This is a shared wall with another bathroom that has a recessed medicine cabinet that is 24” wide (in the exact spot where my mirror needs to be). Recessed of course fits between studs. And the framing in the wall may have been altered for it to fit. What you need to know is the stud distance center to center. Or the exact size of the cavity between the studs. Because what is billed as a 24" medicine cabinet may be sized to fit in the recess between 24" OC framing. The actual space between the studs would be approximately 22.5" If that is the case, then a 24" surface mount medicine cabinet would work. Signature Hardware Trossman 24" x 36" Framed 1 Door Medicine Cabinet But they lucked out with getting a recessed medicine cabinet! Yes, they did. But you can have a surface mount medicine cabinet which would be very much in tune with your old house. Two of my vintage ones: If all else failed, I would make a custom vintage style one. Would need to keep in mind how far the sconces project light from the wall & possibly add mounting blocks behind them to get them farther away from the wall.

You could trim out the mirror like shown here, attach the sconces on the mirror and try decor on the vanity like shown. that's one way to decorate w/what you have. two mirrors, some type of tile on the wall (or a wallpaper) bring in a tall vase/stems for the middle decor accent. I'd also do a much larger area rug in front of the vanity. I like this one. look at the wood accents on the vanity. you need this w/all of your grya/white for some warmth. the vase/tall stems on a wood vanity tray. the gold sconces on the marble tiled wall behind the vanity. I mocked it up for you. I'd bring in some greenery w/a few hanging plants or orchids. or, bring in a trim carpenter and have him do something like this w/the mirror: or like this w/the sconces on the sides of trimmed out mirrors, nice lights right above taller mirror. I'd do a nice chandelier to reflect back Right now it's just a generic white vanity w/white/gray floor tile. amp up that wall w/peel and stick wallpaper. there are thousands of options (try wayfair or Home depot) At least you'd have something on that wall. or , tile is an option how about tile and some cool mirrors? you could do two taller mirrors, diff lights more ornate type of mirrors, diff llights taller mirrors w/some pendants, and vertical planks

These are great ideas, ACM. Thank you! I have thought of many of the ideas that you pictured, but what I can't seem to figure out is how to make those kinds of images look good inside a bathroom. To me they all feel like they belong in a closet. So here's what i'm thinking...I'll create the doorway into the office, with the long term goal of making it into a packing/staging closet, and for now I'll use some office counterspace for packing/unpacking and I can keep some of my luggage and accessories there. Bravo! Your suggestion that I might not need a separate makeup area is true. Currently my partner has 90" of vanity and I have 48" and I am the one with all the 'stuff'--makeup and brushes and hair supplies and face creams. That said, his stuff--pill bottles and eye drops and nasal spray and lotion + sunscreen--is spread out all over the place, all the time. I had thought about keeping a separate makeup area just so I don't have to share his 'stuff' space, because the disorganization drives me crazy. But maybe if we have 2 separate vanities I will worry about that less. Perhaps enlarge the shower or put a very large linen closet in the area where my makeup are was in the old plan. You're a great brainstorm partner. Many thanks!

colors are so hard on screens/monitors - do you have a good local tile showroom? I would take a few pictures of your countertop and go there for some advice, they will give you samples that you can bring home to try - personally, I would not want marble look floors with a different marble look counter, I feel like they have the potential to fight each other, I’d probably go with the darkest tone in the counter