This is Part 2 of Andrea’s bathroom vanity build story. Discover the initial steps and groundwork in Part 1 to fully appreciate the journey of creating this custom furniture piece.
The Journey to a Custom Bathroom Vanity: Part 2 – From Drawers to Grand Finale
Embarking on a significant home improvement project like building a custom bathroom vanity is rarely a straight path. It’s a winding road filled with exhilarating highs, frustrating lows, and profound lessons in perseverance. This second installment of Andrea’s bathroom vanity build delves into the intricate and often challenging phases of drawer construction, door fabrication, and the final installation that tested both skill and spirit. From grappling with tools to overcoming self-doubt, this story offers an honest look at the realities of DIY woodworking, demonstrating that even the most daunting tasks can be conquered with a blend of grit, humor, and a little help from friends – and sometimes, a timely Craigslist find.
The Perilous Path of Drawer Construction
Early Struggles and Initial Triumphs
February 22 marked the beginning of what would become an unexpectedly challenging phase: building the vanity drawers. My first attempt at constructing a single drawer immediately highlighted a common DIY pitfall – sizing. It ended up being about a quarter-inch too small. While a setback, previous experiences had taught me that slightly undersized was often preferable to oversized, which could lead to far more intricate adjustments. The immediate need for more wood brought about a moment of hesitation; could I salvage pieces from the original, dilapidated drawers? The uncertainty loomed as I waited for the glued sections of these “janky” pieces to dry, a testament to the resourcefulness often required in custom builds.
The subsequent task of cutting all the necessary pieces for six drawers consumed an entire day. This laborious process was compounded by my reluctance to invest in a dado blade set, forcing me to rely on multiple passes with a standard table saw blade. The sheer repetitiveness of this task underscored the value of specialized tools, even for budget-conscious builders. The mental and physical strain was palpable, turning the garage into a temporary realm of painstaking precision.
Building drawers, I discovered, was a newfound nemesis. This realization hit me hard, prompting me to set aside the half-finished components and ponder them throughout an entire weekend. The fear of measuring them, certain they wouldn’t fit after such a nightmarish construction process, was almost paralyzing. It wasn’t until nearly a week later that I finally mustered the courage to carry one downstairs for a test fit. To my utter astonishment, it slid into place as if custom-made, fitting with absolute perfection. The urge to celebrate with a grand, public display of triumph was immense, though I settled for a more subdued, yet equally ecstatic, announcement on social media.
Buoyed by this success, I installed the next two drawers the following week. This installation phase proved to be significantly easier than the construction itself, further validating my earlier relief. They fit even better than the first, if such a thing were possible. Of course, no DIY project is without its minor hiccups; a momentary lapse in attention led me to install a drawer track backward. Fortunately, this was a quick fix, and my confidence in tackling the custom vanity project soared.
Defeat and Determination: The Unruly Last Three Drawers
Armed with newfound confidence, I dedicated a morning to building and installing the final three drawers. However, this surge of self-assurance quickly dissipated. Not a single one of them fit. Adding insult to injury, I managed to injure my thumb, which bled profusely. Wrapping it in a paper towel secured with blue painter’s tape, I even texted a picture to my husband, knowing he’d appreciate the resourceful (if slightly haphazard) first aid. Multiple splinter wounds further compounded my misery. The feeling of defeat was overwhelming. The rest of the afternoon—or rather, the brief fifteen minutes before my children returned from school—was spent in front of a space heater, lamenting my misfortunes and finding solace in truffles. It was, as I informed my husband via text, a “two-truffle day.”
My attempts to salvage wood from the “traitor drawers” proved futile, each trip to the garage only serving to ignite further frustration. For a couple of weeks, a profound gloom settled over me, leaving me feeling utterly exhausted by the relentless demands of building.
Turning the Tide: Scrap Wood, Swearing, and a Craigslist Router
February 24 brought a surprising turn of events. Despite my earlier concerns, I discovered I didn’t need any more new wood after all! A triumphant “Hooray!” escaped me as I managed to make everything work using existing scraps. This was particularly feasible for the top drawer, which at only three inches deep, could easily accommodate smaller pieces of wood. While this drawer ended up being slightly shorter than the others, its functionality remained uncompromised – a small concession for overcoming a significant hurdle. Later that night, after the children were asleep, I bravely tackled the installation of these final drawers. They proved more challenging to install than their predecessors, eliciting a fair amount of swearing, but eventually, they were securely in place!
Just as momentum began to return, a fortuitous discovery materialized: a router, complete with a router table, listed on Craigslist for an incredible $35. This was a game-changer. The prospect of a router immediately made the daunting task of re-building drawers seem less formidable. The thought of creating dado cuts with a regular table saw blade – requiring, if lucky, 24 passes per drawer – was enough to make any woodworker cringe. The acquisition of this new tool had a profoundly rejuvenating effect, filling me with renewed enthusiasm and a readiness to try again. It was a clear demonstration that sometimes, “retail therapy” isn’t just about indulgence, but about acquiring the right tools to empower progress.
Expert Guidance and the Art of Doors and Drawer Fronts
February 25 brought invaluable consultation via Skype with Sandra, a true expert whose insights proved crucial for the next phase: building the doors and preparing for the finish. Her advice on building doors was precise, and she shared critical tips regarding finishing materials. For the interior of the drawers, she suggested polyurethane or a high-gloss paint. Given that I had used wood filler in several spots, painting seemed the more practical option. For the exterior, particularly if the turquoise finish would require frequent scrubbing, polyurethane was recommended for durability. However, she warned that polyurethane tends to yellow white paint over time, suggesting polycrylic as the superior choice for any white accents. As an amateur, I often found myself bewildered by the technical jargon, but Sandra patiently re-explained concepts until they eventually clicked, usually after I’d mulled them over in my mind countless times. The excitement to finally begin the drawer fronts and doors was palpable, though immediate action had to be postponed. My living room, resembling a “Marty Gras party exploded,” was currently dedicated to preparing for “Chocolate Extravaganza,” the largest school/community fundraiser of the year. Only after this event would I be able to breathe and fully concentrate on my custom vanity project.
