Lurker with a master bath reno question PIPs

[savan]

The original design of our master bathroom had a closet in it. It looked like this: (I stole the picture from an MLS listing of our floor plan).



At some point, I'm guessing the 80's, the previous owners of our house ripped out the closet and added a double sink vanity. It currently looks like this: (Actual pictures of our bathroom)




We are planning to complete gut the bathroom and start fresh. Our options are:

1.  Keep the current layout and just replace the vanity with something updated.
2.  Do something like this: (Also stolen from an MLS listing of our floor plan, just oriented differently)



We are leaning toward #2. The removal of the closet left an awkward space behind the door (where the litter box is located) that even our guests have commented on.

So I guess I have 2 part question: Would you choose layout option 1 or 2?

And if you picked 2 what colors would you use? I think the picture I posted is hideous. At first I was leaning toward a dark, almost black, wood but DH is worried it would overwhelm the small space. I don't want to use white. Has anyone done grey cabinets?

[cajungal]

Definitely #2! But, is there a way to get that extra counter space and cabinets while still keeping two sinks? Another thing I've really enjoyed is having a vanity in our cabinets. It's nice to sit down and do my makeup instead of standing. I'm drawn to dark cabinets. That would probably be fine assuming you paint the walls a light color.

[savan]

No, I don't think there is any way to keep that extra sink if we go for option #2. To fit now it's almost up to that side wall. The tentative plan is to keep the counter and shower tiles really light so maybe dark cabinets would work.

[auntie]

I like #2. I'm not a huge fan on sharing a bathroom with DH at the same time. I'd rather have counter space than dual sinks. I'm kind of laughing at the appliance garage in the corner, but it actually makes perfect sense. What's the plan for the cat's loo?

[InBetweenDays]

We have dark cabinets in our master bath and I love it. We have a very light countertop, white tile, and light green walls (can PIP later if you'd like).

I'm not sure about #2. So the sink would be behind the door? It seems like it would be awkward to work with. So you'd have to open the door and walk around behind it to access the sink? And the door could bang into the cabinet/sink area? Or would the door still swing all the way open?

Unless the door could still swing all the way open I'd be more tempted to keep the current layout and then be more creative with that space. Get a small storage cabinet, put some nice hooks or artwork on the far wall, put in some nice looking linen hampers for clothes, etc.

[savan]

We'd ditch the second sink if we went with #2. I am curious about the door hitting the cabinet though. I really wish I had gone to the open house to see that bathroom in person. My only hesitation is that the bathroom might feel a bit cramped with all the extra cabinetry.

My idea for the cat box is to take the bottom door off that full length cabinet and hope we can stuff it in there.

[Deleted]

What if you kept the double sink and put a linen cabinet on the opposite wall from the vanity, behind the door? The door into the bathroom would then only open 90*. The corner seems odd to me, but I do like linen cabinets over drywall linen closets.