In the master bath I only use one sink because DH always uses the kids bath but if you are even thinking of moving in the near future, I would stay with two sinks. Everybody wants two sinks.
Are you keeping the vanity and just replacing the countertop? What about about pedestal sinks?

As you've discovered 48" is a little small for 2 sinks and 2 people trying to stand side by side.

You several options in order to get a vanity that allows the sink in the center. If you bought a vanity similar to the one pictured in the link below, the door opening on the sides (vs drawers) would allow you to run the water lines and drain thru the interior dividing panel to the sink in the center.

If you decide to stick with one sink on the side, I don't understand why you need to custom order a vanity. A 30" cabinet along with an 18" will give you the length you need. Fillers on the end will make up the extra inch so that it's 49" long.
Is the 49" the top of the counter or the length of the base cabinet?

Here is a link that might be useful: vanity

We only have one sink on our 60" vanity, and it is the only bathroom that is upstairs with the bedrooms. In the almost 20 years we have been here(yikes, that sounds like such a long time!), it has never been a problem. I like having the counter space and most of the time if two of us are using the space at the same time, we are not both needing to use the sink.

If you cap off the plumbing and someday sell the house, the new buyers can change things back.

I would rather have the space then a crowded double sink.

I think a single sink with elbow room would look better than two crowded sinks. Can't the plumbing be reworked slightly to reach a center centered in the vanity? I would think the plumbing work would be less expensive than a custom vanity top with a sink on the right. I also think it would look better to have the sink centered.

Have you checked out custom vanity tops? I was surprised about some of the prices....the cultured marble, double sink for my kids bath is 8 ft and the cost is $400. Our 10', double sink/vanity top in granite for fabrication and install is $1100.

I actually think it would be nicer to have the sink off centered in your room. The counter isn't that long and it would give you more space to use on the side rather than a little space to each side of a centered sink.

There are a few posts on the 'bath' forum on this topic. I've been reading them lately since I'm in a similar space situation. Personally, I need countertop to put my tub-a-stuff when I'm getting ready. Then the tub gets stashed in the cabinet when finished. Two sinks would give no landing space and we almost never need the sink at the same time.

Are you planning to sell your house? Are you planning to live in it? If you're living in it, do what suits your needs. If selling it, visit a palm reader and see if they can tell you what the future potential buyer might prefer.

One thing I'm considering is one wide sink with faucets on either end.

Here is a link that might be useful: 2 sinks in 48

We only have one sink in our MBR and we find that we fight over the mirror and not the sink. We do have another mirror in the room, so it's not a problem. I'd opt for the extra counter space.

Here's a relevant thread:

Here is a link that might be useful: from the baths forum

Our MBR is a single sink. In our guest bath I put in a funky sink I found at IKEA. DH calls it a trough, it's huge, and could easily work for two.

I personally prefer a single sink with a long counter. Wasn't a factor for us in househunting. Having a stall shower was more important than a double sink.

Don't want to hijack the thread, but...
pesky1 - can you tell me about your sink and vanity in the picture? I would like to replace the teeny tiny pedestal sink in our powderroom and I really like your setup. Thanks,
Cindy

It's called the Hollviken, pesky, :) and it's what we have in our master bath, with a Jado Glance faucet on each side.

(is yours the 30" wide version? that's what ours is)

Our master bath has a single sink in a 50-inch vanity but the sink is all the way to one side so half of the counter top is left free for stuff. I used to think about putting in a second sink, but not anymore. When we remodel, I plan to center the sink so we'll still have decent counter space but dh and I can claim our own sides of the sink. There isn't enough elbow room and somebody would be using a sink right up against a wall. That happens with the double sinks in our hallway bath. It's a 64" vanity but one sink is by a wall and nobody uses it. This one will be converted to one sink some day.

Thank you all for your replies and comments and links!!!

We didn't pick/install the sinks or their size, it was here when we bought the house. And of course, when you are browsing a house before you buy, you don't notice things like this (as the bathroom was always clean and neat and everything put away!). At least I didn't. :o) I will also never buy a house without white painted trim and windows but that's a whole other topic!

I agree with leaving the 2 sink hook up for future use, by us or someday a future owner!!

Thanks again for all of the great suggestions. Gotta go find DH and tell him all the great news!!!

What you are describing is how we had our sink in the MBR for the past 17 years. It was custom which we had changed from a right hand sink with left vanity (with chair space below) to just a right hand sink with storage to the left. The advantages for us were that DH could shave while I put on makeup or styled my hair. We also had wider shelving on the left hand side instead of several smaller sized drawers to either side. All and all it worked well for us for many years until we finally remodeled and totally reconfigured our bathroom to allow for a double sink (7' wide). I do like the double sink setup, but don't know that I'd do it if I could not have the counter space.

I prefer having the double sinks, myself. Have you considered not leaving all your stuff out? I hate for everyone to see my cosmetics, toothpaste, hairbush, etc. What I do is have great storage not only in the drawers but in the cupboards below, which are generally awkward.

Target has those plastic Sterilite Drawers (which I hate out in the open) which make good storage out of sight under the cabinets. One is just for my hairdryer, wide tooth comb and brush. Another has make up, cotton balls, tooth paste, vitamins, everyday stuff basically. The drawers basically function the same as expensive pull out cupboards for about 7.00 each! The tops of the containers are not perfectly flat, but flat enough to store toilet paper. By keeping the majority of things below the vanity top is tame and functional. HTH.

Our master bath vanity was 75" with two sinks (one on each end). We built this home in 81. DH was permanently moved to the 2nd bathroom in a couple of years (g) It was a mutual decision :) So, there I was with 2 sinks. Our daughter was in and out of my bathroom for 18 years and the extra sink was also a "cozy" sleeping spot for the cat. Cat is gone. Daughter is gone. DH is still here :) and still in the 2nd bath. We just finished remodeling the master bathroom. I chose to resize the vanity to 68" and go with one sink to accommodate an air tub. Had/have plenty of elbow room with both setups. To me, more space is more important than double sinks especially if you're not using both of them! Buy an undermount sink to maximize your countertop space.
Monica