Medicine Cabinets or No?

Question

Just curious on whether or not you put in medicine cabinets in bathrooms (especially smaller bathrooms with limited storage)

• Do you do recessed or surface mount? 
• What Brand do you use? 
• Have you bought any of the higher end medicine cabinets with built in lighting, etc.? 
• Comments

@J Scott @Jay Hinrichs @Lynn Currie @Jon Klaus @Kenneth Bell and all others!

keywords: new construction, remodel, high end,

Manolo D. · Answer

@Karen Margrave Ah yes, those too. I guess they sit at the top of my countertop unfortunately. Welcome back! How was the grandkids?

Lynn Currie · Answer

@Karen Margrave I never put in medicine cabinets, just framed out, custom cut mirrors.

Account Closed · Answer

Given your keywords that included "high-end" then, I suspect they'd be appreciated.  That said:

- Recessed cabinets require coordination to ensure cavity is free of obstructions (plumbing, electrical) and that the stud spacing aligns with the center-line location of the MC.  Much easier to do with new construction than retrofits.

- I'm not a fan of the combo MC/light... if one component fails you might have to replace the whole thing... as well, depending on the height of the fixture, the light may not end up being high enough if the mirror is properly placed, or the mirror part too high.

- If surface mounted fixtures are placed below the light fixture, but sure that they are compatible in so much as their projections from the wall so that the MC doesn't block the downward light many folks might want when looking in their bathroom mirror (or simply directing bulk of light/heat onto the top of the MC).

Karen Margrave · Answer

Account Closed I tend to agree with you with any product that has other stuff integrated, just more things that can go wrong.

Account Closed · Answer

Recessed medicine cabinets are nice because they don't look like what they are. In my opinion, the surface mounts are old-fashioned. If its already in a rental, I'd probably leave it there. If there is just a mirror there I'd leave the mirror and consider other ways to maximize the space, such as the area above the toilet. You can buy the wooden cabinets that custom fit over the toilet sitting area. I think those are the best use of space in small bathrooms.

Karen Margrave · Answer

@Manolo D.I just read you reply. Medicine cabinets are for a lot more than medicine, you can put bottles of after shave, perfume, deodorant, toothpaste, and a multitude of other products in them.

Brandi Carballo · Answer

I always put in medicine cabinets. They also tend to need replacement often, people put wet and gooey things in them.

I prefer recessed, but I just bought a surface mount for an apartment in an old building because it has plaster walls and I don't want to deal with demoing any more of that plaster.

I have not tried higher end cabinets, but I never buy the cheapest one available, either.

Jay Hinrichs · Answer

@Karen Margrave  we have not put any med cabinets in any of our homes that I can remember

Medicine Cabinets or No?

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