Once the fundraising chaos subsided, I dived into the intricate work of crafting the doors and drawer fronts. This stage demanded meticulous attention to detail, but with careful marking using painter’s tape and copious notes, I managed to execute it flawlessly. It was a testament to the power of methodical preparation, ensuring each piece was precisely cut and assembled.
Just don’t ever look at the backs of them…
The Priming, Painting, and Patience Test
The subsequent phase of priming and painting felt interminable, stretching out over what seemed like months. The repetitive nature of sanding, priming, and applying multiple coats of paint became a test of endurance, leaving me convinced it would never end. Yet, the work had to continue. This extended period of finishing is a common, though often underestimated, part of any large-scale woodworking project.
My inherent impatience often led me to premature judgment, frequently exclaiming, “Oh, crap. I HATE them! What am I going to do?” It’s a recurring oversight to forget the transformative power of a final coat of paint compared to merely primed surfaces. Once these custom pieces were fully “turquoised-up,” the vibrant color brought them to life, turning my initial disdain into genuine affection. The visual impact of the chosen color dramatically altered my perception of the craftsmanship.
By April 9, after several trips to the store for supplies, the moment arrived to install the drawer fronts. While the backs of these pieces might have looked as if “woodpeckers lived in those drawers” – a testament to the learning curve and imperfections of a DIY build – once attached, they were pure “music to my eyes.” The satisfaction of seeing the vanity’s face finally come together, despite any hidden flaws, was immense.
The Hinge Horror and the Brink of Despair
May 2 brought about another significant setback that pushed me to the brink of abandoning the entire project. My attempt to install the hinges, even with a supposedly foolproof template, ended in disaster. The hinges simply didn’t fit, tearing small, unsightly chunks out of my meticulously crafted doors. The frustration was immense. I had envisioned a grand finale the following day, with all hinges installed and trim complete. Instead, I found myself seriously pissed and profoundly discouraged, contemplating burning down the house and walking away. I desperately awaited my husband’s return, hoping he possessed some secret magic trick to rectify the situation.
May 5 provided a critical lesson learned through sheer pain and effort: always invest in quality hinges. Cheap hinges from a local home improvement store proved to be a source of immense grief. I spent countless hours sanding and drilling two extra holes that then required tedious patching with small chunks of plywood, sawdust, and glue to fill the huge cup hinge holes. It was an arduous, frustrating process that underscored the importance of not cutting corners on essential hardware. That same night, the installation of the upper cabinets presented further challenges. The placement of wall studs had not been adequately considered during the initial planning of the carcass sizes, making installation a truly “sucky” experience. I felt like a complete failure. This difficult week, compounded by illness, made it feel like the end of the world for the custom bathroom vanity project.
A Beacon of Hope: Husband’s Intervention and Renewed Spirit
May 10 found me completely avoiding the bathroom, unable to face the upper cabinets I had come to despise. I spent the weekend away, secretly hoping my husband, Ty, would somehow miraculously finish the project for me, even though I maintained a strict “no-helping-cause-this-is-my-project” policy. I was utterly exhausted and literally sick of the entire endeavor. Upon my return, I saw his saw set up downstairs and rushed to investigate. To my immense relief, he had trimmed out the cabinets, cleverly concealing the large gaps caused by the wonky wall, and had even installed the trim on top. Overwhelmed with emotion, I sat on the floor and bawled as he explained that he knew I preferred to do it myself, but he’d been in similar “stuck” situations and hoped I wouldn’t mind a little help. The relief was profound. It was astonishing how a few small feet of trim could transform my perception from utter hatred to genuine love for those upper cabinets. Re-energized and with renewed purpose, I was finally ready to finish this project.
The Grand Finale: Overcoming Last Hurdles
By May 12, 2014, the focus shifted to the meticulous final touches. Caulking and priming every remaining surface felt like an endless task, making me wonder if there was anything left in the world I hadn’t already covered. My previous traumatic encounter with hinges left me apprehensive about installing the last two doors. However, fueled by a fierce determination to complete the custom vanity this week, I resolved that tomorrow would be THE day to conquer that final fear.
Reflections and Future Endeavors
The overwhelming emotion upon the completion of this custom bathroom vanity build was an immense sense of relief. Towards the end, I had grown so weary of looking at it, thinking about it, and worrying over every imperfection that I almost wished to never lay eyes on it again. Thankfully, that feeling has faded, replaced by a profound sense of accomplishment. Much of this renewed perspective is owed to my husband, who tirelessly countered my negativity with unwavering positivity until I finally came around.
A part of me, the perfectionist, yearns to build vanities repeatedly until I can achieve perfection in under an hour. However, the more dominant side of my personality—the one that thrives on learning new skills and then moves on to the next challenge—has no desire to ever build another vanity. But this experience has unlocked a trove of other projects lurking in the corners of my mind, eagerly awaiting their turn. As Sandra wisely told me on Day 1, “If you can build a vanity, you can build anything.” Now, with a newfound confidence, I truly believe I can figure them all out, entirely by myself. And that, unequivocally, is a truly good feeling.
