Caveat: As you read, please know that I feel everyone has their own "pretty" and mine, for me, is as described below. It's not meant to knock down another style, but to help paint a picture of my personal dilemma.

We are putting in a new bathroom off our kitchen. It will have a shower, toilet and vanity. The space for the vanity is a maximum of 32" wide. I have designed a 22" stand alone vanity for our custom capenter (still way cheaper than restoration hardware) that I love based on my favorite sink. He would make it out of walnut or could do it from maple so that it could be painted. I have given him pictures of the door style and legs than I love and he can replicate amazingly. I love the Tresham Kohler sink, which is a drop in he will can custom place on top.

When I asked my contractor for advice before ordering the sink, he HIGHLY recommends I reconsider. I forgot to mention we have four kids ages 9-13 and a large dog and it is the only bathroom on the first floor of our small cape. I included a spigot in the shower to wash feet and dog.

Our contractor's recommendation is a "built in" that goes flush to the wall, flush to the floor (fake front legs if i'd like) and an undermount sink with marble top and short back splash. This is from a practical POV he says. Much easier to clean and more space can be used.

The shower will be 6x12" subway white Marble, the main bathroom floor will be 10" hexagon white Marble. The shower floor is a floral pattern of carrara and Thasos.

I feel the stand alone lends it self in sync with the white marble. I will likely do a black and white wall paper. I love the black and white retro bathrooms and feel this will be a current twist. Especially if I laquer the vanity black (or bright green which will be my next discussion!)

Any thoughts?