This post includes a complementary collection of step-by-step photos for those who are interested in tackling this custom vanity project from the article “Build Your Own Bathroom Vanity“, featured in issue #252 of Fine Homebuilding magazine.

The details of a bathroom make a statement, and a vanity is often a focal point that ties those details together. The simplicity and clean lines of Shaker-style furniture appeal to me because they aren’t adorned with excessive trim, appliqués, or other embellishments, yet they are more inviting and comfortable than modern pieces in a starker style. In addition, I think the Shaker style can work as well in a suburban raised ranch as it does in a 200-year-old farmhouse.

To build this vanity, you don’t need a cabinet shop, and you don’t need weeks of build time. With some common power tools and a slight increase in cost, you can build a vanity that is stronger and far more stylish than a production model, and that requires only a couple of weekends to complete.

A classic look with a lot less effort

When designing this Shaker-inspired piece, I started with the same height, depth, and compatibility with standard plumbing fixtures that would be present on a store-bought vanity. From there, I added some details that you won’t easily find, such as mortised butt hinges, full-extension ball-bearing under-mount drawer slides, a solid-wood top, and a traditional milk-paint finish. Compared to the details on a  production-line vanity, these small changes can make a big difference in the overall feel of the finished project, and they aren’t that hard to execute. My goal in building this type of project is to ­respect the principles of traditional woodworking but challenge some of the techniques to make the building process a bit less fussy. Although the drawing on p. 38 may look intim­idating, the necessary techniques for this build are basic, and I’ve ­included tips and tricks to ­increase your accuracy. The result is a vanity that looks and feels like a hand­crafted piece of furniture, but one that goes ­together with more ease.

The most high-priced tools I used here were a track saw and a thickness planer, but even those are negotiable. If you don’t have a track saw, then you can break down sheet goods with a circular saw and a homemade cutting guide. Also, even though you may be purchasing rough lumber that requires planing on its face and edges, most hardwood suppliers will do this work for a reasonable rate (my supplier charges 25¢ per bd. ft.) if you don’t have a thickness planer.