We have one in our downstairs powder room.... like the look but would never do it again, especially if it is a main bath... we are currently using the powder room as our only bath while our other upstairs baths are being remodeled.... the 5 of us in there is aweful and the vessel is not good for kids.
Our vessel also drains slowly and our faucet was mounted too far from the bowl and drips onto the counter after shutting it off. I have finally gotten around to ordering a new faucet with a much longer reach, so hopefully that fixes that.
Hope this was helpful and not too negative... everyone who visits and goes in there always comment on how great it is... I am just glad we did it downstairs and not in our other ones

I personally don't care much for vessel sinks, but I don't by any means think they are out of style. In fact I was just at the Kohler Design Center again this weekend (I find myself spending a lot of time there lately) and they have several displays with beautiful vessel sinks.

Go with what you love. That's all that matters.

According to my plumber friends, here in Ma. there are are cities and towns where they are illegal. There is no over flow for drainage. Where you live in a condo I would think twice. If for some reason it did overflow and damage someone else's unit, well , you know who is responsible. I also know the box stores sell them along with a host of other items that technically cannot legally be installed.
As far as contemporary elegance its not for everyone , stay with something timeless that will appeal to wider audience. And lastly make sure it is within code so you don't get a big surprise at closing when the new buyer dumps a list of non conformances in your lap and wants 5or 10k to fix them

Wow. I thank you all for being so honest. I never would have thought about the overflow, slow drainage and placement of faucet. I wonder if my contractor would have. You have all made stunningly good points. It will be interesting to hear more comments.
When you say get something that is timeless. What is a timeless sink that feels new? Maybe that is a contradiction.

I just finished a bath. My wife is in charge of design , to a point. My friends and I are in our fifties we have seen the trends come and go. One thing that stays timeless in a bath is white and chrome, is just says clean. Toilet, sink and tub.This is something wifey knew, but where this house is the last , she figured something different, until the plumbers and realtor friends offered thier opinions. A toilet is a toilet is a toilet, whether it is 150 or 1200, in the end it is a toilet. These appliances allow for simple design change cheap, paint and curtains.One other thing, your unit is only worth what the unit next door is worth. Don't go cheap, but don't go over board

Good gravy, jonnyp, you must know my brother.While I want all white appliances, I did want one outstanding piece - like the vessel or as I said in my other post maybe glass shower blocks which by brother said is out of style and I was told here they are considered outdated. If you live in a condo building where there are 30 units out of 200 that are just like your own and everyone is sitting and waiting to sell I don't know how to make my 2 bathrooms stand out from the rest. I'm going to need more help. The kitchens are another story and easier to style. Sigh. Thanks to all of you for your help. I should sign this dazed and confused.

I think they're very cool, but I don't think they're timeless. I'd go for some really funky dramatic light fixtures and paint that will make your bathroom stand out. Also remember that not everyone is looking for pretty. If it's a bathroom that a child would use, the buyer might be looking for durable and stain resistant rather than pretty.

Ok, rithomas7. I like that idea about the dramatic light fixture. My bro would faint with funky. He would scream "The place won't sell." However it is something that one can easily change out. I am planning on using a light tinted blue that my brother may overlook. HA !

No kids in this condo. Durable and stain resistant might be
something I need however!!
I live in the DC area and there used to be lighting shops galore but not now. Don't understand why..Home Depot keeps the look basic. Maybe a chandelier that gives lots of shadows to block out my imperfections. HA. If you ever watch Sherlock Holmes on public television with Jeremy Brett, my HA is like his. It is rather forceful and cunning. Anyway, I will pursue lamp fixtures right now. rithomas7 you are great. HA!!

your idea. It's a good one and I thank you for helping me.
Funny how I overlook the obvious.

It's certainly not fair to attribute slow drainage to the style of sink!
And some vessels DO have overflow drains (though many don't) so if that's a concern, it's certainly solveable.
Faucet reach and kid-height are also solveable concerns.

That said, there are probably as many owners who don't like vessel sinks as there are who love them, and they did (IMO) get a bit over-used over the past few years. But there's absolutely a place for the good ones (the cheapo ones tend not to have that 'timeless design' quality) and they certainly do give visual pop to a room. And if they're surface-mounted as opposed to semi-recessed, they're SUPER EASY to change out, so if the potential buyer doesn't like the one you chose, it's a $250 change-out instead of a whole remodel.

I still love the vessel sinks in my master bath. They are made from white china and shaped like the old fashioned bowls people used before indoor plumbing. They don't drain slow at all; I think anyone who's sink drains slowly has a problem that's different than the sink style.

I chose my wall mounted faucets, which are bright, shiny crome, as are all my fixtures, to be long enough to overhang the sink the perfect amount, and I have them hung at a good height.

I don't know if my sinks meet code or not. They do not have overflows, which is fine with me. My old sink was metal and had rusted out at the overflow drais before we even bought the house. We lived with it like that for 14 years before we did our remodel and never had a problem with the water leaking, so I figured that not having the overflow drains would not be a problem, and it hasn't been.

I think my bathroom looks very classic, and classy. I think that if you like the look you should definitely go for it.

Classicalone, you have made my day. I also posted about glass blocks and most people diasagreed about them then today I was stunned by the positiveness. Read the site. Ithas pictures and a little of the drama I am going through with my brother. Although everyone was honest on this site the the other. Honest yet kind.
I like your idea. It has a special put together clean "look." If anything should look clean it is the bathroom. I hated those overflow valves. In Virginia we don't have to have them.

Sweeby, I like your comments and especially the part about
surface-mounted as opposed to semi-recessed.That is necessary information I wouldn't know to ask.
Thanks so much to you all for your advice. I appreciate that my friends here have taken the time to answer my questions. Hugs and stuff, Maggie

I guess that was my point with the light fixture - buyers look at sinks and vanities as "I have to live with this" but they look at light fixtures as easy to change. Even if the reverse might be true.

So you could do something dramatic with a light and paint for the "wow" and if it's not to their taste, it can easily change. And my comment about stain resistant and durable is personal - I have a two-year old, so my viewpoint on this stuff has changed considerably.

We are remodeling a small bathroom and I really wanted a vessel sink. Hubby doesn't like them and we went with a corian sink/vanity top...all one piece, which is neutral and really pretty. After reading about the overflow, I'm glad we didn't get one.

Rithomas: The world of selling a place sure has changed and
because it is a buyers market we have to spend the extra bucks so they don't have to do a thing. That wasn't the way it was when I bought my place. On HGTV the potential buyers whine about everything. "Oh the refrig isn't stainless steel.I don't like the backsplash." Some of us can't invest big bucks up front and there are those stil
who are brave enough to say they loved their home and are selling it just the way it is - clean and up to code. I may put this as a post.

Downsouth: Sorry about my ranting above. I still don't think the overflow is a problem if only adults are using it. However, you figured it out and got what you want so congratulations on your happiness with your decision. I bet it is beautiful. Hugs, Maggie

I still love vessel sinks for the appeal they bring to a room. Have never had any problem with overflow or drainage, and continue to get tons of compliments. They are also easy and cheaper to install.

I love how they look, but will never again put one in any bathroom but a powder rm. Pain in the neck to wash your face in one, and clean under. Splatters everywhere, bump your head on the sink when washing face, etc.

Well I seem to be behind in the trends. This post is from 2010, and I remodeled a bathroom and put in a vessel sink in 2014. I am just hearing it is out of style.

Since we go to Parade of Homes every year, I can say this trend was super quick.

Maybe that is a good thing. I really like our vessel sink and since it isn't trendy anymore, it makes it more unique.