Otti Byron Fluted Vanities Buying Guide
The fluted Otti Byron is a wall hung vanity in Woodland Oak. Its front is a fluted veneer with fine vertical grooves, so a plain wall gets texture and shadow without any handles. The cabinet is Timbergrain moisture resistant plywood with two soft closing drawers on Hettich runners and finger pull handles cut into the front. What separates the Byron versions is the top, and the sections below cover the tops, the sizes, and what to do on the day it is fitted.
Choosing a top
There are six Byron options in this collection, and each pairs the same cabinet with a different top. The ceramic top has a single 12 o'clock tap hole and a 32mm waste hole, so choose a mixer that suits that position. The Matte White, Pure White and Cloudy Carrara tops are engineered stone, which gives a plain or lightly veined surface for the oak front to sit against. The natural Carrara marble top is real stone, so the veining differs from one top to the next. The undermount natural Carrara marble option includes the undermount basin and is supplied with no tap hole, which suits a wall-mounted mixer or spout, and the basin sits beneath the stone so water wipes straight from the bench into the bowl.
Check what is in the box. The ceramic version includes the cabinet and the top, and leaves out the overflow, waste and tapware. The stone and marble versions include the cabinet and the top, and leave out the basin, waste and tapware. Browse bathroom basins for the basin and bathroom taps and mixers for the tapware before you order.
Widths and layouts
The Byron comes as a centre bowl at 600mm, 750mm and 900mm. At 1200mm you choose between a centre bowl with a door and drawers, or a double bowl with all drawers, and the 1500mm is a double bowl. The 1800mm double bowl is on the stone and marble versions, but not on the ceramic top. A 750mm vanity suits a small main or guest bathroom with one basin. A 900mm vanity is a main and family bathroom size for one basin and is not wide enough for two. A 1500mm vanity is the comfortable double, and 1800mm gives two users separation. Measure the wall first, then allow for the door swing and the drawers opening fully. For a tight space, start with 400mm to 600mm or 750mm vanities, and see double vanities for the shared layouts.
Hung on the wall
Every fluted Byron is wall hung, so the floor stays visible beneath the cabinet. Fix the vanity to nogs fitted between the studs inside a sheeted wall, with extra nogs at the cabinet height if needed, and the total width of the nog must exceed the width of the vanity. The vanity must also be secured to the stud and nogs behind the plasterboard and tiling. That is easiest to arrange before the wall is lined, so decide on the vanity early in a renovation. See wall hung vanities for other options, and fluted vanities for other fluted fronts.
Tapware that suits the Byron
The ceramic top has one tap hole at 12 o'clock, so it takes a single hole basin mixer. Look at basin mixers for those, and check the hole size on the mixer you like. A tall mixer needs clearance under the mirror or cabinet above, so measure from the top surface to the underside of anything mounted over the vanity. For a wall-mounted spout and mixer on the undermount option, set the spout projection so the water lands in the centre of the bowl and not on the rim. The wall-mounted body needs to sit well above the bench so your hand fits under the spout.
If the vanity has a double bowl, each bowl takes its own tapware. Plan for two mixers or two spout sets, and mark the positions on the wall before the plumber roughs in. Spacing them evenly from the centre of each basin keeps the pair balanced against the fluted front.
Picking the right width
The width you choose decides how much drawer space you get and how many people can use the vanity at once.
The 600mm centre bowl suits a powder room or a narrow ensuite. It leaves floor space around the cabinet, and the grooved front gives a small room some texture. The 750mm is the first width with a comfortable amount of bench around the basin, and it suits a guest bathroom or a compact main bathroom. The 900mm gives more bench on each side of the bowl for toiletries, which is useful in a family bathroom with one basin.
The 1200mm comes as a centre bowl with a door and drawers, or as a double bowl with all drawers. Choose the centre bowl with a door if you want a cupboard for tall bottles and cleaning products. Choose the double bowl if two people use the room at the same time. At 1500mm and 1800mm the double bowl is the layout, and each user has a bowl and a drawer bank of their own. For more on each size, browse 900mm vanities, 1200mm vanities and 1500mm vanities.
