Bathroom renovation materials

1. I've not seen a ceramic tile that has the depth of marble
2. custom is the way to go if your bathroom dimensions are tight. Otherwise you have plenty of brands to choose. There is a reason most new construction developers select custom-sized vanities. The baths look bigger.

You can try.. has the look you mentioned.
http://www.caesarstoneus.com/products/color/4141/

my contractor said that when they do work in manhattan, they build vanities custom as they come out costing less then Duravit and the like.

From a buyer's perspective:

If you can afford it, definitely go marble. It looks much better (and will be more desirable to buyers when you sell). Ceramic tile just looks cheap.

I agree with the other posters that custom is the way to go. The cost is usually not prohibitive, and you'll get a vanity that is made to fit your space perfectly.

>>Ceramic tile just looks cheap.<<

Disagree. Porcelain (never, NEVER ceramic, which is not as strong and not color-saturated) tile in the bathroom is very traditional and can look understated and elegant when done right. If you choose a nice white or off-white you won't go wrong. A light color granite or quartz engineered stone counter is a good choice. Remember that marble stains and scratches VERY easily. If your bathroom will get heavy use you might want to steer clear of marble.

There are engineered stone materials that have a marble-like look to them--check out quartz tiles such as 'spanish white' (tiles) http://www.buytile.com/home.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=19745&szid=126 ; Misty Carerra by duPont and some of the options from Okite might be good possibilities for the vanity top.

^^sorry--I think Misty Carrera is Caeserstone and the duPont stuff is Bianco Carrera...

I should have been more clear. I agree that a quality porcelain can look absolutely fantastic in a bathroom, especially the styles that look like natural stone. Didn't mean to lump porcelain together with the rest of the ceramics. I've seen so much of the smooth, white 3-4" ceramic tile in bathrooms that I can't stand it any longer. That's the stuff that looks cheap.

Thank you all for the replies. One more question: on the vanity, I'm thinking about having a wood body (i.e. the cabinetry below the countertop). Is wood a bad idea for the vanity, considering the fact that the bathroom is quite a humid and damp room? Will moisture from the shower steam or splashing from the sink damage/rot the wood? Does the wood need to be sealed in some way? If wood is a bad choice, what would you recommend?

I think it largely depends on how good the ventilation in the bathroom is. If there is adequate ventilation, and you go with a high quality solid wood, there really shouldn't be a problem. Several of my vanities over the years have been solid wood with marble tops, and I've never had an issue. I personally have never taken the extra step of sealing the wood, either.