Here's the Kohler medicine cabinet I'm considering (smallest I can find).

Kohler Surface Mount Maxstow 15x24"

*Can* a medicine cabinet fit? Yeah, probably. Would you really *want* a medicine cabinet there? Hard to tell. Can you post a diagram of the layout of the entire bathroom, and tell us more about why you want a medicine cabinet there? Think about the way the medicine cabinet door would open - up against the tile, most likely. I might see if I can find on that lifts up from the bottom, if you really do want one there.

@Carrie B The spot is about 28" from my husband's side of the vanity, and though we have plenty of drawer space in the vanity, my husband tends to keep a few quite a few things on the counter (electric toothbrush, various bottles/tubes of products), so getting that clutter off the counter and into an easy to reach cabinet is my ulterior motive.

A large wall mirror is being installed (between the lights) next month. I tried to talk hubby into two medicine cabinets over the sinks instead, but he really likes the look of one big mirror to open up the space (the bathroom is on the narrow side).

I totally agree with you that two smaller medicine cabinets is a *way* better idea. Not just functionally, but I think they'd look a lot better than a big mirror, too.

1) I have no idea why a contractor would tell you you couldn't mount a shallow medecine cabinet on that wall. It just has to fit in the stud space and allow a little bit of room at the back for the wiring. Or you could surface mount whatever you wanted.

2) However, I agree that the best solution is a pair of surface mount cabinets on the wall with mirrors. There are plenty of clean-looking ones readily available that would complement that beautiful wall.

A recessed cabinet on an exterior wall would mean that there's no insulation there. I don't see an issue with a surface mount one though.

I agree. Get the two medicine cabinets. Much classier than a big useless mirror

Thanks all.

I guess we are (tragically?) Old School Modern, as we do prefer the clean, no-frills look of a large unframed mirror such as this:

Also, I did read somewhere that you shouldn't install a recessed cabinet in a load-bearing wall. Maybe that was just code here in California? That, I think, was the main issue in our G.C.'s mind. California contractors, I'd love to hear from you!

Well, you put doors and windows in load bearing walls. Frame it the same if necessary and install the recessed cabinets. Of course it would have been easier to plan for it during construction.

You can get mirrored front recessed medicine cabinets without frames mounted on the long wall right next to each other so they look like one large mirror. I have seen them up to 60 " wide.

@loobab, @mainenell...true!!

FWIW, one of the things I read (with proper skepticism):

Installing Medicine Cabinets in Load Bearing Walls.

That link just says you need to know what you are doing if you are going to cut studs in a load bearing wall. Which is true, you can't just cut the studs and hope for the best.

But in your case, you aren't cutting studs, you would just be putting it into an empty space. Except that space is probably filled with insulation, so you can't do it. It isn't empty. Unless you live in a region that is mild all year around and you don't need insulation.

I’m not sure how often the door next to it will be used ... my husband tends to slam every door he closes. Not on purpose, he just does. If we had a medicine cabinet next to an exterior door, nothing would ever be upright in it. 😄

@greg_2015, Thanks, yes, there is insulation in that wall, but we live in coastal SoCal, so could easily do without that one square foot of insulation! (We actually had zero insulation in the house before remodeling!) Not sure what spooked our G.C. so much. He also didn't want to put one in the other bathrooms, one of which is an interior wall.

@Jilly, lol, fortunately that door isn't one that slams (the door to the garage however...!) :)

Actually, I did find this narrow Cubiko storage mirror that might work on that wall, if only I could figure out a way to turn the black into a brushed silver to match our fixtures...(spray paint?).

I like that this one is just 12" wide by 5" deep and has just enough storage space for the few things that he uses every day. Also, no worry of opening a cabinet door into the overhead light.

Cubiko Mirror and Storage Unit · More Info

@kudzu9, thanks, as I mentioned a couple comments up, we had zero insulation for 20+ years before we remodeled, so not too worried about losing a tiny bit of it! :) My guess is something happened in our G.C.'s past involving this issue and it has spooked him ever since. Every time I tried to talk to him about it, he bristled a little and tried to change the subject. It was weird, especially since he was so quick to come up with creative solutions to so many other problems during the project, but I just figured he's the expert and knows the local code, so...

