Bell-shade sconces point downward → top-down face lighting → shadows under eyes when shaving
Two identical small mirrors over a shared vanity reads "developer-checked-a-box," not designed
No defog → mirror fogs after every shower, particularly bad when shaving after
Current state. 24×30 brushed-nickel framed mirrors, oil-rubbed-bronze double-bell sconces above each mirror.
Step 2
Constraints that shape the answer
Defog is required. Non-negotiable — Peter shaves after showering.
Vanity is not being renovated. Beadboard cabinets, stone tile border, mosaic accent, undermount sinks all stay. The room's underlying vocabulary is traditional/craftsman.
Walls being painted now in SW Alabaster. Paint phase is active.
Sinks are spread out. Center-to-center spacing is ~62.5" — wider than typical double vanity. There's a drawer bank between the sinks.
"Comfy + expensive/clean, function over aesthetic." Not modern-minimalist. Not hotel-cold. Warm, intentional, lived-in.
Lily has aesthetic veto. Final picks need her sign-off.
These constraints rule out: frameless edge-lit slabs (too modern), single long mirror spanning both sinks (the drawer bank in the middle makes it weird), staying with current size (undersized for wall).
Step 3
Shape: rectangular vs arched
Two viable shapes given the constraints. Frameless modern is off the table.
Step 4
Size: how big should the mirrors be?
Given the wide ~62.5" sink-to-sink spacing, several sizes are geometrically possible. Trade-off is between visual presence vs leaving inner gap room for sconces vs ceiling clearance.
Step 5
Sconce arrangement: 2 vs 3 vs 4
Three viable sconce configurations. Each has a different lighting-physics result and a different visual rhythm.
Where we landed
Mirrors
Two arched LED mirrors with built-in defog — 32" wide × 42" tall
Frame
Matte black, thin profile (~3/4"–1")
Light temperature
2700K warm — both LED edge glow and sconces
Sconces
Three matte black sconces — outer-left, center, outer-right — at face height (~66" AFF)
Why
Arched shape echoes craftsman architecture, won't date. 32×42 anchors the wall without forcing compromises elsewhere. Three-sconce rhythm lights both cheeks (proper face lighting), uses the dead drawer-zone wall as a feature, reads as composed not random.
Open before locking
Verify master bath ceiling height — 42" mirror at ~40" AFF mounting puts top at 82" AFF. Works on 96" (8') ceilings, tight on anything lower. Drop to 32×40 if ceiling is below 96".
Lily sign-off on direction (size, shape, finish, sconce count).
GC electrical relocation needed for sconce placement — schedule when GC returns from vacation.
Interim until install
Cheap matte black 2-light bar fixtures from Amazon at existing electrical box locations, just to cover open wiring during paint phase. ~$50–80 each, 2700K bulbs. These are placeholders, not final.
Fallback if 32×42 product hunting is hard
32×40 → 30×42 → 30×40, in that priority order. All work; statement intensity decreases.