Yes Raehele I'm looking for some gorgeous options. I don't like the fact that solid is starting to feel like a racket. I know machinery for that type of work is expensive but sheesh what I had to go through to get a simple stone kitchen island top done at a reasonable rate is ridiculous.

Here's an idea..........

Here is a link that might be useful: countertop

I put limestone tile counters in my bath remodel. I fell in love with seagrass limestone, but couldn't justify buying 2 slabs, one of the counter and one for the tiny little space around the tub. Then I fell in love with the sparkly backsplash and then the trim tile and just had to figure out how to make it all work. I'm sure it doesn't for everyone, but I love it. My apologies to all who want to barf if they see me post pics of this bath one more time.

These are all little fossils in the stone

Not granite, quarz, or solid surface doesn'tleave much. Wood maybe, like Mongo's teak counter, or tile, with an epoxy grout, which will be a premium for a small area. Concrete if you're brave and can live with all of the issues of marble or other softer and more porous stones. Or metal. You could do stainless steel like on a ship's head, or copper if you're tidy and don't mind a living surface.

The reason your anti surfaces are popular isn't all due to fashion. They are all very functional choices. Moving away from them will sacrifice some of that functionality.

We did a wood counter in our master bath. Totally diy possible and reasonably priced.

uh...pedestal sinks?....lol.

I also have limestone but Im suspecting the fabrication costs are the same as granite/quartz. I think tile is a good option in a bath....I don't think the grout would get as "icky" as in a kitchen, especially if you used a darker tile/grout and the tiles were very close together. I think wood is very pretty, but you'd have to keep it up with a marine varnish.

Sochi......love your bathroom!

I have butcher block counters in my kitchen. Love them.

HEY THANKS, you have inspired me!!!

Patti the epoxy is interesting because the possibilities are endless. You can even buy stone granules and make your own solid surface countertop by adding epoxy. You can use pieces of stained glass too. IâÂÂm not so keen on the ones done to look like granite though. For me IâÂÂm thinking one color crushed glass with a few crystal beads or perhaps those flat backed glass beads you can buy anywhere in the flower arranging section. IâÂÂm not sure how I would do the glass beads though, maybe first attach with liquid nails, then a monochromatic grout then thick epoxy. IâÂÂd have to frame it in for a thinker topâ¦not sure, need to do some reading. Heck you can get a whole bag of flat back glass beads for very little money. But really there is no end to what you could do. The great thing about the epoxy idea is that I could rough up the surface of the existing countertop and reuse it. It has to come off anyway to toss the old cabinetry.

Olychick, IâÂÂm thinking I need info on your tub. Your whole area there is the same as my setup except mine has a faux brown marble thing. How do you like your tub? Nice calming room you have there.

Sochi, just about everything I have ever seen you pick has been drool worthy. I could do wood if it had an inch and a half of epoxy over the top. There is something about us that makes us not responsible enough for wood tops.

My recycling center in town sells recycled glass for landscaping or anything for $5.00 a bucket. It is very pretty and not at all sharp - easy to handle with your hands. Just a thought...

I took an old desk and made it into a vanity. I left the original wood top on it but, on top of that, I added a mother of pearl top. Here it is before it was added to the desk. One of these days, the bathroom will be done and I will be able to post a picture of the completed project.

I really like the look of some alternative countertops that I googled. Just goes to show there are so many options!

Sapphire, that is very pretty! Talk to me about this top. Can water seam into cracks? What did you buy exactly for this project top?

Joanie, good idea IâÂÂll check into that.

Beaches, thanks for the eye candy! I will show husband and I know exactly what one he will likeâ¦the 2nd one down.

Thanks, Jterrilynn! Water does not permeate into the cracks but you have to be VERY careful with it. There is zero space between the pieces and, since I was keeping the wood top on the vanity, it was made with a "solid" mesh backing. If you bend it or drop it or cause any trauma to it while installing it, the seams between the shells will open up. My contractor can verify that first hand! It was cut to the shape of the vanity top and he attached it with a standard construction adhesive. After it was attached, he cut the holes for the sink and the faucet. Now that it is on the vanity (and in the midst of construction), I have had no problems at all with the shells cracking.

If I was not keeping the wood top on the vanity, they would have created the top with a thick solid back with the shells already attached and I would assume it would be installed like any other solid surface countertop.

I hope that answered your questions!

Well, there's Neolith and similar products, which is a ceramic/porcelain countertop material. Check out the kitchen Forum for prices (it depends onthe region). It's quite common in Europe. It's basically indestructible and comes in lots of colors. it can be really thin.

Soapstone
{{!gwi}}

Slate
{{!gwi}}

Recycled glass/paper, kind of like Terrazzo

Copper

Here is a link that might be useful: bathroom counters

We have soapstone. I have heard of people diying it, though I think it is harder, and therefore more difficult, than wood.

Copper? There have been a few diy threads in the kitchen forum over the years.

Back lit onyx?

Glass, but it doesn't look very vintage.

[Traditional Bathroom Countertops[(https://www.houzz.com/products/traditional-vanity-tops-and-side-splashes-prbr1-br~t_486~s_2107) by Buchanan Specialty Contractors ATM Mirror and Glass

We have a one-piece ceramic sink and countertop made by Ronbow. It is completely easy to clean and maintain. Although it has a "transitional" feel, it looks great in our 1920s house.

{{!gwi}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Ronbow ceramic sink and counter

I used the same tile as the bath surrounds for countertops in my rent houses because it is very economical. Can't undermount sinks though, but so many nice sinks available. At 2.89 a foot cannot be beat--I used bullnose edge on one vanity so the edges were 4$ per foot or so. I use large porcelain with very thin grout lines and epoxy or fusion grout so the grout lines are no problem. Tile edges must be same color as top for it to look good if not using bullnose....although you can spray paint edges but I never have. In one house I used glass accents on the countertop and it turned out quite pretty. So....plywood, thinset and screw down denshield resin impregnated gypsum from Lowes made by USG (lightweight and sooooo easy to use, love it) and tile. the tile on top overlaps the tiled edges. So more than 2.89 ft. but not much for me as I usually have leftovers. Sorry about sideways photos:-p

If you go this route, lay the entire countertop out first and check your overhang and especially your symetry, to look pro it has to be symetrical...the cuts, layout, etc. the left side of the counter the exact mirror of the right side.

Floorndecor has 10' quartz prefab slabs for $500. You can take and pick up from a granite fabricator. Or Maybe use a wet saw to cut the slab and diamond blade hole saw and garden hose to cut a vessel sink hole.

Chinesequartz seconds are not something that most people want to allow in their homes. Tile is a good choice though, as long as it's also not seconds from a liquidator like F&D.

If you use standard sized vanity cabinets, you could use vanity tops that are one-piece tops in vitreous china or cast iron:

http://www.build.com/kohler-bathroom-sinks/c109354?F19214=vanity%20top&F19796=cast%20iron&F19796=vitreous%20china