UPCYCLED VANITY UNIT Repurpose a favourite item of furniture

BIFOLD DOORS A smart solution to stay connected to the garden

Melissa’s choiceÉ UPCYCLED VANITY UNIT

Give a one-off piece of furniture a new lease of life with a speedy revamp

inding an off-the-peg design that

Fsuits your style, isn’t always easy, so why not consider repurposing a vintage piece, like a sewing machine stand, just like Melissa has.

Can I use any furniture? Choose something solid and sturdy to support the weight of the basin – it’ll be heavier once it’s filled with water. Consoles, dressing tables, desks and even sewing machine stands all make great bases – or consider a sideboard, cupboard or chest of drawers if you need the storage.

Which style basin should I go for? The easiest option if you’re adapting your own piece of furniture is a countertop basin or bowl which sits on top of the vanity unit. You’ll need to cut holes in the countertop for the waste and taps.

Do I need special taps? Countertop basins are best paired with either wall-mounted taps (positioned on the wall just above the basin) or tall basin taps (extra tall to allow for the height of

BEST FOR…

CHEAP AND CHEERFUL For as little as £19 you can get a wash basin unit at Ikea, which can be customised with more interesting knobs or handles.

EASY FITTING The Tuscany under-basin unit, £60, Dunlem, fits neatly around your pedestal and has smart, louvred, push-to-close double doors.

STAND ALONE Wayfair has a selection of freestanding base units in a range of styles, from rustic to minimal. the basin) and positioned centrally or to the side, although some designs, such as Melissa’s, do have tap holes or taps in the basin itself.

What about the plumbing work? If you’re using a table for your vanity base and the pipework is going to be exposed, it’s worth opting for a more decorative option such as chrome or copper rather than standard white plastic piping. This won’t matter if the pipework is going to be hidden away, but bear in mind that you will have to sacrifice some of your storage space to allow for the plumbing work and if your unit has drawers, you might have to re-work the drawer sizes.

What height should the vanity unit be? As a general rule, the top of the basin should be between 80cm and 95cm from the floor, so you may need to make some height adjustments if you’re adapting your own piece.

How should I protect the countertop? Water will damage wooden surfaces, however careful you are, so apply marine-grade varnish to give wood an extra protective seal. Alternatively, consider tiling the surface or replacing the countertop with a slab of marble.