For designers working at the luxury level, bathroom vanities can be a surprisingly complex part of a project. Most readily available options rarely offer the quality, proportions or level of detail designers want, yet going fully custom is both expensive and time-consuming. The vanity also tends to sit within the contractor’s millwork package, meaning a designer can spend considerable time specifying it without generating much, if any, revenue from the category.
That was the problem Barrett Bergmann Home set out to solve with its Custom Vanity Program. Rooted in his own experience, Dwayne Bergmann knew firsthand the frustrations of specifying custom bathroom vanities for residential projects. He began looking for something between off-the-shelf and completely custom, but no such option was available.
“There were very few options that had the solid construction and furniture-quality details I wanted,” Bergmann says. “If I went custom, I was drawing every detail, coordinating with multiple vendors and spending hours on work that didn’t fall under my scope. I knew there had to be a better, more efficient process.”
Solid Foundation
The process of specifying a BBH Custom Vanity is closer to designing a custom piece of furniture than ordering traditional bathroom cabinetry. The available designs, from the Signature styles to the Elemental Edit, are intended as foundational pieces that designers can build upon. After choosing a style, designers can select from a wide range of sizes in 3-inch increments from 24 to 72 inches, with 3-inch fillers also available.
For finishes, BBH offers five standard options: White, Black, Navy, Natural Walnut and Natural Oak. The team can also match any color a designer envisions. Finally, the piece is defined by the details, including leg styles and bathroom vanity hardware. Designers now have access to Baldwin Hardware’s extensive offering through the program.
For projects working within a tighter budget, the Elemental Edit removes some of the more labor-intensive decorative details while retaining the furniture-inspired design and many of the same customization options. That framework leaves plenty of room for designers to make the piece their own. BBH also offers custom logo plates on all custom vanities, allowing the finished piece to reflect the designer’s bespoke touch. More extensive modifications are available upon request and may extend the typical production timeline.
Bringing the Vanity into the Designer’s Scope
Customization allows designers to create something distinctly their own. The BBH Custom Vanity Program also gives them an opportunity to retain the profitability of the category. Typically, bathroom cabinetry is purchased through a contractor, cabinetmaker or millwork company. Designers still spend time selecting finishes, reviewing drawings and coordinating hardware, even as the revenue goes elsewhere. With BBH, the vanity becomes a product the designer can procure just as they would a piece of furniture.
BBH’s wide-ranging collection of semi-custom bathroom vanities is benchmade in the United States, with a typical six-to-eight-week lead time. A dedicated BBH specialist helps streamline the specification process. Across multiple bathrooms within a single project, the potential margin could have a meaningful impact on the designer’s overall profitability.
Making It Personal
Hardware is like jewelry for the bath, making BBH’s partnership with Baldwin Hardware a natural extension of the program. Designers can select from a curated range of Baldwin options or access the brand’s broader catalog of architectural hardware, which had not previously been available to them for direct purchase. The hardware ships with the vanities but is not installed, giving designers greater autonomy over placement.
As with any bathroom vanity, designers can separately procure vanity tops and plumbing fixtures from their preferred suppliers. A BBH specialist can also help determine the best local resources.
To demonstrate the breadth of the program, BBH tapped four talented designers to create their own interpretation of a 48-inch vanity: Elissa Grayer, Kesha Franklin, Jennie Bishop and Alex Purcell. Starting from the same baseline parameters, each designer approached color, finish, hardware and detailing through the lens of their own style. One of the bespoke designs will be on display at the upcoming High Point Market in October.
The real value of the program is that it changes the conversation around custom bathroom vanities. Designers no longer have to choose between the convenience of ready-made bathroom vanities and the individuality of something designed from scratch. With BBH, they can maintain creative control, deliver the level of detail their clients expect and turn a category that has traditionally lived outside their purchasing scope into a meaningful part of their business.
