I like the mirror better aesthetically, but am fairly practical so do see the benefit of the medicine cabinet vs. a mirror. I have cabinets beside my sink that I store all my potions and drawers for toothbrushes/contact solution etc. Do you need the storage space the cabinet gives? I always wonder where people keep their stuff when they have a pedastal sink with no cabinetry around it. Can you find another spot for storage? It is handy to have things right at your fingertips.

I purchased a custom home & medecine cabinets were "out of style" so it had none. I also have huge cabinets in ALL the bathrooms AND NEEDED the organization of a medecine cabinet to find all those little bathroom items. A medecine cabinet is truly a "LUXURY"!!! KEEP IT!!! Yes a light on either side would look better.......but a light above will be functional.

Prior to this, I didn't have a medicine cabinet. I always have kept everything in the closet (when you are standing at the sink, the closet is behind you). I don't have a picture of my closet, but the highest and lower shelves are for towels and the middle three have organizers on them that store my make up, skin stuff, brushes, first aid stuff, etc.

Dissenting vote - since storage is not an issue & if you truly don't mind going elsewhere to fetch the things you would have handy in a med. cab. then I would def. go for mirror #2. I really like that one and think that aesthetically it fits in better w/ your bathroom, which BTW is simply TDF!

Can you tell us a bit about it?

This project was my first time not doing the DIY thing. I hired someone my boyfriend knew to do the work and he has some beautiful projects in his "portfolio". However, a quick, 2 week reno is now in it's 4th week. The shower he said would be out of commission for 2 days hasn't been working for at least 3 weeks...and this is a one-bathroom condo! I'm lucky to have a wonderful neighbor who lets me come and go in her place (I take my showers next door...it's like being at camp!).

The tile work was completed on Monday and the plumber was supposed to come Monday night to install the shower fixtures and install the sink. He didn't show. He was supposed to show last night. I didn't show. My guy promises that the plumber is coming today. We'll see. My boyfriend is angry while I'm just sad. I can't tell you how much sleep I've lost worrying about this project. I'm glad I "pulled the trigger", but I guess my feeling is that people I knew, people I let into my home, don't care enough to show up and give me a shower.

These guys have worked on pretty big projects and I imagine working on a small bath with a new homeowner is very different.

Sorry, I meant to write that the plumber didn't show last night. He has stood me up twice.

I too just went through this decision. The medicine cabinet won at my house! It took about 2 days to realize this was a great decision for us. I love the "extra" storage that it provides. Plus it adds dimension to the wall instead of the mirror I was looking at. We love our medicine cabinets.

Will it look odd if there is nothing with depth on the rest of the wall?

I'm kicking myself for not going for the recessed cabinet.

does the cabinet make it difficult to access & clean the faucet?

I am having the same dilemma in our downstair bath. I want the storage but DH thinks it will obscure the faucet & sticking out into the faucet spaces too much. We probably will end up with the mirror since we have a tall cabinet storage in there.

Your bathroom is beautiful. I hope you don't mind I'm saving the pic for inspiration. I am dying to do our down stair bath w/ marble --- maybe we'll do it this summer. Can't wait. We are going to use the memoirs sink too. It's so ubiquitous but I love it! :-D

Of course you can save the pictures. There are plenty more on my Flickr page.

I just sent the guys a text telling them not to install the cabinet. I listed it on Craigslist for $350. That's okay for a never-installed, $600 medicine cabinet, right?

Here is a link that might be useful: My bathroom reno on Flickr

I prefer a mirror - to me, I just think it looks more stylish - but that's just me. Your bath is very similar to mine and I have a white, framed mirror because I have so much polished nickel in the faucets, towel bars, shower door handle, sconces etc. I just wanted to mix it up a bit.

I'm sure whatever you decide will be great!

Oh, and I forgot to say.... Your bathroom looks fabulous! It will be worth the wait!