I agree with everyone. Keeping the cabinets white will allow you to paint the walls any crazy color you want and then redo it in a few years. I don't see the white cabinets any different than having white toilet, sinks, tub, really. Are your kids boys, girls, or both? I could see this room as beachy or nautical. I could see this with a navy color and it would be stunning. Heck you could paint the walls horizontal strips of white alternating with navy. Though too much dark will suck the light out of the room. In this photo they have a lot of white to help. [Traditional Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2107) by Brentwood Kitchen & Bath Designers Precision Cabinets Speaking of lights, I might rethink the lights to something along the sides of the mirrors if you are able.

I love the marble top I received and it was very similar to the one I saw in a RH store. You can also purchase samples of the counter material online ($20 I think?). I will probably be purchasing some samples now (yes, after the vanity is installed) to test out soaps and find out what will or will not etch. I think a dark gray tile on the floor and white tile on the tub surround would be absolutely lovely. Personally I would use tile colors in the "cool" family (whites, grays, etc) to be in keeping with the cool colors of the carrara top. I will definitely post pictures when I am finished. Things have been a little crazy lately and I'm at about the 90% completed mark and am struggling to find time to finish.

The shelves.... We originally wanted a 30" x 12" niche but when we opened up the wall, there was a septic vent smack in the middle. We decided on 2 niches instead, I wassn't about to mess around with those pipes. When figuring the tile layout for the design I wanted, our friend suggested that we oversize the niches so the tile would lay out nice - he suggested 18 x 18 niches and I freaked. But the 12x12 would not have been big enough for the 3 kids and all their stuff. He suggested a granite shelf on the bottom and then one above it to make a shelf for soap, razors, etc. We talked about the length and width of the shelves, but never the depth. When I picked up the shelves from the granite fabricator, I freaked - they were 1 1/4" thick just like the countertop was being made. Friend said, don't worry, they would be perfect. They are. I honestly wouldn't want them any thinner. When he laid the tile, the bottom shelf slid in tightly and then he cut the bullnose on the side and the back tiles so the top granite shelf sits on the cut tiles all around. The tiles abouve the top shelf are full 6 x 6 and as you can see, we have enough height for those huge oversized shampoo and conditioner bottles. There is kerdi behind so no worries about water issues and they were all caulked and all afterwards. Being the over-emotional one, I figured this design that had been in head my for 2 years was ruined when I saw how thick those shelves were, but I wouldn't want them any different. I think they 'fit' the design perfectly as is. And I just love the niches. Before, the kids had a tiny corner shelf and bottles were all over the place, now there is enough room for everything plus space for guests when they are here.

PPS, sorry about the post lag. I didn't mean to miss you! Thanks for more pics. There are some great ideas here for anyone working with clawfoot tubs. Can't you switch out your light fixtures now? I have to be careful about certain rooms because DH is very tall. A little funny, he likes the ones with crystals because they sweep his head as a warning before he can give it an all-out konk! :O) Luckily, this one is so small that it fits anywhere. Vampire, thank you for the posting those pictures. In the first one, there is a swing arm desk lamp. How cool is that! I love when rooms defy expectations. From the posts of yours that I have noticed on other threads I get the feeling that you are probably good at putting things together in novel ways. KMCG, Ohh, I keep hearing about that color! I had thought about matching to the tile, but the room will be off of SW Ivorie so I'm trying to think of this an opportunity to experiment. Would you believe I've never had a blue-green?! I don't think I want to go out of this world without trying every color. :O) Sherry, I think the charm in rust/old/dust is buried in authenticity. I'm really glad there are two points of view here because it will always leave the option to refinish open for the future. Have you seen Magnaverde's apartment? If not, it is well worth a search. It is a stunning place with a too-sophisticated-to-care vibe. He gives the ordinary a value that makes me appreciate even the most trivial bits of life.