Good points on the plumbing alignment—I wish I'd read this thread before tackling mine. One thing I'd add: pedestal sinks look sleek, but storage becomes a real issue. I didn't realize how much random stuff I kept under my old vanity until I had nowhere to stash it. Now my bathroom looks great, but my hallway closet is a disaster zone...trade-offs, I guess.
Definitely agree on the storage issue—pedestal sinks can be deceptively impractical. Another thing to consider is maintenance access; pedestal sinks often make plumbing repairs trickier due to limited space behind the pedestal. Something to keep in mind before committing...
Had a client last month who insisted on a pedestal sink for aesthetics... looked great until I had to squeeze behind it to fix a leak. Took twice as long, and he wasn't thrilled with the extra labor cost. Just something to think about.
Pedestal sinks definitely have their charm, but your experience highlights a really important point—accessibility matters big-time when it comes to plumbing. I've seen similar situations myself. One thing I'd suggest for anyone set on a pedestal is to double-check clearances beforehand and maybe even consider flexible supply lines or angle stops that are easier to reach. It's always a trade-off between looks and practicality, but at least you're giving folks a heads-up before they're knee-deep in frustration... good call on sharing this!
Totally agree on the flexible supply lines—those can be a lifesaver. Another thing to watch out for is the drain alignment. Pedestal sinks often have limited wiggle room, so if your existing plumbing isn't spot-on, you might end up redoing more than you bargained for... speaking from experience here.