"Curious though...has anyone else noticed that sustainable or recycled materials sometimes end up cheaper than the trendy high-end stuff?"
Totally noticed this too. When we redid our bathroom, I initially wanted one of those fancy floating vanities—until I saw the price tag. Ended up finding an old dresser at a thrift store, refinished it myself, and turned it into a vanity. Cost me maybe a quarter of what the showroom wanted, plus it has way more character. Sometimes going eco-friendly or DIY isn't just cheaper, it's actually more satisfying in the end.
Definitely relate to your experience with the vanity. We just finished our first bathroom remodel, and I was shocked at the prices for some of the "designer" fixtures—especially faucets and lighting. Ended up sourcing reclaimed wood shelves from a local salvage yard and found some gently-used fixtures online. Took a bit more effort (and patience) to hunt down quality stuff, but saved us hundreds in the end. Plus, there's something rewarding about knowing you gave materials a second life instead of buying brand-new everything. DIY can be intimidating at first, but seeing it all come together is pretty satisfying...even when it's not perfect. Glad I'm not the only one who noticed eco-friendly options can actually save money instead of costing extra.
Totally get what you're saying about reclaimed materials. When we redid our guest bathroom last year, I initially wanted everything brand new and shiny, but the sticker shock was real. Ended up stumbling across an old dresser at a thrift store and converted it into a vanity. Took some sanding, painting, and a bit of plumbing creativity (thank goodness for YouTube tutorials), but it turned out surprisingly nice. Not perfect, mind you—one drawer sticks a little—but it adds character, right?
Also found some vintage-style fixtures on clearance at a local hardware store. They weren't exactly reclaimed, but still felt good knowing they weren't going to waste. You're spot-on about the satisfaction factor too. Every time someone compliments the vanity, I get to tell the story behind it. Feels way better than just saying "oh yeah, bought it online." Glad to see others embracing the eco-friendly route and realizing it doesn't always mean spending more.
"Ended up stumbling across an old dresser at a thrift store and converted it into a vanity."
Nice move on the dresser conversion—I've done something similar for a client before. We found an antique sideboard at an estate sale, and after some careful sanding, sealing, and retrofitting for plumbing, it became a standout piece. Budget-wise, reclaimed or repurposed pieces can really help keep costs down. For my own bathroom remodel last year, I went mostly new (client leftovers and showroom discounts), but still managed to keep it under $4k by doing the tile work myself and sourcing fixtures strategically. Definitely agree about the satisfaction factor...there's something uniquely rewarding about knowing you put your own sweat equity into the space.
I've been considering doing something similar with an old cabinet I have sitting in the garage, but I'm honestly a bit intimidated by the plumbing part... Did you find it tricky to retrofit the dresser for plumbing? Wondering if it's manageable for someone without much experience or if I'd be better off getting help from someone who knows what they're doing.
