Katie Rosenfeld on the Quest that Sparked Her Latest Venture, Vanity & Co.

Designer Katie Rosenfeld was neck-deep in the renovation of her historic Tudor-style home outside Boston when she hit an unexpected stumbling block. Determined to have her bathrooms exude the same comfort, beauty, and warmth that characterized the rest of the house, she had been searching high and low for showstopper vanities that skewed more toward heirloom-quality pieces than standard cabinetry.

“I was looking for heritage-inspired bathroom furniture that didn’t have to be custom-designed or retrofitted for plumbing,” Rosenfeld says. “There was nothing like that out there.” She knew that she couldn’t be the only decorator hunting for such distinctive, substantial options—and as a result, Vanity & Co. was born.

The designs in Vanity & Co’s launch collection have the look and feel of antique chests and the functionality of hardworking cabinets. “Everything is constructed by expert carpenters in the U.S., with hand-turned legs, dovetail joinery, luxe finishes, and hardware sourced from England,” Rosenfeld says, “but the pieces also have all the modern-day storage and amenities that we need for contemporary bathrooms.”

To answer a wide variety of decorating needs, Rosenfeld designed seven distinct vanities and two dressing tables. The Harper has the bones of a Gustavian antique, the Evie takes its shape from Federal-era chests, and the Anna features grandmillennial-chic drop pulls and doors prepped for ruched fabric panels.

Rosenfeld is a big fan of thoughtfully incorporating textiles into the bath. “Fabric has a softening effect and can counteract the hard finishes in a bathroom such as tile, wood, and stone,” she says. “It can also be used to evoke any style, from tailored and tidy stripes and checks to charming, romantic prints. There are no rules!”

“It’s so important to slow down and luxuriate at home, and the bath should be a sanctuary”

Crafted from white oak and complete with unlacquered-brass details, the vanities and dressing tables can be specified in a number of stain and paint options, including a primer finish that’s ideal for on-site customization. The vanities are meant to be fitted with clients’ own countertops, faucets, and sink basins, allowing each piece to take on a one-of-a-kind character.

Compared with other rooms in the home, bathrooms deserve much more love and attention than they often get, avers Rosenfeld. “It’s so important to slow down and luxuriate,” she says, “and the bath should be a sanctuary. We all need those small moments, and we all want to be surrounded by pretty things.”