to each one of your that responded, a very big thank you, the pictures of your tubs were beautiful. i am ready to start working, i knew you all would give me the best ideas to help me think it through before i started. the ideas you all gave me had not even entered my head, the tub had already been painted a bright red, it will be in the shade so hopefully that will make it stand out, that was a v-8 moment for me when jo ann told me to make sure the drain was lower, i had not even thought to make sure, thanks to each one of you with your ideas, and pictures, hopefully my daughter can make pictures when we finish, happy gardening to each of you. hallngarden

I am not petite either, but I've never thought they were too narrow. (I've never owned one, just used them at assorted B & Bs over the years.) You should be able to find the specs of any tub you are ordering on line, you can compare it to your current tub. There are 2 things I think are unsettling about them: First, to me they always feel unstable when climbing into them. I don't think they actually are, it is just something about having them on feet instead of the whole tub on terra firma. Second, if you plan to use it as a shower, and therefore, have to have a circular shower curtain, they feel quite claustrophobic. I personally don't find them that comfortable to lean back in, so be sure to sit in one before you order it. I do LOVE the way they look.

Used to be you couldn't give them away unless to a farmer who wanted it for a water trough, then they became really popular again. Perhaps you could go on Craigslist or Ebay and take a look at what other people are selling them for? I do know that most of the old ones are super heavy to move around.

Thanks everyone, By "very dated" I meant awkward - thats as kind as I can be. The best label I can come up with for this house style is contemporary mountain. But this bathroom was late 70's early 80's uber country, I couldn't see how it fit with the rest of the home. But after many many hours looking at design photos I think I can make it work visually, it just really doesn't seem very practical. But I guess practical isn't everything! We have had 3 pre-1850's houses before, so I understood them in that context, it just took me a while to see that it a claw foot could also work in a more contemporary setting. sushipup1 - I'm not terribly worried about the first round of interest rate hikes - maybe I should be - but when we bought in spring 2004 rates were on the rise and it seemed like houses were snapped up as fast as they were listed because buyers were trying to get in before the rates went higher. Anyway thats what I'm telling myself. Plus we are moving to the other side of the country and wanted to give DH time to settle into his new job before having to decide on a new place to live.