It's hard to find a bathroom vanity that doesn't scream "bathroom vanity". Vanity is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, after all. We are redoing our bathroom and I really want a pedestal sink but it just isn't practical for a bathroom shared by four people. But it's hard to find a vanity that doesn't look cheap and cheesy-- or completely space-age (though I do love many of those; they're just not going to work in my particular bathroom).
Shopping retail for bathroom furniture (online and in showrooms) isn't easy. It seems like the same handful of brands are available everywhere. Moreover, I suspect that certain core manufacturers are selling the same product under multiple brands (I swear there are 42 different versions of the Restoration Hardware Hutton vanity!)
When we hire the contractor I imagine he will be able to expand my options, including options available only to the trade. And he will assess the possibility that we simply replace the countertop and hardware on the existing vanity while refinishing the cabinet drawers. And then there are all the custom options, which put together all the different pieces of a vanity, from countertop to faucet. I wonder if having a custom-made vanity through a general contractor would actually be cheaper than buying a ready-made product?
But for now, here are some decent vanities I have found online and in showrooms. Some are very expensive and gorgeous (sigh). Others are quite cheap. Most shown are in white because I think it is the most classic and adaptable color. But many of these models come in different colors and materials so it is worth clicking through the links.
Have you gone through the vanity-shopping process? Did you find one "off-the-rack"? Did you feel the quality was reflected in the price? Or did your contractor create a custom one from various components (countertop, base, sink, hardware)?
SHOWN ABOVE
FIRST ROW
1. Legion from Waterworks, $3,315. Available in white, red and other colors. Constructed of mahogany/maple veneer with 5-ply construction of poplar core.
2. Vir Stil by Laura Karar for Kallista, $4,560 (not including top, legs, etc).
3. Barros high gloss vanity from List Vanities, $2,719.
4. Design Element London vanity from List Vanities, $1,296.
5. Take One vanity from Waterfall.
SECOND ROW
6. Nameeks Set NG3 vanity from Fixture Universe, $2,299.
7. Vigo Ethereal petite vanity from List Vanities, $756.
8. Andesite from Modern Bathroom, $599.
9. Godmorgan vanity from IKEA, $559 (many colors available).
10. Manhattan vanity by Xylem.
THIRD ROW
11. Vanity from Duravit's X-Large series.
12. Hutton single vanity from Restoration Hardware, $2,195.
13. Parsons vanity from Home Decorators, $208.99
14. Vigo Bianca 23 inch vanity from Home Depot, $731.
15. American Classics standard vanity at Home Depot, $219.
FOURTH ROW
16. Allen + Roth White Windelton vanity from Lowe's, $339.
17. Godmorgan/Odensvik from IKEA, $309.
18. Style Selections vanity from Lowe's, $199.
19. Duravit 2nd Floor series wall-mounted vanity. Many other options available with this series. Home and Stone, $962.
20. Carole Kitchen and Bath Design. http://www.kitchenpeople.com
Sources: As linked above.
Must-See Small Cool Homes: Week Two
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Shaw's Original Fir...
How To Make Perfect Bacon in the Oven
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
I really like the ones that look like 'desk' but I don't care that you can see the plumbing.
I'm so surprised Home Depot has something so stylish! I guess it's been a while since I went in a Home Depot store.
My dream scenario is that I find one I like in a ReStore and don't have to pay an arm and a leg for it.
Heh, I'm with Rural and Rueful, I'm really surprised at the nice looking vanities you managed to find from Home Depot, but I feel like you picked the 2 uglies ikea options. These I feel are little better:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S99894736/#/S59884367
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49894197/#/S39894193
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S69906081/
@tetegrondona: Agreed! I think that's a general rule that is not exclusive to bathroom vanities.
Why are such simple boxes with a few extra holes and high-gloss finishes so flipping expensive???? In a past lifetime I remember shopping for a vanity and was stunned by how expensive they were for what you get. I guess it's an incentive to make your own if you can find some nice wood and have some DIY skills (sadly, I don't).
My choice would be something that's easy to clean underneath.
I used IKEA kitchen cabinets, the ones that go over a refrigerator for the depth. I needed a little bit of filler and bought an extra door for that. I raised my sink to counter height since we are adults and if you don't have little kids you may want to consider that no matter what you end up with, much better on the back to not bend in an awkward position and, if you have little kids, then get them a step stool. They will grow eventually.
I had the carpenter build a special wall cleat/support to keep them suspended above the floor with no legs, and thus it makes the space look more open and modern, and you could even place baskets under for towels. I went to a granite place and bought a leftover piece of silestone and they cut it to size and put the 2 sinks in for me, the cabinets, countertop and sinks were under $600. The look is very expensive, clean and modern and it was very inexpensive. I used a maple and a light colored vanity and have a light travertine floor.
I never understood a vanity that is all sink or a pedestal sink. It is counter top space that I want in a bathroom. I used Ikea kitchen cabinet with lots of drawer space for towels and such. There is a nice spread of counter top.
$4500 for that stupid Vir Stil and it doesn't even include the top or legs? Consider my mind boggled.
I think the best bathroom vanity I ever saw was made from an antique bureau, topped with a piece of carrera marble.
Check out this vanity showroom tour: http://www.kitchenpeople.com/bathroom-gallery-2/
The cool thing is that you can mix and match tops and vanities. There are narrow width, furniture style options too.
My plan is to find an antique or flea market table/ chest/console that I like, cut out the top and drop a sink into it. I got the idea from my aunt, who bought a house that has a beautiful walnut console that was turned into the sink vanity.
I love the ones from Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn, but it turns out you can find those styles online for much much less. Check out these pages for some great imitation, or look-alike vanities.
http://www.squidoo.com/pottery-barn-style-bathroom-vanity
http://www.squidoo.com/restoration-hardware-style-bathroom-vanities