Who'd think trying to find a place a stash one electric toothbrush and a few random bottles of hair gunk could cause such consternation! :-D

Mittens-

I think you diagnosed it correctly: He had some unfortunate experience — I can’t imagine what it could have been, though — and he’s sour on the idea. Inexplicable to me if he is otherwise competent and creative....

@kudzu9: True!

OK, very tempted to bail on the proper medicine cabinet idea and instead buy the $80 Cubiko Storage Mirror shown above and give it a good coat of Rustoleum Metallic Spray Paint in Titanium Silver to blend in with our brushed metal fixtures.

I think the storage cabinet is a great idea without a big investment.

We use a narrow cabinet like below and it meets all of our needs - use holders, trays and baskets.

Something like this could fit on the left of your sink (move towel rack) and will provide more storage than a medicine cabinet. Your husband can take the closest sink and will be more apt to use being so convenient.

Thanks @Maureen I've looked at dozens of storage towers, but have not found any that 1) blend well with our modern look, and 2) blend seamlessly in the space (without adding more visual clutter). There probably are some in the high-end range, but I'm not feeling very spendy, post-remodel!

We have four large drawers in our Godmorgon vanity that should take care of all our storage needs. There's something about putting wet toothbrushes in a drawer, though...ew. I also tried a number of toothbrush holders, wall-mounted and otherwise, but none do anything to reduce the clutter.

Really, this is kinda nuts to fret over where to put toothbrushes. First World Problems, no question! :-/

What is all this fuss about insulation - isn't this an outside wall? Anyway, I'm assuming this would be mounted above the switches. If it were my cabinet, I would add a receptacle inside the cabinet where I could plug in a rechargeable toothbrush, razor, or whatever.

mtvhike- An outside wall is precisely the place you want insulation, but the fuss is over something that has negligible impact in terms of energy efficiency.

No fuss here! I'm new to insulation, lol. :->

Any ballpark ideas how much someone would charge to install a recessed cabinet?

Sorry, Kudzu (and everyone else), I misspoke this does NOT appear to be on an outside wall. If you make a recessed cabinet, the wiring visible in your photo might have to be moved.

@mtvhike, if you're referring to my bathroom wall, it is a wall that has an exterior side.

mtvhike— I don’t see an issue with the wiring. It has enough slack that it can be pushed to the back of the cavity and take up very little space.

Mittens: I was referring to the exposed wall in the pictures, next to the door. I assumed that was yours.

Sorry @mtvhike, I was thinking of kudzu's comment of another wall

this Cubiko mirror is very masculine and you don't have to open the wall for this but will you be comfortable knowing the opening might clash with door?

@Larece Associates, perhaps I'm not clear what you mean, but the Cubiko is just 12" wide and has no door, so no chance of bumping the exterior door. Or, perhaps you meant clash as in the black metal clashing with the brushed silver door handle? I would get a can of this Rustoleum metallic spray paint and turn the black to silver.

Yes. A medicine cabinet can fit in that space. Look for brands that offer customizable sizing options. For example there are options for a 12" wide that you gange together from bottom to top. Or one long 5 foot one that is 14" wide. You can buy one that is only 4 inches deep or if you have room with the electrical, 6 inches deep could work. If you surface mount it, and also have it open on the left hinge (some medicine cabinets offer interchangeable left or right door hinging), it won't obstruct the door on the right.

@SIDLER®, holy moly, OK, I'm bracing myself for price of a custom-made medicine cabinet! Let's hear it? Say...12" wide by 20" high?

Mittens Cat - It actually does not cost as much as you think. I, unfortunately, can't give you any pricing off the top of my head, but I know its not as costly as you may think. What is your budget range?

The only suggestion I have is just research some common well-known brands on google that offer this customized option, get pricing. Or go to your local kitchen and bath store, and ask them what to suggest.