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in DIY/Home Decorating· House & Home

American Standard Portsmouth Vanity & Americast Bathtub

When we started thinking about redoing our bathroom, which is our only full bath, we knew we had to maximize our tiny space and also minimize spending.  This is not usually an easy thing to do when looking at remodeling your home.  We really wanted a cast iron tub– for the heat retention and for quality of material, among other reasons, but the cost was really high and the weight of those is very high.  I wasn’t sure I wanted a 800+ lb bathtub on my 2nd floor.  When we started researching, immediately we learned of the Americast tub by American Standard.  A lighter version that’s very similar in composition to a cast iron tub, the Americast weighs in only around 350ish pounds, but offers the same heat retaining qualities and durability of a cast iron.  That was an easy decision.

We do keep our bathroom clean but we’d removed inches of lath, plaster and tile/grout – hence the filth!americast tub by american standard

American Standard’s Americast Tub. Can you see the difference already?

I have to tell you, I’ve taken more baths in that tub since we finished our bathroom than I have combined in the last 15 years.  I love it.  It’s deep, it’s roomy, and it holds the water temperature for a good long time.  To give  you an idea- I usually watch a full episode of True Blood or another hour long show while in the tub on my iPad.  The water does drop in temp a bit but not much at all, and only at the very end of my bath.  My husband had no idea how much I really love my baths until we installed the Americast!

americast tub with kids

(Did you think you’d be seeing a photo of me in the tub??)  All three of my kids fit in this tub without looking like stacked sardines- they love it.  
american standard portsmouth vanity

The Portsmouth Vanity had all of the features we were looking for in a vanity.  Not too deep, a generous amount of counterspace available, cabinets we can get safety locks on, and the best feature, a pull out stool for kids.  A stool that stores in the vanity so it’s not in the way, isn’t brought into other rooms, and can be stored out of sight when not being used.  It was awesome.   When the vanity arrived, I was really impressed with the solid construction and quality of materials used.  We’ve never had American Standard cabinetry before and both my husband and I thought the cabinetry was really nice- very attractive to look at and very well made.  Love at first sight.

american standard portsmouth vanity with stool out

Except for one little thing.  I checked, double checked and triple checked the measurements for the vanity, and was confident this would fit.  We needed a vanity with a depth of up to 19 inches and no more.  Well, when this gorgeous vanity arrived, my husband raised an eyebrow and said “that’s not going to fit.”  Confident, I insisted it would.  I was wrong.  We got it upstairs and it was about 21 inches deep- with the doors open, there was about 1 1/2 inches of clearance between the doors and the radiator.  I was so sad.

american standard portsmouth vanity open doors

Details like the second shelf with cutout for plumbing give you a lot more storage space!

We ended up donating the vanity so that someone with a different floor space can use it.  This was such a sad thing.  I’d still get it again.  Just with a bigger bathroom.

If you are looking to remodel your bathroom, definitely look into American Standard.  Especially if you like to take long baths like me!

 

A vanity was sent to facilitate this review.  Opinions are my own.

About Brett

I'm a 40 something lifestyle blogger living in Connecticut with my husband and our 3 kids, plus our two rescue pups. We love to hike, travel, play games, watch movies, and just be outside together! Having 3 active kids makes for a hectic schedule and I try to share content, recipes and other things that can help to make today's busy family life simpler, easier, or just plain more fun!

I started working full time at a local middle school in fall 2021 and some of my students are insistent that I am mean.

Comments

  1. Sita Madu - Wynn says

    I love the Vanity, so beautiful the crafter outdid himself, and the tub looks good too !

  2. Stephanie Thompson (Free) says

    That is a nice vanity. It is neat that the bottom is still usable with the pull out step for children. I replaced my vanity with a pedestal sink because my bathroom is very small and now wish I had a vanity again.

  3. Barbara Maher-Erwin says

    That’s a great-looking vanity. I love the lattice on the doors and the pull out step stool is ingenious! Sorry it didn’t fit!

  4. Cindy Merrill says

    Been thinking to remodel our bathroom- all we have is a shower and it’s a small one at that. The bathtub and Vanity look terrific.

  6. Catherine S says

    I need a new vanity too and our bathroom is small; it’s so hard to find just the right size vanity, something with counter space.

  7. Gloria Walshver says

    Last summer we made a new bathroom,it’s simply beautiful with new sink and especially a new bath tub which I simply love.

  10. Aimee J says

    We are looking at buying a house. There are three on our short list, one has a really small tub in the master bath. I’ll definitely be looking into American Standard to see if we can get a bigger tub in there~

  13. Thomas Chappell says

    This is really nice. We have been looking for ideas for out downstairs bathroom. Thank you

  15. Paula V says

    Wow…a bathtub that holds it temp…one of the reason I don’t take baths because the temp goes down so quickly. Love the pull out stool on the vanity.

  18. Chantal H. says

    I am so, so jealous. Love the big tub and the faux lattice vanity with all of its much needed compartments.

  19. Amanda Greene-Lebeck says

    That is the coolest vanity I’ve ever seen. The step for children is amazing and so convenient, makes me want it right now lol. Thank you!!

