Goodbye Bidet

When Mike and Debbie decided to move from Peoria, Illinois luck was on their side when they found a turnkey home. The move-in ready home was located in Punta Gorda, Florida. Punta Gorda is one of Florida’s most relaxed, peaceful communities. This doesn’t mean the property was new, because it wasn’t. It simply means that the 1987 built home had been newly renovated or updated. This was super appealing to the new homeowners.

But this perfect place came with a “catch.” The new homeowners wanted to revamp their master bath, and they had a reason to do so. The space’s existing layout contained a sink, toilet, bidet, and shower. Mike and Debbie were not fond of the bidet that was previously installed catty-cornered from the toilet. The bidet didn’t meet their needs and preferences. So, they wanted to replace the bidet with another vanity.  When they just couldn’t stand to look at the bidet any longer, they called Just Counters & other stuff, inc.

When I met Mike and Debbie in their charming home, they told me they wanted two distinct his-and-her vanities. Mike and Debbie asked me to create two freestanding vanities that would give both of them adequate storage space for primping, teeth-brushing, shaving, and handwashing.

Did you catch that word – freestanding? It’s important to be aware that freestanding bathroom vanities aren’t really “free standing” as the name implies. This type of bath vanity does rest on the floor and can generally stand on its own, but you must still anchor these vanities to the wall for support. In this case, Mike and Debbie didn’t want either one of the vanities to be attached to the corner walls. Many times you’ll see freestanding vanities that are lifted off the floor on legs. However, Mike and Debbie knew this style would be hard to clean the floor underneath. They never wanted to spend any time on their hands and knees cleaning up dust bunnies and hair that their broom couldn’t reach. So, they opted to go with standard cabinets that have a toe kick.

As you can see in the “after” photos, the separate vanities take advantage of the large master bath footprint. The new his-and-her vanities are punctuated by a architectural window. There’s an abundance of natural daylight that streams through that window.

To get this look we used Aspect cabinets with Shaker-style doors. The beautiful, extremely hardwearing, and durable solid surface countertops are LG Hausys Hi-Macs.  Our clients chose color Moonscape Quartz to put emphasis on their existing floor tiles. The brushed nickel transitional drawer and door pulls are from Richelieu Hardware.

The installation crew was exceptional. They did a great job, came in, and really knocked things out quickly.

Yes, Mike and Debbie said goodbye to the “washing machine for their booty.” Not all bidets are created equal.  A newer and modern bidet has a powerful cleansing system designed to wash away chocolate chips dry that toilet paper can’t.  A modern bidet attachment cleans better and can say goodbye to skid marks and repetitive wiping forever. But, for Mike and Debbie, they are now blessed with a master bath boasts two vanities. The double sinks were a sign that they’ve achieved the dream of coupledom where they now can maintain their own turf, in a place where privacy is paramount. It’s nice for Debbie to have some separation from her husband’s shaved-off man hairs. And, Mike will no longer have to deal with Debbie’s makeup products.

Double sinks are revered as a must-have across HGTV. Interior designers and house flippers alike say they elevate a mere bathroom to a whole new luxurious level. And if you’re thinking of dollars and cents (and frankly, who isn’t?), double sinks are a smart return on investment. If Mike and Debbie ever decide to sell their charming home, buyers will very likely enter this master bath and gush, “Oh look, honey, double sinks!”

See you next week. No buts about it.