Bathroom Lavatory Sinks: Buying Guide Does your powder room need a shake-up? Has your guest bath overstayed its welcome? If you've decided to master a master bath--or any bath--you're in for a surprise. In recent years, plumbing fixture designers have penned a pack of pedestal sinks and high-style lavatories that turn what was once a mundane fixture into a piece d' resistance. It's time to say "au revoir" to your washed-up washbowl. But first, let's clarify the terminology. The correct term for a bathroom sink is "lavatory," a word rooted in the Latin word lavare, meaning "to wash." In the industry, lavatory is often shortened to "lav" or, in contractor lingo, "lavy." The term "sink" fits if the lavatory tops a pedestal, as in "pedestal sink." From white porcelain classics to colorful contemporaries, lavatories are made in hundreds of styles and finishes. Most bowls and pedestals are made from vitreous clay or fire clay, but you'll also find a variety of lavs made from glass, metal or any material that holds water. Of course, some materials are better than others. Rohl Corporation, for example, prides itself in the beautiful, high-quality porcelain its Allia pedestal and vanity bath fixtures are made from. "The primary manufacturer of Allia is in Limoges, France. It can draw on the wonderful, fine ceramic material they have to work with

Shop All Bathroom Sinks  

Can't find what you're looking for?
   Browse over a million lighting fixtures at