  21. MD Kennedy says

    Beautiful! We are just now redoing our bathroom and chose a few American Standard products!

  25. Daniela Tapia says

    Ha i wish i had a bathtub like yours in my apartment.. I have three girls that always take and play alot in the small bathtub we have.. But when i have my own house ill be sure to have something like yours.

  26. Helene Tienda says

    I really like the vanity. That would work nicely in our small half-bathroom. Thanks for the ideas.

  31. Bryan says

    I’m going to measure my bathroom vanity right now, the stool feature is genius! We have another kiddo coming in August and I’m not doing another 7 years with a step stool that’s ALWAYS in the way.

  32. heidi says

    Have never seen a stool built in like that! I LOVE it! Too bad it didnt fit in your bathroom…bummer. What did you get instead?

  35. Nicole Becker says

    I havent took a bath in years but I might just do it now!!! Thanks for the review. I have the same bathtub!!

  36. Julie says

    I love the idea of the pull out stool on the vanity! Stools always are either in the way, or so far out of the way they aren’t usable!

  37. Jill A. Collins says

    l had so much fun picking out vanities and fixtures when we redid our bathroom a few years back. I’m so sorry your vanty did not fit, but I am betting whoever got it was very happy!
    jillcollins68@yahoo.com

  38. Janel C. says

    That built in stool is soooo cool! We have to use a stool at our kids sink and we’re always moving the dang stool out of the way of the door back and forth so they can reach the sink.

  39. Chacoy says

    Love the vanity! I need a new tub nd recovering it is not an option but I love the space in yours(;

  43. Christina says

    So glad I saw this post and I am saving it to show hubby, we are hoping to remodel our bathroom this year… and although it doesn’t happen often, I love to relax in a nice hot bath, it’d be great to have a tub where the water stays warm!

  45. thuy vu says

    The tub looks great and the vanity would have been perfect with it. Too bad that it would not have fit. It would look great in my bathroom.

  46. Wendy says

    Isn’t it fun to remodel – well maybe not the work involved – but sprucing up the house makes it feel new. I love the white vanity, especially the doors

  47. Cassandra Eastman says

    Wow, that looks great! I’ve never heard of American Standard. My parents are remodling there bathroom so i’ll have to tell them to check it out!

  48. Elena says

    We need to remodel our bathroom. I will check out the American Standard. Thank you for the review!

  49. Marthalynn says

    I love this vanity! It’s perfect! It has features I would never have thought of, but now I feel like I can’t live without. I love the pull out stool.

  51. Maddie K. says

    Shame that the vanity didn’t fit your space. The pull out step stool is very cool for kids. I really like that.

  52. Stefani says

    I recently had a new tub installed but not a new bathroom sink and vanity. I wish your vanity would have worked out for you.

  56. Charlotte says

    We so need a new bathtub! So thanks for the thumbs up on Americast. I will definitely have to check them out. I also really love the built in stool on the vanity. What a great feature!

  58. Tesa @ 2 Wired 2 Tired says

    What an amazing tub! I can’t believe the water retained heat for that long. That’s always my biggest complaint about baths is the water cooling off. So that’s pretty neat. The vanity looks great too and I’m sure whoever you donated it too is enjoying it.

  59. Wendy @ ABCs and Garden Peas says

    Thanks so much for sharing! I don’t see too many bathroom reviews, so this is really a big help. We have decided to redo our entire bathroom during my maternity leave. A mistake? I’m not sure, but if you saw it you would know why I’m willing to bite off more than I can chew! We need to replace everything!!

  61. Sabrina R says

    Wow, super cool vanity and the tub is a huge improvement! I can’t wait until we get a house to work on lol!

  62. Kathy Idol says

    I love the vanity. My daughter & husband are building their house this would be great for their bathroom. Thanks for sharing.

  63. Karen Hand says

    Love the vanity and the pull out stool. Think that is such a great idea. I think I would have done some remodeling in order that the vanity would fit. 🙂 Great review.

  64. Julie Jones says

    That vanity is just awesome!! I love the pull out stool for kids.
    I wonder why bathroom designs always include a bulky vanity and a high mirror that children can’t use!

  66. Jennifer Hedden says

    I love taking baths and would love this tub. I really like that the Americast tub offers the same heat retaining qualities and durability of a cast iron tub. I also like the American Standard is so deep. I really like the Portsmouth Vanity and am so sorry you couldn’t use it.

  67. Danielle @ We Have It All says

    Ok first of all, I never knew there was a vanity with a pull out stool! How cool is that?!? And I totally LOL’d at your comment about seeing you in the tub, you’re hilarious! It did turn out great though! I love deep tubs. I have yet to get my dream bathroom… one day.

  68. Mimi says

    Oh my goodness, I would’ve been so bummed if this hadn’t fit in my bathroom. I LOVE that pull out step!! What a brilliant idea! I also love the extra shelf because I have ZERO drawers and ZERO shelves in my double sink bathroom. ugh…I may need to redo the bathroom sink!

  70. Airess says

    My husband and I are looking into purchasing a home really soon and that tub looks so comfortable. I haven’t taken an actual relaxing soak in a very long time and this would be just what I needed to relax and unwind! Great post!

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