"Had to get creative with some elbow fittings and extensions to make it all line up properly."
Sounds like you handled it pretty well, honestly. Did you end up using compression fittings or solder everything? Plumbing behind old walls is always a gamble... good job making it work.
Pedestal sinks can definitely be tricky, especially with older plumbing setups. I remember installing one in a 1940s house a while back—nothing lined up right, and I ended up having to solder in some custom-length copper pieces just to get the drain centered. Compression fittings would've been easier, but the space was so tight I didn't trust them long-term. Curious if you ran into any clearance issues behind the pedestal itself... sometimes that's the real headache.
I'm considering a pedestal sink too, but now I'm worried about the tight spaces you're mentioning. Did you find it hard to secure the sink properly to the wall without compromising stability or safety? That's my main concern right now...
I haven't installed one solo yet, but I've helped out on a couple jobs and honestly, securing it wasn't the biggest headache. The real trick was getting behind it to tighten everything up without feeling like a contortionist...lol. Did you check if your wall studs line up nicely where you want the sink? That can make a huge difference in stability. If not, might need some extra blocking or anchors—nothing too crazy, just something to think about before diving in.
I've installed a few pedestal sinks in my rental units over the years, and honestly, securing them wasn't the biggest hassle for me either. But I'll tell you what was—the lack of storage space afterward. Sure, pedestal sinks look sleek and open up the bathroom visually, but tenants always seem to underestimate how much they'll miss having a cabinet underneath for towels, cleaning supplies, or even just extra toilet paper rolls.
One time, I swapped out a vanity for a pedestal sink in a small half-bath because I thought it'd make the room feel bigger—big mistake. Within a month, tenants were complaining they had nowhere to stash basic bathroom essentials. I ended up installing shelves above the toilet as a compromise, but honestly, it kind of defeated the purpose of opening up the space in the first place.
As for stability, yeah, studs are ideal, but if you're stuck without them lining up perfectly, I've had good luck using toggle bolts or heavy-duty anchors. They hold surprisingly well if you install them correctly. Just make sure you're comfortable patching drywall later if you ever decide to switch back to a vanity or move things around.
Another thing to consider is plumbing visibility. Pedestal sinks expose all your plumbing underneath, so if your pipes aren't neat or you have older plumbing that's seen better days, it can look a bit rough. I had one unit where the plumbing was older galvanized pipe—functional but not exactly pretty—and tenants noticed immediately. Ended up painting the pipes white to blend them in better, but still wasn't ideal.
Anyway, not saying don't do it—just think carefully about how practical it'll be for everyday use. Sometimes aesthetics aren't worth the trade-off in convenience...just my two cents.
