I have used the Robern mirrored medicine many times in my clients' homes as well as my own. If you would like to recess the unit into the wall (depending upon the model you are using) it is sometimes necessary to cut out one stud in the wall and then "brace" between the two flanking studs. You MUST take great care in doing this as there can be electrical in the way - not to mention the integrity of the wall itself - so it all depends upon the particular installation. The mirrored strips for the side are for a surface mount installation - so obviously the unit will protrude. Hope this helps! Good luck and BE CAREFUL!

We're doing a medicine cabinet perpendicular to the sink (technically a 6' T x ~ 20 W cab that projects 6" into the room -- we can't recess because of pocket doors). It's a variation on a newer-construction solution that works for our old house space. [Seriously, I can't think of a 1980s+ typical development house that DOESN'T have that set up!] So obviously I think that solution is fine; it's never bothered me when visiting people and I don't think it's any more inconvenient than moving/leaning over to access a cab above a toilet...and I've had THAT set up in another bath for 6 years.

Any med cab that is more than 14" wide requires that a carpenter make the studs in the wall "special" like your original house. They simply design the wall supports (studs and headers) to fit around the medicine cabinet. If you look at the triple cabs, you can see that there is no 2" stud between the cabinets. Any wooden cabinet will have a thicker back wall than any metal cabinet, reducing the interior space or forcing the cabinet to protrude further out of the wall to get the same depth. You can chose a cabinet that protrudes out a bit in order to get a deeper, more versatile cabinet, if you do not mind the edge sticking out beyond the wall. I would much rather have that extra depth be usable, not the thickness of a wooden back.

Thanks…and yes, a cabinet can be custom built but I’m guessing the cost wouldn’t be much different than a Robern cabinet. I was hoping someone knows of another manufacturer…