Do you have advice specifically about vessel options?

I agree to save up for the redo and then do it right. don't go for a vessel sink if you can.

but if you must go for vessel sinks...I have one myself, and here are some issues I have with it:

1. they're are a pain in the butt to keep clean and dry around the base. daily wipe downs are just more annoying between the sink and wall. I suggest mounting the toothbrush and soap holder out of the way (off to the side or mounted on the mirror). also, it'll be an easier task if you go for a low vessel sink with straight sides, rather than anything that flares out (see pics below).

2. the tall faucet will overlap that low mirror edge, you'll get water spots and it's annoying to reach down behind the tap to wipe the mirror. I suggest getting a smaller mirror (or have the current one cut shorter, it only costs ~$35). so the bottom will be above the faucet handle, out of the "splash zone".

Do consider a low profile straight edge style (easier to clean around):

DON'T consider anything that flares out:

The flat one that doesn't flare out looks like a good choice. Interesting point about cleaning behind the faucet. I'll try to make it so there's space for my fingers to go around it, if possible. Thank you!

A total redo is a few years away considering our other projects. But the current set up, to me personally, is not acceptable even temporarily. Putting in actual sinks will increase the costs too much for a quick fix and the whole cabinet is so low right now it's quite ridiculous. Seems like the only way for us at the moment just want to buy the best option.

IMHO I wouldn’t do it here and try to rescue the low cab + countertop on a main bathroom. The mirror is not a big expense to replace if it cracks during countertop removal.

I understand though wanting to raise the sink height on an older low cabinet without overhauling everything. Here for a minor bath facelift we plopped a countertop sink (semi recessed) right over the old hole for some needed height, & a carpenter took a sawz-all to the bottom half of the existing cabinet to make it look open. Not what you want when looking for max storage & high traffic.

You really should post a picture of the whole vanity so we can answer properly. Does your vanity hold two sinks now? How wide is the vanity?
I had a clear vessel sink and hated it. Not only did I have to wipe down the water spots every time but the counter was always wet. It looks lovely in the showroom or magazine, but ………! The white square-ish sink shown above is a good compromise. Have you thought about raising your existing vanity from either the floor level or below counter level? I did it and it works beautifully. Some stone counters come already with under counter sinks attached, ask your counter fabricator, they’re not terribly expensive. Good luck.

Thank you for your input about the clear sink. I was worried about that.

My original post mentions that it's 72" and one sink. I looked into fabrication but they said they would only do it if I removed the mirror and all surrounding tile, which I don't want to do because if I don't have enough spare tiles, I don't believe I'll match them since they must be 30 years old.

Find another fabricator. I had the same setup as you. I had a small 4” backsplash and wall to ceiling mirror. Have the vanity and backsplash removed carefully, it’s far enough away from the mirror as to not harm it. Raise the vanity so it sits just below the mirror and redo your plumbing. You may have to redesign the inside of your vanity to accommodate the plumbing pipes.

I did not realize that another fabricator might say something else. I'll definitely keep that in mind.

@myricarchitect that open shelf looks very pretty!

Let the girls learn to get along while you save up for the redo. Then do it right.

Yes, one sink between two girls is gracious plenty. You can't fix "savage" with an extra sink -- you have to address the behavior, and all of us have been there!

The full-width mirror will allow them both to have mirror space at one time

Yes, keep the full-width mirror. It's highly practical in that it makes the room look larger and gives the girls a larger reflection of themselves.

They each should have their own drawers:

Yes, drawers are MUCH more important than duplicate sinks, especially for girls. Consider all the things they store in bathroom drawers: toiletries and make-up, hair products, curling irons, sanitary items ... my girls grew up with three drawers each + one shared cabinet + a walk-in linen closet. It was more than they needed, but they loved the storage.

they're are a pain in the butt to keep clean and dry around the base. daily wipe downs are just more annoying between the sink and wall. I suggest mounting the toothbrush and soap holder out of the way (off to the side or mounted on the mirror). also, it'll be an easier task if you go for a low vessel sink with straight sides, rather than anything that flares out

Agree with all. I get that you're trying to "raise" the sink", but a vessel sink won't really do this job.

I agree with getting the toothbrushes, etc. off the countertop -- it'll make clean-up more convenient.

My original post mentions that it's 72" and one sink. I looked into fabrication but they said they would only do it if I removed the mirror

Yeah, I'm not surprised. Too many contractors don't want to do one small task ... if they can't get you to pony up for a full renovation, they'll demand several small jobs, or they'll price it so high that the small job is worthwhile to them.

