the Ensuite is so tiny I'm also having issues figuring out where to put a medicine cabinet... maybe it's worth it to cut the tile to recess the cabinet on the side and to have a mirror on the front.

It looks like you have enough storage without them. I would stay with flat mirrors.

If your walls above the sinks are all tiled already, you may be limited to hanging only mirrors above each sink. If you have other walls without tile, you can hang medicine cabinets in those locations. Wall-mounted medicine cabinets can be hung easily enough.
Be sure you have enough lighting in any bathroom or powder room. I like a combination of recessed lighting and sconces over (or on both sides of) the mirrors.

Mirrors only all. Use the drawer storage you already have. Yes...........should have been thought about long before you had the tile excursion underway. These are always best as recessed into studs space, Call it over.

https://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/category/products.jsp?categoryId=cat3850033

https://www.us.kohler.com/us/browse/bathroom-medicine-cabinets/_/N-2apg

If you didn’t plan the framing, plumbing, and electrical for recessed the tile is the least of your worry. Stick with flush at this point.

Buy framed mirrors to coordinate with each bathroom; hang them just like you would a picture.

Argghh... this is where I have immense regret because the architect did not want to go into details about the bathroom stating that this could be done later with the builder (NOT! Because the builder will automatically follow the architect plan without consulting the owner). Lots of opportunities for storage lost esp with shower niches, recessed shelving, and such. In the future I will only go with design/build firms.

But thanks for all your comments, I will have to photoshop every room to see what options I have.

Yes it's too late...but seriously consider Robern medicine cabinets in both locations. They have integrated lighting options and are really well made. They are $$ but worth it especially in your case. I'd consider extra tall so that they cover over old center sconce junction boxes if possible. The light they give off is perfect for grooming.

As for no shower niches I say look at Kohler extra large corner shower baskets that get mounted after tile....it's not the end of the world.

I would love to get Robern. Do the electricals plug into the junction box? Or does an electrician have to install something separate? Thanks...

For the powder room with the decorative mirror I'd stick with a flat mirror. The Robern would be perfect for the other 2 locations.

"this is where I have immense regret because the architect did not want to go into details about the bathroom stating that this could be done later with the builder (NOT! Because the builder will automatically follow the architect plan without consulting the owner)""

May I ask where YOU were at interior framing and plumbing rough in? Where was your bath designer? This is virtually always done well beyond home framing. It is part of kitchen /bath design. The architect will often only loosely draw in kitchen detail, for instance. He rarely know your final apps unless he is also your KD. He'd not guess the size of your shampoo bottles for a niche either. That is you and a bath designer, also specifying tile/fixtures et al.

This was a meet/design/spec opportunity lost. It is not the fault of the architect unless you ASKED/PAID him to specify every elevation and detail within your home, including the baths. All would be more drawings, hours, and fees.. This was a "post framing/ pre drywall, wiring, plumbing rough issue. Period. Sorry : )

There are months between dig, foundation, footers, framing , windows, and.....................the rest. Being M.I.A. for this? Not the fault of the arch unless you asked for his input and presence. This assumes he WAS an arch, and not a draftsman.......

Unless a detail is spec'd in drawing, detail, and text? Spell..not happening. Arrgggh indeed. Live and learn.

Love your bathrooms! Gorgeous! Love the large format gray tiles on the wall, and your cute light fixture. What are your floors? Be sure to post pics after...!

I too vote on just a mirror for the tiny bathroom (as big as you can).

Robern is wonderful and the best there is, but very $$$....your best option for non-recessed. You can call them, show pics and ask details on how the electrical works....

https://www.robern.com/?id=ps_adw_rob_ongoing-paid-search_2018_USSEMRBNPurebrandEMBWebsiterobern&kwd=robern&s_kwcid=AL!6104!3!276249542527!e!!g!!robern&ds_rl=1257920&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInomyi9ur3gIVWLbACh1e5wwDEAAYASAAEgL0X_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

If too pricey, there may be alternative products out there if you search.

May I ask where YOU were at interior framing and plumbing rough in?

At home after C-section, poor timing. Sent pictures of example bathrooms but unsurprisingly nobody looked at them.

Where was your bath designer? This is virtually always done well beyond home framing. It is part of kitchen /bath design. The architect will often only loosely draw in kitchen detail, for instance. He rarely know your final apps unless he is also your KD. He'd not guess the size of your shampoo bottles for a niche either. That is you and a bath designer, also specifying tile/fixtures et al.

I thought if I had wanted a very long horizontal recessed shower niche that would need to be framed around because the studs cannot be in that location. Or if I wanted a tankless toilet that would involve structural modifications. This would fall under architect responsibility?

Architect expects GC to plan details. GC expects designer to draw up plans. Recommended designer doesn't want to draw anything but only pick colors and material, and is therefore not hired. Everyone assures me that the details could be added LATER but they never informed me WHEN it would happen, and so it NEVER happened. Before I could get to the job site I had autonomous worker bees putting light switches and fixtures where I did not want them, tiling over walls that I thought were supposed to be drywall, placing pipes and drains in places that were in the way of cabinets / exhaust, etc. I've tried to make the best of it.

