While searching for a bathroom vanity—that is, a countertop basin with a cabinet directly attached underneath—we didn’t really find what we were looking for among the major manufacturers (Villeroy & Boch, Duravit, Keramag, etc.). However, we noticed that several furniture manufacturers such as Puris, Marlin, or Pelicon offer complete sets of furniture pieces and basins.
With the well-known manufacturers, the basins seem to always be made of ceramic, whereas the furniture manufacturers offer mineral cast basins. Online, I can’t find a clear consensus on whether one is better than the other.
Series like Marlin Cosmo or Pelipal Cassca appeal to us quite a bit, featuring a centrally positioned basin with countertop space on both the left and right sides (120–160cm total width, so plenty of space on either side).
But I don’t fully understand this yet. Don’t the “large manufacturers” or “well-known manufacturers” also offer furniture collections? And such curved designs with countertop space on the left and right are common among “furniture manufacturers using mineral cast or glass”—that is, in many variations—but not available from the major manufacturers!?
Is it technically difficult to achieve such shapes in ceramic? Do the big manufacturers simply not want to offer mineral cast? What should we think of these furniture manufacturers—do they also provide quality, or are they more like DIY store level? Although in DIY stores, you usually find brands like Fackelmann.
We don’t want to buy anything low quality, but visually, we much prefer something like Pelipal Cassca compared to basins like Subway 2.0 with a base cabinet or similar styles.
With the well-known manufacturers, the basins seem to always be made of ceramic, whereas the furniture manufacturers offer mineral cast basins. Online, I can’t find a clear consensus on whether one is better than the other.
Series like Marlin Cosmo or Pelipal Cassca appeal to us quite a bit, featuring a centrally positioned basin with countertop space on both the left and right sides (120–160cm total width, so plenty of space on either side).
But I don’t fully understand this yet. Don’t the “large manufacturers” or “well-known manufacturers” also offer furniture collections? And such curved designs with countertop space on the left and right are common among “furniture manufacturers using mineral cast or glass”—that is, in many variations—but not available from the major manufacturers!?
Is it technically difficult to achieve such shapes in ceramic? Do the big manufacturers simply not want to offer mineral cast? What should we think of these furniture manufacturers—do they also provide quality, or are they more like DIY store level? Although in DIY stores, you usually find brands like Fackelmann.
We don’t want to buy anything low quality, but visually, we much prefer something like Pelipal Cassca compared to basins like Subway 2.0 with a base cabinet or similar styles.
Mineral cast is softer than ceramic and scratches more easily, although in my previous apartment I didn’t notice any significant damage even after 10 years. I also bought it on eBay back then, and it was fine.
Ceramic is very hard but brittle and much more expensive, which is probably why it is less common as a piece of furniture. Alternatively, you can look directly in the $4,000 to $5,000 range.
Your favorites are considered "affordable." We once visited a warehouse sale of sam style Art Möbel .de. Your Pelipal Cassca falls into that price range, but don’t be surprised if the wood smells like chemicals.
Ceramic is very hard but brittle and much more expensive, which is probably why it is less common as a piece of furniture. Alternatively, you can look directly in the $4,000 to $5,000 range.
Your favorites are considered "affordable." We once visited a warehouse sale of sam style Art Möbel .de. Your Pelipal Cassca falls into that price range, but don’t be surprised if the wood smells like chemicals.
As I have come to realize, both Pelipal Cassca and Villeroy & Boch Subway 2.0 share the following characteristic:
- Foil on MDF board.
There is nothing wrong with that, but objectively there is no real reason to assume that the Villeroy & Boch Subway 2.0 is of better quality. Only the white front of Villeroy & Boch is, according to a third party, melamine on particleboard and therefore also acceptable, but not as good as foil on MDF.
And there is nothing to criticize about MDF and foil on MDF. It meets the requirements and is suitable for humid rooms. It is often used for bathroom furniture and kitchens. This was explained to me by an engineer specializing in timber construction/technology.
With Pelipal, I clicked through several series and the construction is almost always the same: foil on MDF. The fronts are almost identical across most series.
I must say, almost all bathroom furniture (not from a DIY store or similar) is just foil on MDF, right? For example, I also checked Laguna. But mid-range bathroom furniture manufacturers and the in-house productions of ceramic manufacturers seem to be about the same, don’t they?
Keuco, which was emphasized as particularly expensive in another thread here, offers lacquer or real wood veneer on MDF boards, for example. But it’s almost always MDF boards. Then again, who really pays a five-figure amount for a vanity unit?
- Foil on MDF board.
There is nothing wrong with that, but objectively there is no real reason to assume that the Villeroy & Boch Subway 2.0 is of better quality. Only the white front of Villeroy & Boch is, according to a third party, melamine on particleboard and therefore also acceptable, but not as good as foil on MDF.
And there is nothing to criticize about MDF and foil on MDF. It meets the requirements and is suitable for humid rooms. It is often used for bathroom furniture and kitchens. This was explained to me by an engineer specializing in timber construction/technology.
With Pelipal, I clicked through several series and the construction is almost always the same: foil on MDF. The fronts are almost identical across most series.
I must say, almost all bathroom furniture (not from a DIY store or similar) is just foil on MDF, right? For example, I also checked Laguna. But mid-range bathroom furniture manufacturers and the in-house productions of ceramic manufacturers seem to be about the same, don’t they?
Keuco, which was emphasized as particularly expensive in another thread here, offers lacquer or real wood veneer on MDF boards, for example. But it’s almost always MDF boards. Then again, who really pays a five-figure amount for a vanity unit?
These are simply different materials. Ceramic is very hard and therefore highly durable over the long term. You just need to be careful with the edges, as they can chip if something hard hits them. Mineral casting doesn’t have this level of hardness. Essentially, it is a type of plastic or reinforced plastic. It is quite resistant to abrasion and wear, but not as much as ceramic. Over the years, some scratches or marks will accumulate, which can be seen upon close inspection. Whether this actually bothers you is something to consider. After all, it is a functional item. On the other hand, mineral casting offers significantly more design flexibility. More is possible in terms of design, and overall it comes at a lower price. Regarding the base cabinets, I don’t see a huge difference either. You should always view these in person, including the interior. Differences exist (regardless of whether from a furniture store or bathroom supplier) in hinges, drawer slides, craftsmanship, and surface finish.
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