Here is a great article about the advantages of decorating with a double sink vanity. Have a read and feel free to contact us with any decorating or product questions you may have. Leave a comment or e-mail to uniquevanities@msn.com.
Archive for the ‘DIY Tips’ Category
Double Sink Vanity Article
Friday, November 6th, 2009Bathroom Spring Cleaning Tips Day 4
Thursday, April 16th, 2009Here are a few more spring cleaning tips using all natural solutions.
Toilet: Use Borax, sprinkle in your toilet bowl and let sit over night, use a toilet brush in the morning and flush the dirt away. Borax helps remove rust stains.
Glass and Windows: Mix 1/4c vinegar, 2c water and a squirt of Castile soap in a spray bottle. Spray and wipe with newspaper for a streak free clean.
Chrome Bathroom Vanity Faucets: Rub a small amount of toothpaste onto your fixtures and buff with a soft cloth until they shine.
This information was found in the April 2009 edition of Real Simple Magazine – one of my favorites!
Chrome Vessel Sink Faucet $125
Cleaning Your Stone Vessel Sinks and Countertops
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
Cleaning your natural stone vessel sinks and countertops can be a challenge because you must be careful of what you use. Abrasives and chemical based cleansers can mar and etch your beautiful stone. You can purchase mild stone cleansers from home product stores, but here at Unique Furniture, we like to make our own cleanser. It’s mild and natural.
Natural Stone Cleanser:
1/4 cup grated soap flakes
-Use a 100% pure soap such as Ivory or Fels Naptha
1 1/2 cups hot water
1/2 tsp. scented oil
-This is optional to give your cleanser a nice scent
Clean 16 ounce squirt bottle
Pour the soap flakes into the hot water and mix until fully dissolved. Let the mixture cool for five minutes then add the scented oil.
Pour the cooled mix into the squirt bottle. Spray onto surface and wipe clean with a soft, non-abrasive rag or towel.
*Recipe adapted by Unique Furniture Online from Reader’s Digest Homemade
How to Buy Furniture Online?
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009Or any big ticket item? There are several things you should take into consideration when purchasing online. Some of these apply to any purchase, while some tips are specifically to larger items, such as a bathroom vanity, bedroom suite, chandeliers, etc.
Here are the basics:
How did you find the store online? A referral is by far the best way to purchase on line; a friend or family member that has done business with the online retailer who can share their experience. If a referral is not available, then how did you find the store? Organic rankings are usually the safest , which is the list of sites that come up on the left side of your computer screen when using a search engine (such as Google, Yahoo, etc). A company that is organically ranked, meaning they got there through a natural process of site optimization and being relevant to your search keywords, is a good bet. There are brand new companies that advertise on the advertisement networks, which is paid advertising, and is usually on the right side of your screen or listed under Sponsored Ads. You can find reputable companies that just haven’t been online long enough to be getting organic rankings.
Is there contact information easily found? You need to know that its easy to contact customer support if needed. As extra precaution, call their customer service line. Your intuition will tell you if you feel it’s a reputable company just by chatting with the person that answers the phone (if they answer!).
What are their policies? Read all available policies, including return policies, damage policies and freight policies. One of the biggest challenges in ordering large item s, especially furniture, is freight damage. You want to make sure that the company you purchase from is quick to remedy freight problems.
One thing to remember, if you pay with a credit card and have any problems, your credit card company will protect you. They cannot protect you against things such as, you just don’t like the item and want to return it at no charge. But they can help you if you have any manufacture defects or freight problems that the retailer is either slow or reluctant to assist with.
Buying online has opened up the door to accessible product for so many people, especially those that live in smaller towns with fewer options. I have been purchasing online for several years now, and continue to feel comfortable doing so. But I do my homework first. And it is something we pay special attention to in our business, ensuring that our clients feel comfortable and confident in making an online purchase.
73" Double Vessel Sink Bathroom Vanity - $2,899
Bathroom Spring Cleaning Tips Day 3
Thursday, April 9th, 2009Here are a few all natural home made cleaning solutions you can use on your bathroom spring cleaning project:
Faucets: To remove lime scale, rub lemon juice on the taps and let sit overnight. Wipe with a damp cloth.
Shower Doors: Wipe scum covered shower doors with a few drops of lemon oil twice per month to prevent build up.
Marble Countertops: Mix 1 tbsp liquid Castile Soap with 1 q warm water. Dampen a soft cloth, wipe down, wipe off and dry with a clean cloth.
Bathroom Sinks, Showers, Tubs & Ceramic Tiles: Create a homemade soft scrub solution by mixing 1 tbsp liquid Castile soap with 1/3 cup banking soda.
Toilets: Mix 2 tsp tea-tree oil with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray the inside of the toilet rim, let sit for 30 minutes and scrub.