Drawers, runners and day to day use
The Byron drawers are soft closing and run on Hettich runners. The soft close damper takes over in the last part of the travel, so the drawer closes slowly and quietly even if it is pushed. The drawers pull out smoothly with a full load of towels or toiletries.
The finger pulls are cut into the top edge of each drawer front. You hook your fingers under the edge and pull. Because the pull is part of the front, nothing sticks out to catch on clothing, and the cabinet looks clean from the side. If the drawers need adjusting after the vanity is on the wall, the runners allow small changes so the gaps line up evenly.
Plan what goes in the drawers when you plan the plumbing. The waste and trap take up part of the cabinet space, so a tall item can be limited by them. Use drawer dividers or small baskets for short items, and keep larger bottles on the side that has the most open space.
Moisture, materials and how the oak wears
The cabinet is Timbergrain, a premium moisture resistant plywood, with a fluted Woodland Oak veneer. Moisture resistant plywood holds its shape better than a standard board in a humid room, but no timber product likes standing water. Keep the vanity away from direct shower spray, and wipe splashes off the front and top edges.
The top sits above the cabinet, so water that splashes onto it should be wiped into the bowl and not left to run down the front. Seal the joints between the top, the cabinet and the wall with silicone so water cannot get behind. Run the exhaust fan during a shower and for some time afterward to move the damp air out of the room. That one habit does more for the life of a timber veneer than any product you can buy.
Care and cleaning
Clean the oak front with a soft damp cloth and dry it straight after. Use a mild soap and water solution for marks. Avoid abrasive pads, since they dull the veneer and can scratch the grooves. A soft brush, such as a clean toothbrush, reaches into the grooves where dust and soap residue gather.
Care for the top depends on the material. Wipe the ceramic and the engineered stone with a mild cleaner and a soft cloth. Natural Carrara marble is a softer stone and reacts to acids, so clean it with a pH neutral cleaner and wipe up toothpaste, perfume, vinegar and similar products when they land on it. Reseal natural marble on a regular schedule so spills do not soak in. Clean the tapware with a damp cloth, and dry it to avoid water marks.
Warranty
The Byron cabinet carries a 10 year warranty. The ceramic top has a 5 year warranty and the stone tops have a 7 year warranty. Keep your invoice and note the date of delivery, since you will need both if you ever make a claim. Warranty cover assumes the vanity was fitted correctly, so book a licensed tradesperson for the install.
What to confirm before you order
- The width and layout, including a centre bowl or a double bowl at 1200mm.
- The top, and whether it has a tap hole or not.
- Which basin is included, and which basin you need to buy to suit the stone top.
- The waste and tapware, which are bought separately.
- The wall position of the waste and supply pipes.
- The nog positions behind the wall lining, since the cabinet must be fixed into solid timber.
- The wall and floor finishes, so tiles are fitted before the vanity goes on.
Common questions about the Byron
Is the Byron suitable for a small bathroom?
Yes. The 600mm and 750mm widths are made for smaller rooms. A wall hung cabinet leaves the floor visible, which makes a small room look larger and makes cleaning under the vanity easy.
Can I use the Byron look in a laundry?
Yes. The same fluted Woodland Oak styling is available in a laundry cabinet. See Otti laundry packages for the options made for a laundry.
Does the Byron come with the basin?
Only the undermount natural Carrara marble option includes a basin. The ceramic top has the basin built in. The Matte White, Pure White, Cloudy Carrara and natural Carrara marble tops are sold without a basin, so choose a basin from undermount basins to suit the top.
Can I fit a mirror cabinet above it?
Yes. Choose a mirror or shaving cabinet that matches the width of the vanity, or is a little narrower, and keep the underside clear of the tap spout. Leave room between the top and the mirror for a tall mixer.
Matching the laundry
For a matching laundry cabinet in the same fluted oak styling, see Otti Byron laundry packages. Browse the full Otti range, or see the bathroom vanity guide for other brands.
