It wasn't very long ago that seeing a vessel sink was somewhat of a novelty. Not so much anymore. It seems that everywhere you look at hosting can be seen; restaurant bathrooms, conference centers, upscale homes as well as your average new home is often given the option of having a vessel sinks instead of the traditional undermount sinks.  Personally, I find this a very nice trend. Like other bathroom sinks and kitchen sinks a vessel sink has a wide range of materials from which it can be constructed. The nice new twist with a vessel sink though is the “counter” or surface upon which it rests. While there are a few considerations that need to be kept in mind, it seems that the creativity of using anything from modern minimalist designs to antique tables has added a lot to the world of kitchen and bathroom sinks with the vessel sink.

Nonetheless, despite the style, beauty and attractiveness of a vessel sank, there are a few things that need to be considered and treated carefully when deciding to go this route. For example, having so much of the bull exposed above the level of the countertop, the chances of things bumping into an nicking, chipping or cracking double exists. Even though the materials used for vessel sinks often include concrete, granite, marble and glass, materials that can withstand a fair amount of use and abuse, you still read about a fair number of frustrated owners who discover chips or cracks in their vessel sinks.

One option that people may want to consider is going with metal materials for their vessel sink. Copper and stainless steel vessel sinks are tow of the more popular options in this catagory.  Obviously you won't run the risk of chips and cracks the way you do with a non-metallic material, so that's a good thing. However, with copper in particular, you do encourage the maintenance requirements of keeping it clean so that it doesn't tarnish over time. Of course some people like the patina look of the an aged copper in which case this is a moot point.

One other aspect worth pointing out is the sound made by the water hitting the bowl.  With a solid stone vessel sink you'll have a very quiet experience.  If you choose to use copper or some other metal you'll most definitely experience a louder, “any” sound. This isn't necessarily bad, it's just something that you may not have considered and could end up being a regret for some people.

While vessel sinks are most often installed on some kind of custom fabricated slab made of either marble or granite, you are by no means limited to this approach. Many people have found using the unique antique piece of furniture creates a gorgeous and completely unique sink. The only issue with going this route is that it will not be coming from a manufacturer who is familiar with creating the surface ready to accept the vessel sink. However, because the “customization” is a scary to adapt such a piece of furniture the vessel sank it's not terribly complicated, you shouldn't have any difficulty finding someone capable of retrofitting whatever piece of furniture you want to whatever  vessel sink you ultimately decide on. 

In the end, just have fun! Be creative and think outside the box.  Obviously, if you're considering a vessel sink, thinking “outside the box” is something that comes rather naturally to you.