It really depends on what you mean by "sticker shock" and, as tuesday_ said, whether you intend to use the wooden top or to replace that top with a more bathroom-friendly top. If you're replacing the top, it's not going to be inexpensive. I wanted the look of what you're talking about but the practicality of a real vanity with real storage. (Keep in mind that you'll like have to modify the drawers, etc. and may lose a lot of storage with a dresser, etc. Buffets/sideboards may be better if they have doors.) Here's what I went with. It was about $1K with a top and sinks and pre-drilled for faucets. But I bashed off the top with a hammer so that I could replace it with a top that I wanted and with the white, squarer sinks I wanted (that cost me an extra $200 for the sinks and $850 for the top/backsplash with installation). (There was nothing wrong with the top that came with it (it was polished, cream-colored, vein-cut travertine), but it didn't match my remodel.) Anyhow, it'll give you an idea of what you can get for the money. It's solid wood, very heavy, and has a ton of storage. It's made by Silkroad Exclusive, and you can get it (and ones like it) on the Internet (including ebay). You may also want to check out Premier Vanities (an online retailer), which has a lot of furniture-base look-alikes. Here's a couple of pictures of what I used that'll also show you how much storage it has:

I am considering doing the same combination of cabinets, but am also concerned about the wear of painted cabinets, especially with kids. The other option I am looking at is Alder, but our kitchen does not have a lot of natural light and I am concerned it will feel to dark, as opposed to the painted cream color which will obviously be brighter.

I had white laminate in my last house for the 16 years I lived there. I really liked - and like - formica laminate. I'm not especially careful about preventing stains - ketchup, wine - yet, not often did I have them. I kind of remember mustard. I am one that grabs bleach and bleaches spots out. I have heard since then (like someone has already said here) that bleach removes the coating/seal. Maybe that is true, but I guess I didn't use bleach enough that I saw a deterioration. My countertops were as nice the day I moved out as the day I moved in. I never ever used a knife to cut on the countertop surface --- I just always knew from growing up that you don't do that sort of thing. I would never think I could or should be able to use a knife on the countertop, so my countertops were never scratched. Also, I grew up always using hot pads for a hot pan on the countertop, so it never seemed like extra work to have to do that. It just seemed "normal". So, all in all, I loved my formica countertops, and I never felt like I was "settling" for less, or that I had to take extra care of them. They last for such a long time, and really hold up well. Miss Mary

Mine has been installed a whopping 2 weeks- but I'm intrigued- what is this cooking you speak of? I seem to have given that up since the remodel... honestly it would have been smarter to totally remove the kitchen, install an ice maker and beverage fridge and expand the living space. Take out is cheaper! Anyway- so far, so good. DH actually cooked chili. Yep- splashing tomato sauce. And I've got a slide in induction, so there's nothing between the stove and the tile. No issue. The tile I used was the super tiny stagged brick pattern- each tile is about 1/2"x 3/4" and MAYBE 1mm thick. We did have a pro install it. The walls have to be perfectly flat. Our installer spent half the 1st day smoothing the smooth coat that was installed. Even so, there are some spots I can see that are a tiny bit off. I can live with it- plus no one else looks as close as I do. I did have them use urethane grout. We plan to seal the tile- but the sealer says it can remove new grout, so we'll wait a month or 2. We should have done it before it was installed (lesson learned). Do I love it as much as I thought I would- 1000 times yes. It sparkles all the time- now I just need the UC lights finished (hubby is taking his time...)- but the one area done looks great with the tile.