Contemporary copper vessel sinks are becoming more popular than they used to be. I think that one reason for their lagging behind glass vessel sinks in popularity is based on a misconception. People tend to think that copper is harder to keep in good looking condition. But that is not the case. A good copper vessel sink will remain beautiful for many many years. It will acquire a very attractive patina and look great. Something people might not know about copper is that it has natural antibacterial properties that kill bacteria in a few hours, giving your family an added protection against the spread of germs like E. coli.

Water spots will show on copper, just as they do on glass, but you simply wipe it with a sponge or cloth to take care of that. Remember that disinfectant cleaning products are not necessary. You should, however, avoid any abrasive product that could damage the surface of your sink.

If you are still debating which vessel sink material is best for you, are leaning towards copper, but are still hesitating because of the cleaning concerns, then I would recommend that you coat your sink with a high quality bees wax and forget about it. It's as simple as that.

copper sink from Native Trails

Gold and copper are the only two metals that have a natural color. Patina will occur but corrosion will not as copper is corrosion proof. Copper sink are available in different colors, but as they age the color will change due to patina, but your sink will only become more beautiful and will give your home an oriental atmosphere.

Many copper vessel sinks are made in places like Morocco, Bali, In the United States, many also come from Mexico.

Prices on copper vessel sinks will range from below 200 dollars to several hundreds.They are comparable to the prices you would pay for a glass vessel sink, when all quality and craftsmanship comparisons are equivalent. In other words do not compare a high end copper vessel sink with a low end glass or resin sink. What you want to look for when buying copper is the gauge of the sheet, which should be around 14, 16 or 18. The lower the number the better the quality.

In an other post I have written about other materials for vessel sinks, like natural stone and glass. Copper like stone and is a natural material. Most copper vessel sinks that you will buy are high quality hand crafted artisanal pieces. They will be hammered and tempered and usually finished with a protective material, or the patina will be fired into the finish, making them very easy to care for and an object of beauty for a long time.

The images in this post are just to give you an idea of what is available online in copper vessel sinks and the best way to find what you are looking for is to visit a few sites and see what they have to offer.

Bathroom vessel sinks are increasingly popular. Bathroom decor is becoming more and more beautiful, bathrooms are subject to trends just like any other room, and to lay out a great bathroom there are many options available. Fixtures like showers, bathtubs, sinks, and even furniture have all been studied by designers and wonderful new designs have come to light in the last few years. If however you want a really modern bathroom then you will want to have a vessel sink. They are trendy right now but it does not mean that the trend will be short lived and that you might fear to be stuck with an out of style bathroom in a few years. Vessel sinks have been used long enough for the trend to have become a timeless design ethic.

A vessel sink is essentially a free standing sink, it can either sit on a counter or be partially recessed into it, with still a fair amount of the sink showing, or it can be mounted directly on a wall.

Vessel sinks are trendy, because they are available in such a large variety of materials, like glass, copper, natural stone like marble or granite, even wood. Colors can be anything your bathroom design demands. Even shapes are unique and only limited by your imagination, you could say that they are the shape of things to come.

A glass vessel sink is a clear and definitely modern departure from white porcelain drop-in bowls. Light plays with the tinted or clear glass, and often adds a reflected design on the counter, which you can see through the sink. It expresses the purity of a material that has been used for centuries and harmonizes well with any counter you choose to place it on. Ideas of what has been done with glass vessel sinks.

A copper vessel sink whether it is entirely made of copper of whether it sports a sleek nickel finish will bring a touch of rustic to your bath.

You can also find vessel sinks in most natural stones from dark granite to white onyx, or warm tones of marble and travertine. All stones are available in the fabrication of these sinks and can be found online if not in your local shops.

It is not always necessary to place vessel sinks on a vanity, counter or any furniture, they can be directly attached to the wall, depending of course of the design that you choose. For that reason it is important that you have a clear idea of where you are going with your bathroom design before you buy anything. Wall mounted vessels sinks tend to be more expensive than vanity mounted ones but then you don't have to pay for a new vanity. Sometimes as in a small bathroom you have no other option but to use a wall mount, or a small wall mounted console. When it only a matter of design, it is often better to choose a good quality console or wall mount  than a discount bathroom vanity that might not put your vessel sink to its best esthetic advantage.

Similarly vessel sinks faucets will have to be chosen carefully for height and how far they need to extend to reach the center of the sink. It is important to choose the right faucet for the shape of your sink. This small gallery can give you an idea of the many materials available.

