Bathroom Sinks

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