On a related note, we're also trying to decide on door style. We're doing a wood-look porcelain floor in an ebony/wenge color, and white subways to wainscott height with a smaller subway accent strip in different shades of green (or maybe blue and green) on the walls (shower walls will be tiled to the ceiling). The apartment is pre-war and we're trying to keep the pre-war look going somewhat but we're not being slaves to period. We had originally thought to use an ebony stained vanity but it's pretty much impossible to find a dark vanity that looks right with the floors (they all look like we tried to match the wood to the tile and failed).

Anyway, BF is partial to beadboard doors, which I like, but I sort of prefer a simpler look - a plain shaker door or something. Thoughts?

I would put better ventilation in no matter what cabinet yoiu choose. Poor ventilation caused other problems also.

Funny you ask because I just finished this issue myself! Currently I have a wooden very nice vanity in my 10 year old house. It has held up wonderfully but I really want white in there now - I am remodeling. The designer doing my project told me the wooden vanity was lovely - keep it and have it refinished. She also told me laminate was a popular choice for bathrooms due to humidity, etc. but personally I could not get past the idea of laminate - they just seem/sound cheaper to me....so I am sticking with wood and having them refinished by FURNITURE MEDIC to be solid white. Sounds as though you are trashing your vanity completely - I would still stick with wood (I had a very good wood in my bathroom and it help up perfectly for 10 years in there..I just want a different color!). I agree that venilation is key. I NEVER used my vent in the bathroom and my wallpaper lifted near the shower area but again the vanity remained perfect....

Tom, I would love better ventilation but unfortunately, I can't vent out due to the co-op rules. I suppose I could do some sort of recirculating thing, but I don't think that does a lot of good. There is a small window in the bath that I could leave open, but honestly I haven't noticed any moisture problems in the bath (not even mold on the grout), except that the little builder-grade particle board box that currently serves as a vanity gets a lot of water splashed on it and it's starting to disintegrate.

Scottmel, I too prefer the look of solid wood but I'm not sure how well painted cabinets would hold up to moisture. Then again, the painted walls in the bath have done just fine, so maybe it wouldn't be a problem...

I'm using painted wood (restoration hardware cartwright line) and never thought it would be a problem. I have painted trim and a painted door with a poor vent in there currently and it's never been a problem. I never even gave it a second thought to tell you the truth!

I don't like the look of thermofoil cabinets. It's not just that they don't "feel" right but to me they don't look right either because of the radiused corners etc. I also would not go with beadboard, I think that's a more country look and it sounds like you are going for a cleaner look than that with the dark wood look floors.

Our builder urged us to go with solid wood vanities in case of any leaks or water issues. He said that they would hold up much better than the particleboard ones, so we went with all wood construction for our maple vanities.

Cheers!
Heather W

Here is a link that might be useful: Our ICF Home Construction Journal

I'm also installing white cabinets in my small bathroom redo. I read on this forum (thank you!) it is best to get MDF construction for white bathroom vanities because wood contracts and expands, especially at the seams, and the paint can crack.

I'm very interested in your unusual choice of porcelain wood like tiles. I am considering them in a white hardwood look to match my painted bedroom floors. Wood tile planks are not common but Expo Center just got a new line that look decent. Would you mind telling me what is the name of the tile you chose and where did you get it?

Dontcallme, I haven't bought the tile yet, but I am considering the line that Expo carries - it's my favorite of those I've seen. Lowe's has one in their stock tiles that's about half the price of Expo, but it's very cheesy looking IMHO. I've also seen the Cerim Ceramiche, Grespania and Azuvi versions, which are all very nice (Azuvi is my favorite) in various stores in my area. I'm going to look at a version by Shaw this weekend, and at that point I will be so overwhelmed that I'll probably buy anything! I'm going dark (Wenge), but I really like the blonde color in the Grespania and I loved the "ice" color (something like that) in the Expo brand.