Right sink can boost bathroom makeover

As part of a major remodel of her Sandy Springs home, Laura Foster wanted the tiny powder room to pop. It does, thanks to the MOSAIC Group.

To improve the functionality of the confined, L-shaped space, the Atlanta-based team of architects and remodelers first relocated the sink. A curved, walnut countertop was built, and a white vessel sink was added. A tile backsplash, a wood-framed mirror and glass pendant lights enhance the wow factor.

“We have a seriously cool powder room,” Foster said. “The room turned out better than we thought.”

The bathroom sink was once considered an afterthought. Not anymore. Today’s bathroom sinks, which come in many shapes, materials and colors, are functional. But they also add a sculptural element to the space.

“While under-mount sinks are still No. 1,”said Maria Stapperfenne, 2014 president-elect of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), a trade group, “integrated sink tops are becoming more popular as the contemporary trend in bathrooms continues.”

Replacing the sink is a good way to update any bathroom, but if you are just replacing the sink, your vanity top and countertop might limit your choices. If you are choosing a new bathroom sink, consider these tips from Consumer Reports, Kohler and the NKBA.

How to choose

• Which room? Master baths are the second most popular room to update or overhaul, after the kitchen. This is where you might want a stylish sink or two. For a child's or an often-used bathroom, stick with a sink that can take frequent use. For a small guest bath or small powder room, where storage isn't crucial, a pedestal or wall-mount sink is a good choice.

• No match. The sink, tub and toilet no longer have to be the same or similar material and color, according to Kohler.

• Who makes it? In tests of sinks from major manufacturers, such as American Standard, Corian, Crane and Kohler, Consumer Reports found that what a sink is made of is more important than who made it.

• Right white. If you're choosing a white sink from one brand and a white toilet, tub, counter or tile from another brand, compare the shades of white to make sure they look good together. If one is noticeably "whiter" than the other, it can make the darker shade of white look dirty.

• Shape up. Unusually shaped sinks might limit which faucet you choose and where you place it. Vessel sinks may need a wall-mounted faucet or a countertop-mounted faucet with a spout that is tall enough to reach over the sink.

• Installation and repairs. Replacing a faucet and sink together is easier because the faucet can be mounted in the sink or counter before the sink is put in place.

Types of sinks

• Pedestal sinks are good options for smaller bathrooms and come in many styles, from old-fashioned to sleek and modern. A pedestal sink can make a small bathroom seem more open. Some contemporary-style pedestal sinks look like tall drums or sleek birdbaths.

• Top mounts. Also called drop-in and self-rimming, these easy-to-install sinks are lowered into the counter, with the lip overlapping the countertop.

• Under mounts. Rather than being lowered onto the counter, under-mounted models are raised into place from below. Faucets are installed in the counter or mounted on the wall. Under-mounted sinks provide a sleek look and easier cleanup, but are more expensive to buy and install.

• Trough sinks feature a long, rectangular basin, often with double faucets. They often are found in bathrooms used by more than one person, such as a children's bathroom.

• Vessel. These above-mount models sit on top of a counter or cabinet. Find stylish models in glass, stainless steel, copper and other materials.

Materials

• Enamel over cast iron or steel. Enameled sinks in bold colors, earth tones and popular shades of gray allow you to go beyond basic white.

• Glass. It might not look it, but a tempered glass bathroom sink is tough.

• Stainless steel. Popular in the kitchen, stainless steel sinks are popping up in bathrooms. Sinks with polished or glossy surfaces show scratches and stains more than those with matte or random grain finishes.

• Solid surfacing. For a sleek, seamless look, choose a sink with a countertop made of the same material, such as granite.

• Acrylic. These sinks look like enamel, but scratch more easily.

• Vitreous china, also called porcelain, is still popular for bathroom sinks, even though some newer materials are tougher without being more expensive.

• Fireclay, which is offered in a choice of colors, resists chips and stains.

• Other. Concrete, copper, poly-resin, polyethylene and translucent multicolor onyx. California-based Native Trails recently introduced sinks made of jute fiber and cement. The eco-friendly sinks are lighter (than cement) and stain-resistant.

Trends

• Under-mounted sinks, already the No. 1 style, are predicted to grow in 2014.

• Vessel sinks, now the No. 2 style, are expected to decline in popularity this year.

• Rectangular sinks versus classic oval shapes.