See also:
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Medicine Cabinets
A medicine cabinet is the shallow cabinet
found over the sink in most bathrooms. In
addition to medicines, it is a convenient
place to store out of sight a wide variety
of small items we use during our daily routines,
items that include deodorants, lotions, combs,
extra soap, razors, etc.
The two main styles of medicine cabinets
are recessed and surface mounted.
- Recessed cabinets are built into the wall.
Their advantage is they do not extend over
the sink and therefore allow more room and
a cleaner look. In fact, if you choose a
mirrored cabinet, it is possible for the
cabinet to blend in with the wall mirrors
and thus be hidden. If you are replacing
a built in cabinet, rebuilding walls, or
planning a new bathroom, then this is probably
the better choice. When selecting a recessed
cabinet, be sure that the width of the cabinet
matches the space between the studs. This
is also a good time to determine if you will
need an electrical outlet or wiring for cabinet
lights.
- Surface mounted cabinets are usually the
better choice if you’re faced
with limited
access, piping, vent lines,
or closely spaced
studs in the wall where the
cabinet is to
be installed. While surface
mounted cabinets
extend anywhere from 4” to
8” from the wall,
they are easier to install,
and come in a
wide variety of finishes and
sizes.
Among the features to consider
while comparing
medicine cabinet designs are:
- the material used for the cabinet body and
door. A metal body is common but check to
make sure the shelves (including the bottom)
are stain, scratch, and rust resistant.
- internal lighting, which can help find the
contents at night or in a windowless
bathroom.
- adjustable shelves
- lockable door or internal safe, an important
feature if you have young children and plan
to keep prescription medications or dangerous
chemicals in the medicine cabinet
- door design. Here you have a wide selection
to choose from, with mirrors and wood louvers
being the two most popular choices (mirrors
are the best choice if the cabinet is mounted
behind the sink). Avoid unfrosted glass --
although it is convenient for spotting what
you need, it does not allow you to hide clutter.
You can also choose between sliding and hinged
doors.
Before making your final decision, consider
the mirror layout in your bathroom. Many
people like to take advantage of a medicine
cabinet's hinged mirror doors to make a "three
way" mirror so that they can see themselves
from the side. |
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