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Vanity Flair
Style Notes
This vanity blends vanity functions and side columns to reference a country Empire pier table. For years I have wanted to create a piece of furniture that featured classic Doric Columns. This vanity is just one of many possibilities. With luck, I might try them on a dresser or maybe the kitchen island for the new house. Many of you have asked if we could provide the details that would make it easier for you to design similar pieces yourselves. I can share basic key dimensions as well as some thoughts on construction, installation, and materials.
 Built Like Traditional Furniture
I used traditional joinery techniques because that’s what I know. I built a frame using the columns at the corners combined with aprons. Then I added a face frame, side panels and a back to outer frame. The method I illustrate is not the only way. It would be much faster to build your cabinet first using more modern techniques and materials. Then, once the box is constructed, the V-cut columns can be added to the cabinet corners. The base trim and molding can then be cut to fit between the columns. The beauty of using the V-cut columns is the flexibility they lend to the construction process.
 Proportions are Key to Success
What’s really important to this design are the basic proportions, which you can pick up from the elevation drawings. With 1 1/8” thick soapstone counter, the finished height of my vanity came to 36”. This height seems to work very well for my family that ranges from 5’ 6” to 6’ 4” tall. If you need to go shorter you may need to shrink the top apron so much that you will have to forego the upper drawers, or have custom columns turned with a shorter middle section.
Gallery of Shop Photos
Click here for a sequence of construction photos that illustrate my methods of work. The accompanying photos show the vanity at various stages of construction using traditional joinery.
Doors and Drawers
Once you have your basic elevations, you can reconfigure the door and drawer layout to suit your particular needs. The drawer under the sink is non functional. All of the others are dovetailed to match what would have been found on a period antique. Yes I know the dovetails are an extravagance on a bathroom vanity, but it’s just the way I’ve always done it, and to me it matters.
Finishing up
The joinery on the door, face frame, and aprons is mortise and tenon, with pegs. Something like 50 pegs. It’s a lot of work, but sure looks cool! The pegs and the correct size spur bit are in our catalog, and come with some helpful hints.
The primary wood is cherry, with an oil finish. The end panel that shows when the vanity is installed, as well as the door panels, are made from single boards. The secondary woods are eastern white pine and yellow poplar.
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