Standard vanity height is now 36” , just like kitchen counters. The obsolete lower height vanities are only used with vessel sinks. They are too low to be comfortable for use. $400 is extremely reasonable to remake a vanity. It’s so cheap that the result likely won’t be that great.

1 centimeter is about 0.4 inches. 3 cm would therefore be 1.2 inches. Thinning down a countertop wouldn't help even if was possible.

If this is a standalone vanity, you might be better off just buying a new vanity. Here's one at Home Depot for $400. It says it is 34 inches high.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-Everdean-36-5-in-W-x-19-in-D-x-34-in-H-Vanity-in-Pearl-Gray-with-Cultured-Marble-Vanity-Top-in-White-with-White-Sink-EV36P2-PG/311606053

And here is one from Houzz's website for less: https://www.houzz.com/products/foremost-dnvt2418-dennison-25-wood-prvw-vr~157186203

If there is any chance that you have decided that 36 inches is too high without real life data, try brushing your teeth at the kitchen sink. (Assuming, of course, that your kitchen counter is 36 inches high, and isn't also too high for you!)

I recently remodeled and had the now standard 36" vanities installed to replace the previous lower height.

I am short and it took me about a week to adjust to the higher height but now I can't imagine using a shorter height. It is great for washing my face because it's a shorter distance to get water to my face. Brushing teeth is something that it has no impact on at all one way or another.

Why are you sure that the increased height of 1" would be a problem. What activities do you actually do that would be negatively impacted by an additional 1" - perhaps less since the vanity must have already had a counter which added to the height.

Pull the cabinet and cut the toe kick.

Hi Helen, thank you for replying. My current vanity is already 36 1/4 including the top. Adding 1" of height makes it 37 1/4, which I think would be maybe just the straw that breaks the camel's back in terms of how it looks in the bathroom. Plus, I am only 4' 10". It took me a while to get used to the 36" height, and now I just can't imagine having it be even a little bit taller. The contractor's idea of sawing off some of the bottom makes the vanity shorter, but then we'd have less of a toe kick. I will probably just have to get used to a less-than-ideal vanity. This is how being short is, as I am sure you know!

Joseph, you mean cut the toe kick and all around the bottom of the vanity, right? That's what my contractor wants to do. Was worried that the toe kick might be too short, plus thought $400 was a bit much for that job. But I'll probably pay it. Thank you for replying.

How old is the vanity? Consider how the new countertop will look on it. Might be best to replace the vanity so you get a better overall look.

Yes, I thought of that. This vanity is nearly 20 years old. Unfortunately, it is a custom-made odd length sandwiched between two walls so replacing would be more expensive. We were just going to paint. It is white painted now.

What are the dimensions of the existing vanity? If it is close to (just short of) a standard size, you could just get the standard vanity and add fillers on both sides in the front and just get the top cut to fit snugly into the wall. Couldn't be that expensive, could it??

Love that idea. Thanks

Why is the old top not coming off?

IMO adding the fillers to anew vanity is sure going to be more than $400 How short are you since most new vanities are with top 36” I don’y don’t see the need for the adjustmant and the risk it will not look good.

Hi Patricia @Patricia Colwell Consulting,

I'm not sure if you read the whole thread, but the OP said upthread that she is 4'10", and that the vanity (with countertop is 37 1/4"). She also said that the existing vanity (that she wants to have chopped off) is 20 years old. The contractor remodeling her bathroom had suggested shortening the vanity by cutting it off from the bottom and thereby reducing the toe kick.

My understanding is that you are on the taller side, so that would affect your point of view (pardon the pun). But I know that you are also a fantastic designer. With the OP's parameters, do you have a suggestion for her that would be reasonably priced (even though it might be more than the $400 for the contractor's solution)?

Thank you, kempeko1. I'd sure love that. People don't realize that when you are very short every inch counts!