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In a powder room or half-bath, where the close quarters often preclude installing a full-size vanity, a pedestal sink can save the day -- and make a style statement. Their slim silhouettes are more proportional to a small space and won't over-crowd the room, either physically or visually.
If you feel you're going to miss the storage capacity of a vanity cupboard and its attendant counter surface, look for pedestals that have broad "shoulders" that can keep necessities conveniently sink-side. Ask, too, if an integral towel bar is available; it will spare your room the added clutter of wall-mounted towel racks or rings.
Installing a pedestal sink can be tricky, as it requires careful alignment of connections and leveling the base. Unless you're confident and precise and patient with a tape measure, drill and basin wrench, it's best to have a pro handle the job.
A roundup of 10 more perfect pedestals below.
Mixing materials makes for lively look, like the Toto sink (left, made by Bissonnet) -- its base is stainless steel, its bowl ceramic. Intricately carved surfaces can pose a problem to clean; the smooth pedestal of the Calla II sink by Porcher is easy to wipe down, $495-$645 (depending on color). Photo: Bissonnet, Porcher
A small backsplash on the Charles sink by Herbeau (left) will protect walls against stray water sprays, $1,976. Hand-painted sinks, like this Waterlilies design (right), need to be treated with care; cleaning should be done with soap and water to avoid damaging the design (Model #222), $5,065. Photo: Herbeau, Sherle Wagner
Designed by Ross Lovegrove, the Freedom pedestal sink by Vitra (left) has a distinctly futurist flair. Sporting a broad, flat band all around the basin, the Parisian sink (right) offers more surface area than most pedestal models, $2,115-$2,645 (depending on color and finish). Photo: Vitra, St. Thomas Creations
A statement sink if there ever was one, the Egg & Dart (right) is hand-carved marble (Model #294), $20,802. The Reminiscence sink (right), with its curvaceous pedestal and rim design, would be a good fit in a girl's powder room, $546-$762 (depending on color and finish), Photo: Sherle Wagner, American Standard
