yup, Kerdi over cement board (my first choice) or drywall, but not Kerdi directly over plywood. Kerdi is the best for steam showers. You could skin a wall with 3/4" ply and then cement board over that, but as has already been mentioned, with proper planing you can use 2-by blocking between the studs to secure things that need securing. Bench, I personally prefer a movable wood bench instead of a built-in. If you do a built-in watch where the steam nozzle goes. Normally it'll be under the bench, but just be aware of the leg location versus steam nozzle location during design. I've also done a slatted teak bench seat (no legs) that was removable, when in the shower it rested on a couple of tiled nubs that stuck out of the opposing walls. Lift off the nubs and set wherever you want when not using it. Against the wall, or outside the shower in a closet. When traction is desired I've used the ceramic faux-slate tiles like the DAL continental Slate series on several shower floors. Each tile has a bit of cleft, enough for sure-footedness, but not so mush as to hinder floor drainage. 4" squares work well, traction from the tile surface as well as traction from the grout lines. I'd be wary of the large gloss 6" by 26" wood tiles in a steam shower. Mongo

recently used a prefab steam shower sauna cabinet (so the stepping into a tub and of course the jacuzzi jets were missing) that had lots of jets, and other doo-dahs... radio, piped in music etc. I found the steam shower sauna experience to be excellent tho frankly i continue to be unimpressed by multiple jets (even in fancy multi jet new showers) and found the multiple steam outputs irrelevant...so long as the cabinet filled up nicely, quickly and hotly with steam. My concern about all in one with the tub, is the stepping out and over from a steamed/foggy and extra slippery environment, but i would not hesitate to have a tub/steam sauna combo if space doesnt allow you options. Personally, i am not fond of jacuzzi tubs as the jets are noisy, not perfectly placed and dont really replicate the jacuzzi feeling or experience for me. Also the jets make it less comfortable to just slosh around --- i prefer a deep soaking tub

Has anyone had any experience with the Wasauna steam shower tub combo? My understanding is that it is the only unit of its kind made in the US. The rest are made in China.

Thanks for taking the time to look. Yes the stairs are giving me fits. Both main floor and basement. I meet with my stair guy on Wednesday. I am not sure what that little area in front of the master is either, except that I like the idea of just not walking immediately into the great room. But if I put cabinets there along the long wall in the great room, or the see thru fireplace idea centered on the open wall to the great room, it might solve that problem and I dont need that wall. I dont "need" that wall anyways, dont know what it would be good for anyways. Maybe a little wall fountain or some sort of lighted art. Or lighted shelves. With the balcony above one might not feel on display to the great room when they walk out of the master bedroom anyways. The bath in the downstairs bathroom is more of a whimsical thing. I also thought since we have grandkids alot, that might be a good place for them to take a bath while I can be not too far away. The idea of the bathroom in that area, was to get it away from the foyer area which is where it was initially. But also that is my "mud room" area. We live in the country. We literally horse around alot, come in filthy dirty, so we needed a shower in the mud room area. Found the tub and loved it. Figured a tub wouldnt be all that much more of a big deal than a shower. But definite more of a whim thing. Just an extra bath for guests. But I see what you mean about being close to the dining area. One good thing, we hardly ever eat at the table, another reason for not having a formal dining room, but maybe that is why so many plans have a bathroom at the front of the house off the foyer. I just needed one close to where I come in from the garage, cuz I always have to go when I get home, and before I leave too it seems, and if I have been working outside, I am usually dirty. The garage bathroom was added after this room, but I still wanted to keep that bathroom in the mudroom/laundry area. I could switch it with the laundry room. But then you would be hearing the washer and dryer. I am a bit confused on the first floor #2, unless I uploaded a picture that I didnt mean to. :-? I like the idea of aligning the window with the hallway. The bathroom, that reminded me she forgot to make that tub a shower like the one in the basement. These are steam showers with a bit of a tub area at the bottom, not really a tub but could be used as one for the grandkids. That was also the thinking for rationalizing the downstairs tub, if a guest wanted to stretch out to take a bath since the upper and lower levels are only showers. The kitchen on the second floor, I keep telling her not a full kitchen. I just need a mini frig, microwave, small sink, and some sort of bar with stools. I have struggled with exactly how that should look anyways, and each time, she always has it looking the same so it is hard for me to figure out how it needs to be. I was going to put a galley of sorts along the wall on the right, maybe I should run it along the outside wall. I am really having a hard time with that space. I just need a small space for my daughter to keep quick snacks and drinks for her and her son while they are staying with us. She can have friends over and not feel like she is living at home. That is another reason why I opted for the outside stairs rather than back stairs inside. The slider will be on the left, window on the right. Just more of an apartment feel. Who knows, when she moves out, I might rent it out. I have another sister who would probably love to move her little girl out to the country. I think that is why this house ended up much bigger than we really really need. I feel the need to nurture everyone, take care of everyone, and with the economy so unstable, I wanted a place big enough to take in family if they ever needed a place to go. But also, if family just wants to come and visit, I want a place they want to come so they can enjoy the horses, enjoy the pond, enjoy just sitting on the porch, just being outdoors, and stay as long as they like because they dont feel cramped, and we dont feel cramped and wish they would just go home. Okay, babbling, Thank you for your suggestions. Going to look at it again :-)