A Bespoke Bathroom Vanity Created with Left Over Timber

Made from left over timber from a previous project, Katrina and Jesse from The Reno Life created a stunning bespoke vanity for their bathroom.

For over 10 years, Katrina and Jesse have designed, renovated and built 14 bathrooms, and they’re currently onto their fifteenth.

Using laminated Tasmanian Oak, left over Porta Contours Cirque (in Tasmanian Oak) from a previous project, an IKEA drawer runner, and walnut stain, Katrina and Jesse hand made a bathroom vanity for under $200.

Inspired by the contours of the Australian landscape, Porta Contours add natural warmth, texture and movement to any space.

Suitable for straight and curved interior panelling, Porta Contours timber lining boards can also be used to clad cabinetry and drawers.

In high moisture areas, such as bathrooms and laundries, Porta recommends coating the lining boards on all faces and edges before installation.

Katrina and Jesse’s DIY Bathroom Vanity – How To:

1. Determine the vanity size. Katrina and Jesse used an IKEA Maximera drawer system and allowed extra for the waste pipe.

2. Laminate the timber. 70 x 19mm hardwood was laminated by Jesse to create the two sides and base of the unit (this was backed with 3mm MDF and a hardwood rail to fix it to the wall).

3. Cut the laminated timber to size. The edges were mitred so there was no visible end grain, this was then glued and screwed together.

4. Install the Maximera drawer unit so that the front finishes flush with the frame.

5. Make the drawer front. Using leftover Porta Contours Cirque in Tasmanian Oak from a previous project, Katrina and Jesse glued and secret nailed the lining boards to a top and bottom batten, so the drawer front covered all edges of the carcass.

6. Attach the drawer front to the Maximera unit and adjust as necessary.

7. Sand and stain. “We sanded and stained the complete unit using Fiddes Australia walnut stain, followed by a hard wax oil over the top,” explains Katrina.

8. Silicone and screw the unit to the wall. “We always mount our vanities so that the top of the bowl is 900mm off the floor,” says Katrina.

For handy DIY bathroom tips from Katrina and Jesse, check out their blog.

Featured Project:
DIY: Katrina and Jesse - The Reno Life (Instagram), The Reno Life (Website)
Product: Porta Contours in Cirque in Tasmanian Oak
Finish: Fiddes Australia Walnut Stain and Hard Wax Oil
Photography: J. Parsons Photography