Definitely go for the chrome.

Are you doing an accent band with the tile? If so, you could have it at the height just below the soffit and just paint the soffit.

No accent band. I had considered it, but to save costs in favor of getting better options in other areas, I decided to forego it. Thank you for the advice about the chrome! That was my instinct, but ugh! the price.

Also, I don't know whether the soffit would be the width of the medicine cabinet (23 3/4 inches) or 8 inches wide (width of the light). I want to have an answer in case my contractor asks me which I prefer, and he might. (I seem to be asking for a lot more customization and have a lot more unusual ideas than he is used to!!)

You could talk to your contractor to see if a pendant or two hanging from the ceiling might work.

Otherwise, you're looking for fixtures that are proud of the wall...candlestick style might work, but probably too trad'l for the look you're going for.

Maybe look into barn lighting...

2011 Foxhall · More Info

Hawkseye III · More Info

Lighting direct sells a bracket that will work with a pendant light hanging it out from the wall.

What Annie and Local suggested was my first thought. Either barn or an articulating arm library light. Local's pic would be my choice.

I'm just thinking the pendant would cast too many shadows. The light I originally posted looks more, well, glowing, for lack of a better word! (Does that make sense??)

i am going to search for modern barn fixtures. It just seems like such an oxymoron to me, but maybe it isn't. Those pictures you've posted look good to me!

Library light-I'm only concerned about rating for wet areas. Vanity is RIGHT by shower in a tiny bath. I will have a fan of course but would prefer a wet rated light.

Oh, also, local eater, since you asked, no--no ceiling light. From reviews it indeed looks like one of those would be fine in a bath. My contractor will be here today and I'll see what he says about building a small soffit. I'm just not sure whether it will look stupid or sloppy with my wall of tile. I wanted it to all look sleek!

Depending on the material the pendant is made of, it could cast fewer shadows if it has a glass shade that allows light through it...even if frosted, it will allow light through so fewer shadows.

My understanding is that Wet rated is really for outdoors.Here is a link that might be helpful LINK

RE your soffit: If I were to do it, in your situation I would build the soffit exactly the size of the godmorgan cabinet you are buying. I would mirror the front and side of the soffit. This way it will appear as an extension of the cabinet. The 'box' will need to be less than the cabinet's dimensions to allow for the thickness of the mirror.

BTW - I have seen the fixture that badger posted- its amazing!

How do you mirror something?? Just buy pieces of mirror and glue them on? I assume a glass place could custom cut pieces?

If I used that fixture (that badger posted) I suppose I could just paint it, right, since the fixture covers most of it up? Or would the mirror still be preferable?

mirroring the soffit is a genius idea!

my contractor is going to think I am insane. He does not know I have a whole group of design geniuses as a secret weapon, lol!!

Contractor just arrived. reaction to the idea of a soffit and mirrors was not what I would call enthusiastic, but he said, yeah, it can be done. :) He isn't sure how mirrors would look and recommended just painting it white. He said there would be a gap between the cabinet and the mirror and seemed to think might look strange or thrown together.

My contractor thinks I am strange too.

Tell him we dont want a gap, that's the point. Yes he might need 1/4 inch gor clearance. You can buy mirror tile at HD but might be better to go to glass place so they can cut hole for electric as that request may push your contractor over the edge.

lolol

He just continually looks at me like I am insane. you should have seen his face when I asked him if he could put an outlet inside the medicine cabinet. and then the ikea vanity OMG. He's a super nice guy, i just think he is used to very standard people who aren't overthinking stuff the way I am. hahah

OK, so I could just take it to a glass place and have them cut a hole for the electric? Or for the whole face plate on this fixture, for instance? (I do think I am going to go with this one, chrome finish... I'm just worried about how far it's going to stick out in my tiny bathroom once I add the soffit... so I haven't actually hit purchase yet.)

What if you overlit and bounced lights off the ceiling instead of down toward the mirror?

How would I do that??

If you're going to glue mirror onto a surface, you need to use mirror mastic. Any of the other construction adhesives will remove the mirror finish. Yes the glass guys can cut a hole in mirror. I have light fixtures through the mirror in my bathroom.

But I'm not sure I'd go to that difficulty...I'd probably just paint it white. And there will be a gap as you have 2 different materials coming together. That's why my preference would be to skip the soffit and find a fixture that is proud enough from the wall to work with the cabinet.

Adding outlets to a vanity is tricky as the drawers have to move and the outlet box could get in the way of the drawer. Also there's a greater risk of getting the outlet wet if it's not higher than the sink and vertical in the wall.

Robo- The over the vanity light will be the only light in the bathroom in case you didnt see that. (off topic- I typed a note to you in a thread about hard to find furniture)

Purrus- If you will go with mirroring the bump out to give the illusion of seamlessness, what if the bump was not the full depth of the medicine cabinet, maybe just half the depth? I still think it will look seamless, though you may need an additional piece of mirror for the top of the godmorgan medicine cabinet or the unmirrored surface will break the illusion.

