This is the order our general contractor did things in: Demolition Plumbing- set pipes behind the walls Electirician-set work behind the walls Drywall went up Shower base began to be built up Floor warming system went down (in shower and in room) Shower base was finished (it was a multi-day process) Then floor tiles went in Then cabinetry Then plumbing fixtures were installed electrical outlets, switches and fixtures were installed cabinetry was installed then marble countertop sinks, toilets, faucets mirror over vanity then minor stuff, moulding, towel hooks, tp holder,etc.

If you can go 17", see if the Toto Atherton will work. I looked at Toto as a savings over the Kohler Ladena sink. My thinking was that since Toto toilets are so highly respected, their vitreous china would probably be flawless. We have a no-name pedestal sink that has a black speck in the china. I would have never accepted it if we were the buyers of this house when it was brand new.

I'm going to counsel you to stop stressing about these nonexistent or trivial risks. Hundreds of products you expose yourself to every day have trace chemicals in them, and exhibit off-gassing in almost immeasurable amounts. If I gave you a list, you would either: 1) appreciate that out of all the things you can worry about the ones you mention above are so far down the list that they are comparative non-issues, or 2) move to a desert island in the middle of the ocean to try to get away from all these exposures. You have acid produced in various parts of your body, you already have detectable amounts of formaldehyde in your body as a result of natural biochemical reactions, your kidneys produce ammonia, and when you use the bathroom you produce and inhale naturally produced methane. But a toilet seat, even in the unlikely event that it was off-gassing a tiny amount of formaldehyde is not going to give you cancer. As for furniture, MDF can off-gas formaldehyde, but this tapers off fairly quickly, and it is typically covered with veneer, laminate, or a hard melamine coating that inhibits its release. Even if you get a piece of solid wood furniture, you don't know what chemicals went into the finish and the glues and adhesives. I've bought many types of furniture over the years, including some very expensive pieces from Europe, that all contained some amount of MDF. It's widely used for stability and to resist warping. I can't remember the last time I opened up a container of furniture and got a chemical whiff, and it's not something I worry about. It's good to be environmentally aware, but it's not good to worry about every single product that possibly has a worrisome chemical compound in it in almost undetectable amounts. I'm not trying to make light of your concern, but give it some proportion. I worked for decades at an environmental regulatory agency and I have a healthy respect for toxic chemicals when they are at levels of concern, or when the exposure risks are statistically significant. I also used to deal with the public on a daily basis and often had to talk people down because they had just enough knowledge to scare themselves about various materials, but not any toxicological knowledge to be able to assess that what they were worried about was far less risky than, say, walking across the street. That doesn't mean that I found people never had valid concerns; sometimes they did and sometimes they were significant. But what you described above is not a situation about which you should continue to stress.

As someone who moved into a home with a bathroom with stark white countertops (thankfully not in our primary bath), I think they aren't used as often because they show every smudge of toothpaste, hair clippings, mascara, etc - and your eye goes right to the mess. It's enough to drive you bonkers. At least with a little veining or movement, it distracts from the normal everyday stuff and prevents you from wiping the countertop multiple times each day. I've put in marble countertops in otherwise neutral or B&W baths before - it's actually a pretty traditional/classic look. I do like where you're going with putting some wood in there - it will add some nice warmth. Also, I think some places (although not Pottery Barn perhaps) allow you to order the vanity with no top. If you find one that is otherwise perfect, check the item options to see if that's a possibility. I'm very anti the afterthought 4 inch backsplash piece that comes with most vanities (I prefer to tile behind the sink), so I have taken that route in the past. That said, I would second the suggestion to consult with a custom cabinet maker (especially if the only thing stopping you is sample sizes - I'd imagine they could give you an entire drawer front if you really needed it!). The price is often negligible, and it provides you with more control over the numerous options that are clearly very important to you (I say that in solidarity as someone who is known for refusal to accept limited options!). The other benefit of going custom is sizing - a custom cabinet maker can build a unit to any width, so you can maximize the storage and counters to your space. They could also give you the two drawer/open shelf combination you're describing (although keep in mind those drawers may be limited to allow for plumbing for the sink). Another random source is Etsy - there are a few sellers who make vanities out of repurposed cabinets that might appeal to you. Check out CuratedHavenDesigns (I've had their "ornate bathroom vanity" listing saved for a while now - if only I had somewhere to put it).