I don't understand about the shelf. and what are the black bars that are extending out of the wall? I think we maybe need more photos of what you're working with and what you wanted to achieve.

Ideally, with visible plumbing, it would all be chrome. It could be that he had some trouble finding the branched pipe for connecting the A/C drain, but surely the rest could be chrome! I thnk he's cheaping out here.

There is a cleanout in the wall below the black pipe, so there is probably a vertical pipe right behind the fitting. Drain is going down, and going up above it is the sink vent. Its not impossible to move, but very difficult after the wall is completely finished. If you are on a slab it would be extremely hard to move it left or right. If you demo the wall you could also move the drain connection higher on the wall (6"?) to get more shelf clearance, but at this stage it would be a lot of work.

The mish-mash of pipe colors is definitely an eyesore. Most of these pipes are available in either metal, chrome (metal looking) over plastic, or white plastic. Black ABS pipe for P-traps is not common in the home stores.

If the black pipe was cut off near the wall, they could use a trap adapter like this https://www.homedepot.com/p/NIBCO-1-1-2-in-PVC-DWV-Hub-x-Slip-Joint-Trap-Adapter-C48017HD112/100345781 .
You can then use a decorative P-trap that has a large fitting that will fit over the trap adapter and hide it. I tried several times to provide an Amazon link, but it does not work. Just search for "chrome P trap" and you will see the type. However, the only part I'm not sure about is how to deal with that A/C drain. You could use white rigid PVC to make it look better, but I've never seen that small pipe with chrome finish over it.

Bruce

@acm The black bars are brackets for a floating shelf. The sink is on the first shelf; you see the brackets against the wood. The other brackets are for a second shelf to go under the first. However, the main issue is not these shelves. My question is regarding the function and looks of the drain assembly attaching to the black pipe. Are there other options to make this connection that are not so random or hideous? It looks like the contractor just grabbed the most random cheap stuff from the shelf. So, I was wondering if there are other options than that white pipe, and how I can attach the small pipe from the wall (which is the drip from the mini split unit) to the drain, in a not so ugly way.

It seems like you are saying, he can find these pipes in something not so ugly. So I will go back to him with this request again.

the other question was about the black pipe from the wall. We wondered, if we broke the wall, could this be moved up, or is it standard how far it should be from the ground or sink. When he had the rough, before we tiled in, we asked him where to put the brackets so we could put the shelf with out cutting the wood, and now his measurement is not correct, so we wondered about breaking the wall and moving that pipe up.

He's telling me he's going to paint it all black...

Thank you @acm and @Bruce in Northern Virginia ... I showed these to my husband and he's going to talk to the contractor. If he could find a rigid pvc pipe for the ac that was small, I could probably paint it with metallic silver paint. They make this to go over plastic... This is at least getting us thinking and giving us the language to look the items up and find alternatives. I am hoping we will solve the bracket/shelf problem, but it isn't the end of the world. The bigger issue for me was look at that crazy mess of piping. I easily found those options on Amazon, and we are bringing those to the contractor too. Thank you!

If you have other options or thoughts, or others do, please share.

There are chrome plumbing pieces in stock at your local Home Depot

That mini split connection is more difficult to deal with though.

I almost fell like he completely ignored when you said this would all be visible and there would be a shelf under there!

So sorry but can I ask where the shut off valves for the faucet are? I am assuming a wall mount faucet since I don't see supply lines under here.

Can you take a picture from further back?

Hi, yes @Debbi Washburn it is a wall mount. I had to go that route because the space is very tight. However, here are some photos from further back. Yes, dealing with the mini split connection and how to fit my other shelf in without cutting it (such pretty wood!) is what I am thinking about besides the looks of the pipes.

I think you are right that he ignored me and just said, "sure" when I asked him about the other shelf and how it would look when finished! He's the one that gave me the measurement before I installed those brackets and it all got tiled in!!

here's some pix from further back...

Thank you @acm ! I just have to move my contractor into that mode--but having a hard time showing him.

Yeah, painting those pipes is not going to be good for any sort of long term appearance.

There are recommended heights for the connection into the wall, but the exact requirement is based on ensuring the sink will drain.

In your case you could have the wall connection moved up 6-8" and still make the P-trap work properly. However, you would also have to move the A/C drain up, and I would try to get it up as high as possible to make it less obvious.

Bruce

Can you access that plumbing from the other side of the wall?? Maybe he could move up the plumbing and then you would have to just replace the 2 tiles with the holes cut in them.

Or can you get more of that wood? You could box in all of that and just have the open shelf on the left. Something like this??

I hope you have some sort of satisfactory resolve!

Yes @Debbi Washburn that is what they are going to do. The wall behind is a closet so he will break that up and move the pipes, then replace two (probably) tiles. I ordered a piece like someone suggested that is more attractive. I suppose it's possible to enclose the drain with more cherry wood, but I had those two pieces of live edge cherry fashioned for that space, and really don't want to have to try to match it or cut into the lower one. He seemed willing to fix it since I bought the plumbing bottle trap, I hope he will be able to move and then connect the drain.

