Quick answer: every Retrograde vanity is supplied as a cabinet only, so you choose your top separately. We offer three: a solid timber top matched to your cabinet's species, a 100% silica-free solid surface top, and a solid surface top with the basin moulded in as one seamless piece.
If you've picked out a Retrograde vanity cabinet, or you're planning one, the next decision is what goes on top. It's a bigger choice than it sounds, since the top affects how your vanity looks, how it copes with daily bathroom life, and how much upkeep it needs down the track. Here's how the three options compare, and how to work out which one suits your bathroom.
Why is the top a separate choice now?
Every made-to-order vanity we build is sold as a cabinet only. It's handcrafted in our Mordialloc workshop and backed by our 10-year structural warranty, ready for your installer to fit. This gives you the flexibility to add a top from us, or supply your own through a stonemason or fabricator, no extra specifying or quotes needed unless you're after a custom size. Read the full explainer on how our vanities are supplied →
What vanity top options do we offer?
We offer three vanity bench top options, all sized to suit our standard vanity widths and finished ready for your installer.
Solid timber vanity top
A solid timber top brings warmth and grain continuity to your vanity. It's the natural pairing with the grain reading as one continuous piece rather than two materials meeting at a seam. Available in the same hardwood species as our furniture range, including walnut for its rich, dark tones, oak for it's light and hard-wearing qualities and recycled messmate for it's bold character and history.
If you order the timber top alongside one of our vanity cabinets, we match the top's profile to your cabinet automatically. A radius edge on your cabinet means a radius edge on your top, and we confirm the details with you after you order.
Solid surface vanity top: 100% silica-free
A solid surface top is a practical, hardworking choice for a bathroom bench. It's 100% silica-free by composition, non-porous, and resists moisture and staining. Any seams are fused rather than caulked, so there's no grout line collecting grime. Light scratches or surface damage can typically be sanded and buffed out rather than needing replacement.
This is a plain top with no basin formed in, finished with an eased edge as standard. If you order it alongside one of our vanity cabinets, we shape the top to match your cabinet's profile automatically.
Solid surface integrated basin vanity top
This is the same 100% silica-free solid surface material, but the basin and benchtop are moulded from a single piece, so there's no seam or join between top and bowl to collect water or grime. It's one of the easiest configurations to keep clean day to day, and it's available in single or double basin layouts depending on your cabinet configuration.
Comparing the three at a glance
| Timber | Solid surface | Integrated basin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Solid hardwood, species selectable | Solid surface, 100% silica-free | Solid surface, 100% silica-free |
| Thickness | 30mm | 20mm | 20mm |
| Standard Widths | 750mm to 1800mm | 750mm to 1500mm | 750mm to 1500mm |
| Basin | Sold separately, cut-out to your spec | Sold separately, cut-out to your spec | Moulded in, single or double |
| Best for | Matching a timber cabinet, warmth and grain | Low-maintenance, seamless finish | Easiest to keep clean, no join at the basin |
How do I choose between them?
If your cabinet is timber and you want a seamless look, the timber top is the natural pairing. Ordering it with your cabinet means the profile and grain are matched as closely as possible.
If you want a low-maintenance, non-porous surface, either solid surface option handles daily bathroom use well. The flat top gives you a clean, plain benchtop; the integrated basin version removes the join between top and bowl entirely, which is worth the extra thought if easy cleaning matters more to you than a timber finish.
If you're renovating and want to avoid engineered stone altogether, both solid surface tops are 100% silica-free by composition, and free of silica dust risk associated with some engineered stone products.
If you already have a cabinet, from us or elsewhere, you can order any of the three tops on their own. As always, custom sizes are always available, just send us an enquiry.
Common questions
Do the tops come pre-drilled for my basin and tapware? No, not by default. Final drilling is usually done on site by your installer once your basin position is confirmed. We can pre-drill for $80 per cut if you supply exact basin and tapware specifications in advance. Read more here →
Will the top match my vanity cabinet exactly? Yes, if ordered together. We match the species (for timber) and the edge profile, including any radius or bevel, to your specific cabinet, and confirm the details with you after your order is placed.
Can I order a timber top in a different species to my cabinet? Yes. Mixed-timber pairings are common. Get in touch if you'd like guidance on what works well together.
What's the difference between solid surface and stone? Solid surface is a manufactured, non-porous material rather than quarried or engineered stone. It's seamless and easier to repair if scratched or chipped, since surface damage can typically be sanded out rather than requiring replacement.
Do I have to buy a top with my vanity? No. Every made-to-order vanity is listed and sold as a cabinet only. Add a top from us at checkout, or leave it off and source your own separately.
Ready to choose your top?
Browse our full vanity top range →, or browse our vanity cabinets → if you're starting from scratch.
Every piece is handcrafted in our Mordialloc workshop and backed by our 10-year structural warranty.
