did a light fixture in the galvanized metal-effect spray paint, and it looks great and was easy.
posted by theora55 at 2:02 PM on February 2, 2022
posted by theora55 at 2:02 PM on February 2, 2022
Honestly? I think my opinion would depend on the room layout/ sight lines. If there was a direct line of sight from sitting on the toilet to the sink, I would probably notice the discrepancy (no judgement though). If I saw the sink mainly from standing height, I don't think I would notice the discrepancy very often.
posted by oceano at 2:03 PM on February 2, 2022
posted by oceano at 2:03 PM on February 2, 2022
As a side note, for our kiddo, I was worried about her hiking herself up on the pedestal sink to see in the mirror (a recessed medicine cabinet that I wasn't going to change) and while we had a little stool in the bathroom for ages, we also had a handheld mirror that was plastic (it got dropped a lot and never broke) that we just set behind the faucets. Then she could see without the stool and it's been handy for other situations. We got one like this that can balance on a table top or the bottom swivels so it's flat (to be propped behind the faucet). I just came across this darling thing that I definitely would have splurged on if it had been around/available when she was small. How cute!
posted by amanda at 10:43 AM on February 3, 2022
posted by amanda at 10:43 AM on February 3, 2022
I think it will look fine, and I work in building design. As itesser said, legs aren't the same kind of thing as faucets and I see no obligation to match them. It's even shown with a chrome faucet.
posted by sepviva at 10:22 PM on February 4, 2022
posted by sepviva at 10:22 PM on February 4, 2022
Response by poster: An update on this: I went with a small pedestal sink in the end. The sink is frankly a little too small (for Reasons we had to buy online) but it will work for a year or two, until we have a second bathroom put in and we can move this sink. Unfortunately the faucet I bought is slightly too big for the sink, but we can fix that ourselves.
My advice for those in a similar position: measure twice as many times as you think you need to, buy multiple faucets, and be there for the install. Mine was installed while I was at work and if I'd been here I might have rushed out to the hardware store to get another faucet option.
posted by The Librarian at 12:48 PM on March 10, 2022
My advice for those in a similar position: measure twice as many times as you think you need to, buy multiple faucets, and be there for the install. Mine was installed while I was at work and if I'd been here I might have rushed out to the hardware store to get another faucet option.
posted by The Librarian at 12:48 PM on March 10, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Dashy at 8:42 AM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]