So the C section hung you up. But. The GC will do nothing you did not tell him to do, in writing, with great detail in text and drawing. An inspiration photo won't cut it. A designer who can't or won't specify the details of a bath, WITH the GC ( and in person is best ), followed with text, and detailed drawing on that site is a designer NOT. There are plenty who will do exactly that, but you didn't pursue another. If this un- hired designer worked for the builder or the GC.........she is there to move the project forward and keep it profitable.. That is what she is paid to do.. She couldn't care less you do or don't get a niche or med cabinet. She wouldn't be qualified to do any of it, in any scenario. She doesn't really even care as to your finishes! She is checking off a list. Done.!!!!

The GC doesn't read minds.. He had no instructions. He isn't your designer, and you should thank your lucky stars for that. Had you even SELECTED a med cabinet? No GC will create a recess for one that doesn't exist or have specs available on the site at interior framing..

No matter how UN fair it may seem, the due diligence, for lack of a bath designer was on you. You elected yourself designer when you failed to hire a designer. If not you, hubby, or WHO? Some of this could have been avoided with an EMAIL to the GC. " Do no plumbing rough in or electrical in baths until we have gone over details in person" But you were waiting for a call. It doesn't work that way. Time and subs are $$$$$$$ for a GC. He can't/won't allow a framing crew, interior or exterior to stand around asking "gee, I wonder if she has a medicine cabinet for this wall" . Not even while you have a baby. Harsh? That is the world of build and reno. Time and money.

You learned something : ) Building involves a presence, and detail in writing. If not the homeowner, a designer. It is check, check, check, and triple check. Or to pay out the wazoo for changes and change ORDERS $$$$$$$$ after the fact. This is now WAY after the fact. Move on, get mirrors.

For sure big lesson learned....

Keep bugging people when they say that details can be sorted out later... assume nothing, trust nobody! Even when plan is on paper make sure that nobody changed the plan to cut corners. Check everything myself. Hire integrated design/build team. Yep!

I actually did tell them where I wanted recessed medicine cabinets and niches but they just forgot because like you said it wasn't on paper... :(

Sindy, it's typical of what happened to you. You literally do have to be there every minute monitoring things.

But you still have gorgeous bathrooms! And the Robern un-recesssed medicine cabs might be a great option....

Hope you are healing nicely (it's a rough recovery) and enjoying baby! ;-)

I feel your pain. I’ve learned that hiring a professional does not mean you get professional results. You have to learn everything so you know the correct questions to ask and supervise the entire job. Not even sure what a GC does anymore.

A GC implements a good plan. Or a flawed plan. He is the timing guy, the hiring of subs for all trades involved in the project. He can only tell THEM...... what you tell HIM . That is in a detailed plan and with all necessary follow through. He is a technician and a manger. He is NOT, NOT, NOT, the designer. Even the best GC on planet earth is not that.

Planning-before-doing is a good motto.
Hopefully, you will find studs to support your wall-hung medicine cabinets. Trying to remove tiles will result in broken tiles, and the wall studs may not be lined up to allow for recessing and centering the medicine cabinets over the sinks.

I have surface-mounted medicine cabinets and like them. If you need the storage, do it. I just made sure to choose lights for either side of the cabinets, that stuck out fairly far.

Okay, so there is a lesson learned here. Let’s stop beating her up.
I had non-recessed medicine cabinets in my previous house. They DO require careful fixture choices so you get light where you need it. Be aware that if the cabinets aren’t very high (as a short person, high medicine cabinets do me no good) it can feel very close to your faucet handles.
If you can figure out more storage another way, putting up flat mirrors would be easier and probably more attractive. The medicine cabinets might ruin your very sleek look.
Good luck!

I wish the GC would take notes when I'm talking to him. I've emailed him a bunch of times with detailed instructions and none heeded. so I do agree that nowadays I wonder what exactly he does as I had to find my own subcontractors for a ton of things. really too much time for me to be spending.

thanks for all the design input it's been very helpful!

We live in a house without medicine cabinets in most of the bathrooms, including the master. I'm so used to it now, I don't even care. I'd spend my money to maximize drawers in the cabinets. Everything you can put in an average medicine cabinet can fit in one plastic bin with a handle on it, and then stored in the lower cabinet. And the bathrooms are really pretty like they are.

It's a record, is it not?

"wish the GC would take notes when I'm talking to him. I've emailed him a bunch of times with detailed instructions and none heeded".

If you have made a digital request with "detailed" instructions, and got no reason as to why thy could not be followed? You GO BACK. With the printed email, conveniently it has a date and time stamp. And you do not PAY for the correction to your request.

If, your request was too late, or impossible in any way? You should have been told.

If you got no response to an email? You call, you text, and you ASK. " Did you see my email?"

I am not beating you up, But you do have to use your head. Otherwise, you will be the victim. At some point, it becomes a choice. As was the choice in .....why are you paying someone to get subs, and are then hiring them YOURSELF?! Which just further absolves this idiot GC of any responsibliity whatsoever, and puts the managing of subs ON YOU.. That is in fact..............scarier yet.

For the height the light fixture is mounted at in the powder room, that mirror will likely have to be fairly small. Maybe look at a round one there.