I still prefer the look of the Chrome Library Sconce, personally, but it is definitely not as modern a look which probably explains my preference. My style leans modern, but less sleek, more earthy. :)

"He just continually looks at me like I am insane."-ahhaahaa. Story of my life.

(sorry for not bringing anything useful to the discussion at that point..)

To be clear, the outlet is going in the medicine cabinet, not the vanity! Too much quick typing from my phone.

This soffit (if used) will be high up on the wall too, so hard to see. Half the depth would be a nice compromise perhaps. I just wish I could see what it would look like in advance.

Believe me I would love to skip the soffit. I just don't like the look of the pendant or shaded lights as much in this bathroom. It is small and I don't want a cluttered look and I worry about shadows. (And then there is my sleek look, which I'm trying not to disrupt.)

more later, off to the tile shop for a quick errand!

sort of like this

East Village Studio · More Info

..Would you consider something like this? Wall projection is 9.5 per description..?

They have many finishes and options on this one. They have glass ones too. A popular shop with great reviews

https://www.etsy.com/listing/241795548/white-wall-sconce-brass-light-multiple?ref=shop_home_active_26

Aprilneverends, those are really cute! The problem with that one, though, is that it is a little too tall. I also can't have something that hangs down like that because my medicine cabinet is so tall, and the doors need to open. the Godmorgon cabinet is huge--37" tall! with my 8 foot ceilings, and vanity, and faucet, there isn't a lot of space for a light fixture. That's why the tech lighting one would be perfect.

I'm just still not certain that it will give me sufficient light if most of it is wasted on being directly above the fixture. :(

The site that aprilneverends posted does custom work, you get a light like below with the projection extended. Lots of lighting shops can customize like this for you. I ordered something from Cedar and Moss a year or two ago and they modified to fit my needs, not alot of money to tweak. Rejuvenations lighting is also very accomodating as is Worleys Lighting(also on Etsy). I

You may want to check locally too. I live in Maine and I have a custom light maker few miles from my house.

I did go ahead and order the tech lighting span bar fixture. If it doesn't work out, I will check out a custom option. I'm still not sure whether or how much i should try to bump it out, and if i do bump it out, how I should achieve that. ugh, so many decisions to make.

yes, Worsley..them, I wanted to mention too..also lots of different depth, finishes, etc.

The one that I like here has the fabric shade, so light is much more flattering than almost any.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/249028247/sconce-wall-lamp-modern-lighting-clement

PS disclaimer-have no idea whether it's ok for bathrooms..code-wise.

purrus - sounds like you've got in under control, I am sure it is going to come together great can't wait to see it.

I'm totally not sure I do, at all. I just need it to get here, need the drywall and at least some tile to get on the walls so I can envision some of this. The maybe I will have some idea of whether this light will be sufficient.

I could add some recessed lighting later if needed. Mainly I don't want to waste the light this fixture puts out.

Revelation---I don't think there is a water pipe in the way. I looked after contractor left yesterday and it looks like supply lines are lower in the wall ( the whole wall is not gutted, just the lower part). I have this kohler cabinet in the garage, which I ordered awhile ago but had planned to teturn, and since I also just realized my ceilings upstairs are only 7.5 feet tall, I actually think the IKEA cabinet is too large for my space. So I am going to forevo the IKEA cabinet and attempt to return it assembled.

Assumkng he can actually recess this cabinet it will give me a lot more leeway to choose a light fixture, though I still may go for that uber cool tech lighting one!

My problem now is, where will I have my husband's razor and toothbrush plugged in? There is no space on the small vanity counter top and the current outlet is at an awkward distance away. I wonder if contractor would move the current outlet closer to the sink and create a new one closer to the toilet so I could make a charging station out of an acrylic container of some kind? Is that a code violation of some type (outlet too close to toilet)? I know razor and toothbrush plugged in on the sink is not going to work for us.

We have an outlet near the toilet which we use for our night light. Outlets near water shouldn't be an issue so long as they are ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI)...meaning they pop off if they get shorted out. We have a shallow cabinet between our sinks. Inside we have an outlet and plug in the toothbrush and waterpik. Maybe something like that would work for you near or over the toilet. The only thing about over toilet cabinets if you have to be sure to shut the lid before you get something out of the cabinet. You also need the high enough so you can still access the toilet plumbing when necessary.

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Hmm, I had planned to put a train rack over the toilet for towel storage. So I was envisioning just a simple acrylic tray on the toilet lid for toothbrush/razor charging (but that is sort of gross, I guess). I just know we are going to be short on counter space for idle charging items. Sigh.

Maybe a chrome/glass shelf underneath the train rack? would that be too cluttered? I'm just trying to find space for all the things in this little room!!

(Then at least H's toothbrush isn't, you know, sitting on the toilet...)

something like: