Donna, Um, every whirlpool I have ever heard of is also available just as as a soaking tub... If it's going to be your tub, go sit in the tubs (yes, the whirlpools! :)) and decide which one feels best. That was my criterion. Sit in them and then get your favorite one made as a soaking tub. (after checking step-in heights, since it will be used as a shower too) As I said, Maax Melodie and Palace felt the best by far to me, but everyone's different (I've heard the Palace is pretty popular with folks who can fit a 6' tub in). Also, if you can fit 6' in, try the Toto cast iron 6' tub. If after all that the Porcher Ardennes is the one that feels best, go with that. I'm sure they'd have a way to help you make an alcove situation for it. If the Neptune feels best, go with that (again, check the height wrt using it as a shower). So your assignment is to go to the stores in Chicago, step into the tubs, sit in them, and decide which one feels best entering and lounging in. Then report back :)

I bought a Kohler cast iron undermount sink from a large on-line e-tailer. I think it weighed 150 lbs. It was shipped on a pallet that the shipper for whatever reason decided to stand on end. That or some other shipping incident chipped and cracked the finish in three places. I was really pissed as you can imagine. The color was a special order. So I called the e-tailer and they were VERY professional. I send some pictures and they ordered a new sink for me. That one arrived without damage. They did not want the old sink back. It sat on our floor for months. They must have gotten the shipper to pay for it, or insurance, or just ate the costs. But to ship something like that back is a waste of money. It can't be used anyway or repaired like new. It is a write off. I had a hard time getting rid of it. But it taught me where I will ALWAYS buy my on-line bath/kitchen stuff. Not sure if I can mention the name but it ends in 'direct.'

Hi Polly, thank you for your kind words. I can't blame you for not using marble flooring, with all the concerns I've seen on this site, I went with all porcelain in my second bathroom, floor and shower walls. I wanted to do another soapstone sink and integrate it into a marble counter. It would have worked I think, but the SS remnant I had ended up not looking good with the marble. So I have an incomplete sink in our shop, that I need to finish. I might put it in the basement as a utility sink, or give it to my sister if she wants to remodel. I haven't given it much thought lately though. Regarding marble counter. I did do a marble counter in my second bathroom and used a Kohler under mounted sink called Verticyl. There are several shapes, and contemporary. here is an image, I have liked it. The marble is so pretty. The vanity is walnut in a frameless cabinet. It is hard to see in this pic. But the marble counter is nice with it: This is a picture I took at an Ann Sacks store in Seattle last winter. Carrara under mounted tub. The fixtures were all Kallista, I think the tub was too:

My acrylic Bain Ultra air tub was set in a bed of mud with a piece of think plastic between the mud and tub. This was done for the ease of removing the tub if ever the need arises. It's as solid feeling on the bottom as my husband's Kohler cast iron tub. As for cleaning, that's a different story. You're not supposed to use anything abrasive on acrylic. Believe it or not, Scrubbing Bubbles is considered abrasive :( That's been my go to tub cleaner for years. To clean my acrylic tub RIGHT, I use Gel Gloss. It's a pain (literally!). You spray it on, let it sit, buff it and let it dry and then wipe the residue. When I'm in a pinch for time or physically limited, I will use Scrubbing Bubbles. There are very few non abrasive cleaners out there. One Bain Ultra suggested was Lemon scent Lysol. NOTHING works better than Scrubbing Bubbles!