Recessed Shelving or Bigger Bathroom

[Missy H.]

I am about to gut and renovate a bathroom in a property that I just purchased.

My contractor wants to remove a recessed shelving unit on the opposite side of the wall to make the bathroom bigger - removing the pink mirrored extension on the right hand side go the bathroom.

 I really like the recessed shelves and think that it adds to the charm of the house.

What would you do??? Get rid of the recessed selves to make the bathroom bigger or work around it and keep the shelving unit?  It is a rental