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A Dark Bathroom Vanity Can be Timeless, Trendy, or Simply Sophisticated

Vanity with large mirrorWhen it comes to designing a bathroom, the vanity plays a crucial role in setting the tone and style of the space. Dark wood vanities, with their rich hues and inherent warmth, have long been a popular choice for adding a touch of luxury to bathrooms. However, to ensure that your vanity remains both timeless and current, it is essential to select the right wood species and complementary accents and finishes. โ€œThere are several design options that will help you create a stunning bathroom featuring a dark wood vanity that stands the test of time,โ€ says Normandy Designer Jackie Jensen.

Black vanity with drop in sink in the bathroom

Create Balance with Lighter Color Accents:

Prevent a dark wood vanity from overwhelming the space by incorporating lighter color countertops and flooring to provide a contrast and help create balance. โ€œFlooring takes up more visual space, so by adding white tile youโ€™ll brighten up the room and create an overall light and airy feel,โ€ says Jackie. โ€œYou can choose light floor tiles with black accents to help pick up the dark tones from the cabinetry. This will balance the room and prevent it from appearing too heavy.โ€

vintage bathroom with black and white floor tile, shiplap walls, dark vanity and vintage hardwareModern Black and White Look:

Pairing a dark wood or black painted vanity with white countertops and subway tiles creates a striking contrast that exudes elegance and sophistication. โ€œOpt for a simple slab door design for your cabinet fronts, as this minimalist approach will enhance the sleek look,โ€ says Jackie. โ€œIf youโ€™re drawn to the modern farmhouseย aesthetic, adding white shiplap on the wall behind the vanity completes the design.โ€

Traditional or Transitional Style:

โ€œYou can achieve a traditional feel by selecting door fronts with intricate detailing and adding vintage inspired hardware,โ€ Jackie suggests. โ€œFor a more transitional approach, a shaker style vanity door front trimmed with a decorative edge creates dimension that distinguishes it from the sleek, simple modern style.โ€

No matter your design preference, Jackie can assist in creating an overall bathroom aesthetic that checks all the boxes. Set up a consultation with her to begin discussing your ideas. In the meantime, curate your look book from the projects we share on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, or sign up for our newsletter to stay in the know.

 

Bathroom vanity and storage ย bathroom with dark cabinetry and hexagon floor tiles and horizontal tile in tub ย farmhouse style bathroom with dark vanity and white shiplap walls

modern primary bathroom with separate shower and tub, skylight and dark double vanity ย Black bathroom vanity

Keeping the Kitchen Soffit

Three different examples of soffits in kitchen areas, white ceilings

Soffits are public enemy number one for many people, so removing the dreaded soffits top many kitchen wish-lists. But there are times when it may be wiser and more cost effective for them to stay than to be removed. If this is your kitchen challenge, youโ€™re in luck. Normandy Designer Becca Ruggiero shares her tips on how to expertly incorporate soffits into your kitchen design.

When it comes to options for how to handle your soffit, itโ€™s important to know that they are not all created equally. โ€œWhen doing your initial exploration, you may open the soffits to find that they were a purely aesthetic or cost cutting choice in your previous kitchen and they are blissfully empty,โ€ notes Becca. โ€œIn this case, itโ€™s easy to remove them and plan your kitchen layout accordingly.โ€

white kitchen with apron front sink and mini soffit above windowsHowever, you may uncover instead that existing soffits in your kitchen conceal structurally necessary components or essential electrical, ventilation, or plumbing for your kitchen or rooms above. โ€œWhile it may be possible to move some or all of these obstructions, it often comes with a hefty price tag,โ€ says Becca. โ€œIf you decide to keep your soffits, there are a few design tips you can implement that will lessen their visual impact and still get you the beautiful kitchen you desire.โ€ The key is to hide what you canโ€™t remove.

โ€œSelect a lighter color cabinet for your uppers and keep the soffit wall painted the same color to act as a camouflage,โ€ says Becca. โ€œIn an all-white kitchen, painting the soffits the same shade of white will give the illusion that the soffit is part of the cabinet run and they will virtually disappear,โ€ says Becca. Try not to be tempted by special treatments or adornments to the soffit. Contrary to what you might expect, covering the soffit with cabinetry panels will actually call attention the soffits and make them stand out.

If your kitchen has deep soffits, there may be a way to slim them down so they are more aligned with the cabinetry. โ€œYou may need to keep the soffit in place for its functional purpose, but, if possible, I recommend cutting them back so they are aligned with the depth of the cabinetry,โ€ Becca says. โ€œThis will prevent the soffit from overhanging above the cabinets which can make a big difference in the kitchenโ€™s appearance.โ€

Whether youโ€™re wrestling with what to do with your kitchen soffits or just need an expert eye to help you work through your kitchenโ€™s unique challenges, schedule a free consultation with a Normandy Designer.ย And any day of the week, you can find design inspiration on our Instagram,ย Facebook, Pinterest and TikTok accounts. Check out our photo gallery of past projects for more design ideas as well.

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