Get on board the design train, because we're starting to dole out free advice! Where are you going to get that in today's day, I ask you? Why here on Style Sheet of course! With Scott McGill-a-babe, no less. (I may get in trouble for that...)
Scott McGillivray, host of HGTV's hit show Income Property has given in to my persistent badgering; for the next while, the man who can carve a desirable living space out of virtually anything is here to solve some Design Dilemmas. Today, we begin with Ann, who is understandably fretting about her basement bathroom layout...
From Ann:
We are in the middle of building a bathroom/laundry room in our basement. Our big issue is lighting over the sink.
As
shown in the attached pictures, the vanity holds two sinks. There is a
window above the sink that we normally use (the sink on the left is the
utility sink and is used less frequently) which means that we can't put
a mirror and/or light there as would traditionally be done in other
bathrooms. We tried putting pot lights in the bulk head above the sink,
but that lighting was lousy. Wall sconces to the sides of the window
could work, but then where would the mirror go (we thought maybe the
mirror could go on some sort of swivel arm to the left of the window,
so that it could be pulled out in front of the sink when needed)?
Can you please suggest where to put a mirror and how to solve this lighting issue for our everyday sink!!!
Thanks,
Ann
Scott suggest:
Ann,
The bathroom layout is definitely a challenge. Your best case scenario would be to either switch the sinks, or replace the utility sink with a second identical vanity sink to give the bathroom a uniform look. The second vanity sink (or utility sink) can still be used for laundry while the sink on the left can be set up for a proper bathroom layout. Here are my thoughts;
- With the vanity sink on the left there is room for a standard oval mirror (available at most home renovation stores).
- Remove the pot lights as they tend to cast unflattering shadows -- a double-bulb vanity light above the mirror will do a much better job.
- I'm not sure how much storage is available but one or two shelves under the window may provide extra storage options.
Best of luck.
Scott McGillivray
Anything to add fellow design buffs?
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