Rake Appeal { Home

The bathroom has long been a solitary place in which to hide out from family holiday gatherings and awkward dates. But only recently has it been elevated to the lofty status of “I-room” by high-end interior designers—a sanctuary where quotidian tasks become rituals and ablutions, where relieving oneself has metaphysical ramifications. No such shrine is complete without throne and font, and the latter has recently become an inspired installation for chic bathrooms the city over. Freestanding vessels are particularly popular these days. Gathering pools of water, these sinks invite bathroom-goers to linger over the water, like Narcissus. Those that are perched atop the vanity or countertop like some sculpture even facilitate the plunging of one’s visage directly into the H20. Designer cloisonné and carved onyx versions can run between one and five grand. But a few industrious ceramicists and glass artists are catching on, producing vessels that are equally beautiful but surprisingly less expensive—ranging between just two hundred and one thousand dollars.