The eight of the counters or the vessel sink vanity where your sink will rest will be lower than a traditional vanity since your sink is likely to stand out, it is necessary to accommodate the difference in eight. The good thing is that all possibilities are open and you can achieve a unique look that is fun, elegant, even cutting edge.

Another detail to remember when considering a bathroom vessel sink, in today's bathroom design, we no longer have to match it to the tub as we did in the past. It is quite appropriate to have a sink in one material and the tub or toilet in a different one.

Advantages and disadvantages of vessel sinks

A major advantage is that even small bathrooms can benefit by using this type of sink as it is easy to fit a small triangular vessel sink in a corner of a bathroom, freeing space for other uses, and making the small room appear larger.

One possible drawback is that many do not have an overflow, this is not a problem for careful adults, but it might become a major inconvenience if placed in a bathroom where children might be less vigilant. There are some vessel sinks with overflow and you must specify this detail if that is important to you.

Where should you look to find the best vessel sink for your needs? You can find these beautiful sinks in specialty shops and in plumbing shops but as their popularity has grown they are now available in large chains like home depot or any other store that sells plumbing fixtures. The choice is always larger online, as suppliers can display many options that would be difficult to do in a small showroom. Even when not buying on line it is a good idea to so some searching for ideas and when you have found what you like you can ask your local plumber to order what you need. We offer a small selection of beautiful vessel sinks for sale on (this post is being redone and coming soon).

Choosing a vessel sink can be a daunting task because there are so many choices.

Vessel sinks have taken the market by storm and with good reasons they are beautiful and transform an ordinary bathroom in a spectacular area for relaxation and a pleasure to the eye. They can be round or square, oval or rectangular, you can even find the odd shape that will fit perfectly for you. Round sinks are more common, while square vessel sinks always tend to surprise people by their unexpected shape. There are glass vessel sinks and ceramic vessel sinks. You will also find them in natural stone or you can choose a copper vessel sink if that is what you want. As you can see the old boring white bowl is being replaced with a big splash (pun intended).

So how are you to select the perfect vessel sink for your purpose. First let's look at the different models in terms of installation.

The easiest one to install is one that is on the counter top. It is also one of the most popular model as it is the one that displays the largest amount of the sink itself. This type of installation is also less costly as cutting and fitting is kept to a minimal, just enough for the drain pipe. The second style involves a little more cutting and will result in part of the bowl recessed into the supporting cabinet or shelf. Some under-mount installation still takes place with vessel sinks but it is less common. Many people who choose a vessel sink do so not only for the esthetic appeal but for the ease of installation, using an under-mount type would defy the goal. An under-mount installation requires a very careful installation as sealing must be perfect.

Regardless of the model chosen it is important to select and install a faucet so that the flow of water is directed to the center of the vessel.

Another precaution to take when buying a vessel sink is to measure accurately the space it will occupy, length, width and depth, as it must be compatible with the counter or vanity on which you will place it.

Materials for a Vessel Sink

As already alluded to, you have a very wide choice of materials when buying a vessel sink, beside the very beautiful  and functional glass and ceramic, marble and other stones, there are many man-made materials that can offer great designs coupled with super functionality. Rosin  and corian come to mind in the man-made type of materials. One aspect of these materials is that they will always look new, and their most attractive quality is the vast array (hundreds if not more) of colors that can be found.

For the more naturally oriented among you, stone is is always an option, from light marble to dark granite passing through any type of stone texture and color. Some beautiful pieces have been made in terra cotta, some were left natural, others were enameled,

When we look at the various metals that are used for vessel sinks we find that they range from the simple polished or brushed metal to the very ornate like this bronze hand crafted vessel sink. Some aluminum vessel sinks will be less expensive than other metals and yet can be very attractive. look at the small gallery of vessel sinks where you will see all the different materials in use. This is only a very small representation of what is available, by visiting our sponsors sites you will find many more.

Prices for vessel sinks vary from around one hundred dollars to a couple of thousands, depending on many factors. As in all things the more elaborate, the more expensive they are, however a vessel sink can bring together esthetic and functionality like almost nothing else can in a bathroom, it allows you to create a magical personalized universe, bearing in mind that the best decor trend is one that give you the feeling of perfect harmony between you and your surroundings. Now I have to say that while you can find some cheap vessel sinks within a certain budget, generally speaking they will run a little higher than traditional drop in sinks.