54ndy-

FYI: bottle traps will not pass code in many localities. Also, they are difficult to install properly even when they are allowed as the sink drain hole must be in perfect alignment with where the drain enters the wall. If you decide to proceed with this, I’m not sure your plumber has the skill to do it right.

@kudzu9 Hmm, good to know. Contractor's coming back later in the week. Anyone know whether the code in Los Angeles allows these? I guess I better have a back up. I will look around for this, maybe the pipes @Debbi Washburn showed above. I just didn't want chrome as the metal is nickel and black. Maybe I can find something in black, that isn't shiny. The drain and pipe that comes down is nickel. I don't know about the skill level given the looks of what he put together...but since he is tearing into the wall, I will ask that he bring back the original plumber.

Thanks again! Any other advice or thoughts appreciated! This is the last major thing on my build...can't wait until it's done!

Here is a bit of info on bottle traps: What is a bottle trap?

And here is what the 2016 California Plumbing Code says:

Since the design of a bottle trap has interior partitions typically made of metal, you may not be able to put one in. But you need to check with your local permit authority to confirm what's allowed.

I was going to put one in several years ago because they are esthetically more pleasing than a standard P-trap, but my local permit authority said "no." And on the bright side a standard install is much less demanding and less prone to leaks due to slight misalignments.

Thanks, it would be my luck to find something I can't install. Maybe just do it all in black pvc pipe

I dislike the look of exposed PVC plumbing. I like your bathroom a lot and if it were in my house I would try to figure out some way to conceal it as simply as possible. Perhaps have a narrow, wooden 3-sided "pedestal" built that would sit on top of the shelf, extend up to the bottom of the counter, and just slide around the drain. And, if you needed to service the drain in the future, it could just be slid out. I did something like that with a similar countertop and pedestal sink in a powder room and it was much more pleasing looking to me.

Thank you for your idea! That is like the earlier picture. My dad has some cherry around the house, I will give him the dimensions and see what he can come up with to enclose it. We are still working on the possibilities. Thank you!

Thank you again for everyone's suggestions. Here is an update of how it looks. Couldn't get the Y pipe in a metal other than chrome, but plan to paint it nickel colored (have the matching paint) along with the clear pipe. The flanges are rather cheap and will paint these too.

It looks better than before. What do you all think? (Not quite done yet, grouting, putting in other shelf, etc.

The shelf on the bottom isn't the actual shelf, just a cheap stand in to make sure the real one doesn't get ruined. Still has to fix where the flange and pipe attach to the bottle trap. Planned to get better flanges, but maybe if I just paint them, they'll be ok.

As I mentioned above, that kind of trap is not code legal in many areas of the country, so are you not having this permitted and inspected?

Yes we are having it inspected. The entire build is permitted and has been inspected at each step. The plumber said it was ok. If the inspector doesn't pass it; I guess we will have to redo it. However, he moved the drain waste pipe higher, so that was one big problem with it. If I have to replace with P pipe, It is possible to exchange the bottle trap.

Ok. Good luck. I'll be interested to see if this passes as is. Not impossible, but...

Let you know in week I guess!

@kudzu9 Yeah we passed! We have other corrections to make before the final occupancy (mostly silly little ones like I have to change the light bulbs), and we need a few more gfi outlets (1 in laundry, 1 for range/hood, one more in bathroom) but they are mostly just little things. The plumbing and fixtures passed in the bathroom. Actually he gave us a compliment on the plumbing. He said that most people don't use a UL listed bottle trap and that's why they don't pass (I think he said UL listed, but it may have been another acronym; I didn't want to press him about it by asking questions). So maybe that's the secret? I do have to add a gfi plug next to the toilet though. Here are updated pictures. I just need to paint the chome piece and plastic tubing so it matches the rest. I wanted to wait to see if it passed.

Glad this turned out well for you. It always comes down to local codes and what side of the bed the inspector got out of that morning....

P.S.: UL is for electrical stuff ;-)

Yes, I get it! It must not have been UL that he said. He said, "I always like to start with a compliment before I give people the corrections....One thing you did well that most people mess up on is the bottle trap. You used a --- listed product, so it passes...." I thought he said UL, but I also thought that was just for lights. I was so happy, I didn't want to pepper him with questions. And of course, then came the corrections...so... So I wonder what the certification to which he was referring. He may have said another acronym, or even said "certified," instead of "listed," but I was just waiting and worrying while he was in the bathroom... Any idea what the acronym he would have said was?

Well it turns out that UL does certify plumbing parts: https://www.ul.com/services/certification-rough-and-finished-plumbing-products

I'd only heard of UL in regard to electrical components...so you heard right, and I learned something! :-)

Well, happy to help! Haha! Truly I am thankful for yours and everyone's inputs because it helped me do more research and also show my contractor, plumber (and husband, frankly) that we can make it more attractive, and hopefully pass!

Today I learned something new too. I learned about JA8 compliant bulbs, which I have to replace all my pretty Edison bulbs with, but that's a complaint for another post....

:)