This project is by Bourbon Moth Woodworking. Building your own bathroom vanity can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, allowing you to customize your space while saving money. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to create two beautiful floating vanities in just one week. With the right materials and techniques, you can achieve a professional-looking result that enhances your bathroom’s aesthetic.
Planning Your Vanities
Before diving into the build, it’s crucial to have a solid plan in place. Bourbon Moth Woodworking emphasizes the importance of sketching your designs using software like SketchUp. This allows you to visualize the final product and create a detailed cut list, ensuring you have everything needed for the project.
For this project, two vanities were designed: a smaller one with a regular marble top and a larger one featuring a stunning waterfall marble top. Both designs include varying numbers of drawers, with the smaller vanity having two levels and the larger one featuring three levels of drawers.
Gathering Materials and Tools
Once the designs are finalized, the next step is to gather the materials and tools required for the build. The primary material used for this project is Baltic birch plywood, known for its durability and excellent finish. Ensure you have the following tools on hand:
- Table saw
- Miter saw
- Router
- Brad nailer
- Clamps
- Wood glue
Cutting the Plywood
With the materials ready, it’s time to cut the plywood. Start by ripping the sheets down to the required width of 20 and a quarter inches. This consistent width simplifies the cutting process and ensures uniformity across all parts.
After ripping, the pieces are cut down to length using a miter saw with a stop block for accuracy. Labeling each piece is essential to avoid confusion during assembly, as each part may have different dimensions.
Assembling the Cabinet Structure
Next, it’s time to assemble the cabinet structure. Begin by creating rabbet joints on the bottom edges of the side panels. This helps in securing the bottom piece and creating strong glue joints.
Mark where the internal dividers will be placed, and cut dados using a router. The dados provide a secure fit for the dividers, making the cabinet sturdy and stable.
Once the dados are cut, glue the dividers into place, ensuring everything is square. In cases where the pieces are awkward to hold, use brad nails to temporarily secure them while the glue dries.
Creating the French Cleat System
The French cleat system is an innovative way to hang the floating vanities securely on the wall. One piece with a 45-degree angle is attached to the back of the cabinet, while another piece is mounted on the wall. This allows the cabinet to “lock” into place, providing excellent support.
Constructing the Face Frame
After the cabinet boxes are complete, it’s time to add the face frames. The smaller vanity will feature an oak face frame with a clear coat finish, while the larger vanity will have a painted finish.
Using a Craig jig, create pocket holes in the face frame pieces and assemble them securely with wood glue. This method provides a clean look without visible fasteners on the outside.
Installing Drawer Slides and Building Drawers
With the face frames attached, the next step is to install drawer slides. These slides must align perfectly with the face frame for a seamless look. Spacer blocks are often used to ensure the slides are mounted correctly.
For the drawer boxes, use Baltic birch plywood again. Each box is constructed with a quarter-inch dado for the bottom panel, ensuring a sturdy and lightweight drawer. The unique sink design requires custom drawer shapes to accommodate plumbing.
Finishing Touches
After all components are assembled, it’s crucial to add finishing touches. For the larger vanity, poplar will be used for the drawer faces, as it paints well. The smaller vanity will have solid oak doors for a clean and modern look.
Although time constraints prevented a detailed finishing process in this project, using high-quality finishes will enhance the durability and appearance of the vanities.