I have to agree, vessel sinks, while cool looking, are a pain! I have one and it’s in a guest bathroom that rarely gets used, and it’s a pain. I can’t imagine it with kids. I think waiting a bit and then doing a whole new vanity with undermounted sinks would be the way to go. Mrs. Pete makes great points!

So not a pro or in the business but just wondering if you could level the top and plop a new solid counter over it, which would increase the height.

so, is it damage to the wall tile that's stopping you from getting a new countertop right now? if you're raising the vanity height, any wall damage will be covered up. if the wall tile in front of the vanity gets damaged (which I doubt), set the vanity a tiny bit forward to cover that up.

the backsplash tile can be removed w/o damaging the mirror.

if the new countertop height is higher than the bottom of the mirror, then you might be able to raise the mirror up or have it trimmed. some mirrors can be taken down w/o breaking them, it depends on how they were installed. are there metal or plastic clips at the top?

@User

All I want is a new counter top. The one right now is impossible to clean and looks horrible in my opinion. I'm fine with the height.

My second priority is 2 sinks. 72" is so big and it would be really helpful to add one.

I'm trying to do as little work as possible to achieve these 2 goals because it's a temporary fix. I do not want to get elaborate at this stage. I plan to do the absolute bare minimum to make this room good enough for now.

A vessel sink it less work, and the low height of the cabinet simply means it's not going to be out of reach. I am not trying to address the height. I mentioned it as a positive, that it's not going to get too tall.

It doesn't make sense to spend any money at all on re-doing the countertops without addressing the too low vanity. Kids grow. And vessel sinks are impossible to clean around, dated, and won't function in the long term. Live with what you have until you can get a regular sized vanity, a new countertop, and two undermount sinks.

All I want is a new counter top.

Consider a pre-cut laminate countertop from Lowes:

And an inexpensive sink from Lowe's -- I've had this sink, and I liked it. If you're trying to keep things cheap, skip the additional sink; moving the existing plumbing lines /adding a new line will be quite expensive. And you'll need a new faucet -- you can probably get a low end one for $100. So that'd be about $250 in materials -- and at least that much for labor.

My second priority is 2 sinks. 72" is so big and it would be really helpful to add one.

6' is the minimum for two sinks -- not big at all. And that would be without (or with minimal) drawer storage.

@Mrs Pete "Consider a pre-cut laminate countertop from Lowes"

Didn't know about this- will look into it.

moving the existing plumbing lines /adding a new line will be quite expensive

Yes, we did get a quote. We are debating it but we may be able to splurge. The countertop though has to go.

With children ... both choose a sink and vanity that is easy to clean and clean around -- create a bathroom that is easy to clean.

For your consideration;

Create a pair of short walls and choose a wall hung (easy to care for) Corian countertop with a single centered wide deep bathroom sink with it's to within the countertop and located in the middle of the width of the countertop. Have the faucet have an arc. The objective should be to choose a sink and faucet that could be used to wash hair or hand washable clothes or toy with minimum splashing of water beyond the sink.

The children share the sink and items both and guests might use -- toilet tissue, cleaning products (have them clean their own bathroom) -- soaps, etc., -- is stored beneath the sink, Then each child could have their own countertop and drawer and/or cabinet space below and mirror space above that countertop. A safe, no slip step stool could fit beneath each side of the wall hung unit rather than hanging the unit lower and have them outgrow the height. Each child could carry their step stool back and forth to their room for reaching what they need in the closet, too. The centered plumbing supply and drain lines could be used to create two sinks later should you decide to do so and the sink would be a dividing line to minimize either child crowding the other's space.

All I want is a new counter top.

ok, I get it! we're just trying to help in case you were open to other ideas.

Ikea has precut countertops, and honestly I think they look a little better than what you might find at Lowes or Home Depot. if you know somebody with a good wood shop, they could trim it if it's too long.

Ikea's custom cut counters are really affordable too, and are available in better materials, like manmade quartz. their custom stuff actually has a decent reputation. if you are doing vessel sinks, planning the cutouts are not terribly tricky. if the hole is a little off, the sink covers it. I believe that's one reason why these sinks have become so popular!

also, if this is a temporary solution, consider home rehab stores. you never know what you might find. I was incredibly tempted by a nice countertop a few weeks ago, and it was SO cheap. taking it to a fabricator to cut down would have the entire project about 1/4 of buying something new. these stores sometimes have treasure!