I am not from NYC but I saw your post sitting there needing some help. So I browsed and found these links. Maybe they can help you. ~boxer Brownstoner http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2008/10/myhomeus.php Xom Reviews http://www.xomreviews.com/myhomeus.com Tool Girl recommends.. http://www.toolgirl.com/toolgirl/2009/09/do-you-know-a-good-contractor.html Insider pages Myhomeus 14 reviews http://www.insiderpages.com/b/15241020281/renovation-by-my-home-new-york (out of 14 only 2 were unhappy. Read the posts because the happy folks loved the work) NYC City Search has a bunch of reviews too. http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/47575775/new_york_ny/myhome.html#profileTab-reviews

A wood vanity with a stone countertop is a very standard installation in a bathroom. Why is your husband worried about upkeep? I just finished a remodel with wood vanity and marble counter and the wood presents no maintenance problems. Wood is used all the time for kitchen cabinets which generally receive more vigorous use. What material were you considering for the construction of the vanity - there is only wood and MDF that I know of as options unless you go for some kind of pedestal sink or the similar style with the metal legs. Modern bathrooms install very effective fans which keep ambient moisture levels low if that was a concern. Mine runs automatically based on moisture levels in the bathroom.

Yes we love it more than we thought we would. The sample we saw had about 6 thin bricks and of those 6 one was the darker variety. We thought the frequency of the dark would be more than it actually is. The random darker bricks is a beautiful way for some patina and an authentic feel.  We're just at the decorative brick stage of building now so these are the only other pictures I have.

When you use fake materials (or materials that emulate other materials) they look more real when used where the real materials would be used. You’d never put a real brick floor in a bathroom- too gross- rough, hard to clean, not waterproof, etc. So if you put fake brick in it looks REALLY fake.