You can also put a few drops of your favorite scented oil inside your toilet paper tube so every time you grab a few sheets, the scent will be released.
This information was found in the April 2009 edition of Real Simple Magazine – one of my favorites!
Vessel Sink Basics
Wednesday, April 8th, 2009Installing a vessel sink is a great way to spruce up your bathroom. You can 
go for a totally new bathroom vanity or you can opt to just install the new sink itself. It depends how much work you want to do and how much money you want to spend.
If you are on a budget, consider just adding the new sink. They are relatively inexpensive and installation is pretty straightforward. You will need a flat counter top for this, so you may need to alter the counter on your existing vanity to add the sink. Remember, we are always here to answer any questions you may have about your project; uniquevanities@msn.com.
Vessel sinks are available in many styles and materials including glass, stone, wood, copper and more. There is also variety among the shapes available so be sure to shop around to find just the right sink for your decor.
Stone Vessel Sinks come in a variety of types, marble, onyx, travertine, granite, river rock, and much more.
Honey Onyx Stone Vessel
Diameter: 16.5″, Depth: 6″
Drain Hole: 1.75″
Sale Price: $349
Even copper sinks are available in a variety of vessel styles.
Hammered Copper Vessel
Finish: Choice of Satin Nickel, Polished Copper, Black Copper, Antique Light Copper or Antique Dark Copper
Diameter: 16″, Depth: 6″, Drain Hole: 1.5″
Sale Price: $429
Bathroom Spring Cleaning Tips Day 2
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009Now that you have your bathroom drawers and cupboards organized, you can start cleaning each of the major fixtures. Let’s start with the bathroom vanity cabinet.
The best products to use when cleaning are the mildest, such as dish soap, so that you do not cause extra wear and tear on the cabinet. Most bathroom cleaners contain harsh chemicals that may not be necessary if you maintain your fixtures on a regular basis.
First, you will need to remove all items from your bathroom vanity so that you can wipe down the entire cabinet inside and out.
I recommend mixing mild dish soap or Murphy’s oil soap in a bucket of warm water, and wiping down the entire vanity cabinet. Then wipe dry with a soft cloth. I have found that micro fiber cloths are the best. Drying immediately will prevent streaks from appearing.
Clean seams and crevices with a soft toothbrush.
Bathroom vanity faucets can be wiped down with the same mild soap mixture that you use for the cabinet. If there is a build up of mineral deposits or soap scum, wipe down the fixture with white vinegar or a mild abrasive cleaner such as Bon Ami. Use these abrasive cleaners sparingly.
24 Inch Single Sink Bathroom Vanity
Bathroom Spring Cleaning Tips
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009Over the month of April, I will add tips on how to spring clean your bathroom.
Lets begin with “Out with the Old & In with the New”
Start with your bathroom vanity make-up drawers/bins. Throw out anything that looks or smells bad, then look though expiration dates. Even the most organized people keep this stuff past its prime. Most products have a life expectancy of 6 months, such as mascara, some last a little longer – foundation can be good for a year, and lipsticks for up to two years. If you do not use the product, then consider giving it to a friend or family, or donate it (only if it’s never been used).
A quick tip to keep track of how long you have had a product is to put a sticker on it with the date you opened it. This will make your next cleaning project simpler.
Bathroom-Vanity-Cleaning-Tips
Change it up with Wall Mirrors
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009Mirrors can completely change the look and feel of a room. Be creative with the uses and select styles that coordinate well with the other accents in the room and that reflect the type of look you are trying to create.
Use contemporary mirrors to keep the look of your house ever changing. Use one to bring attention and add drama to otherwise drab corners of the room, and move it from time to time. Clusters of small wall mirrors can also be really beautiful. By experimenting, you’ll find the best use of reflection to make your home appear brighter and more spacious.
Use large mirrors to add to create the illusion of a larger room. When placed on either side of a fireplace, ceiling-to-floor reflections can take a room to a whole new level. They also add depth and dimension that the room might not have had before. You can also position your furniture, plants, and other accent pieces so that they are reflected in interesting ways. Keep playing with them until you find the position that you like best.
Don’t forget about the bathroom new bathroom wall mirrors can also bring new life to a room. Look for something that coordinates nicely with your vanity, yet brings a new spice to the space.
And as always, we are happy to answer your home design and decor questions. Comment here or e-mail uniquevanities@msn.com.
Bathroom Vanity Lighting
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009A client recently asked -
“I have a five ft. vanity, with a 41 inch decorative mirror installed….what width should the bathroom light bar be to balance out this space?”
According to Randy from R Squared Renovations, a General Contractor & Electrical Contractor in Dallas Fort Worth, recommends a 4 light bathroom vanity light fixture that is 30″ wide. He said you could go larger, but no larger than the size of the bathroom mirror.
Bathroom Vanity Light Fixture
