Thank you so much! We hadn't considered a sliding door, but may have to depending on the layout we choose. We are really stuggling to decide on a layout that keeps the vanity as the first thing you see (cause we agree it's probably going to be the prettiest). Here is our current layout:

So, we want to open the space up my getting rid of the master closet (we have two closets) and the linen closet.
Here is one of the layouts we are considering.

But it has a big issue:
ME: Who on earth needs a 4 x 8 shower?!
DH: But how could we arrange it to fit a tub AND still get a "big" (i.e. at least 4x5) shower and not have the space feel cramped?
ME: no clue
DH: Me either

I can see why you have a problem, and here is one idea. The shower is 4x5, but I didn't do the rest to scale, it's good enough that you can get the jest though. The problem is that moving your plumbing, especially the toilet can be very costly. This may not be your perfect solution, but it does keep moving your plumbing to a minimum. Also, you loose your closet, but gain a vanity! Something us girlies really like! HTH -- Lukki
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Here's a very clever layout with a double tub and a shower in roughly that much space:

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Read the details here:

Here is a link that might be useful: Miami Beach's Condo bathroom remodel

Here are a couple more ideas that allow both tub and shower (I'm an "Excel designer" too, but I need a lesson on how to get them into an uploadable graphic by some means other than a photo):

Thanks guys! We are mulling over the design options and these help alot. Our (latest)issue is that we finally got bids back....and they're higher than expected. Lukki, I was reading another post where you said a full remodel could be done for 10k including labor? Is that right? Can you give a rough idea of what the material/labor split was at that level?
We have gotten labor ONLY quotes of $7.5k, $12k and then one dude who shocked us with a $45k quote! (but don't worry he says, this includes materials....*gulp* and no he wasn't kidding)
Weedy - I use the "Print sceen" keyboard function to copy the screen and then paste it into a photo program and crop to just the Excel bit :-)

I've don't recall the specific post you're referring to, but if you provide me the link to refresh my memory, I'll be happy to clarify it. As you know, costs can vary depending on where you live, we're in the midwest, and this is our first remodel so I really don't have anything I can compare it to on a national level. Right now though, we're at 12-13,000 labor & materials, however, if we had not upgraded in materials & added a couple of extra changes, our costs would have easily been in that range or lower. I think it really depends on what you're doing and how much time you want to invest as I spent countless hours learning about products & searching for "deals". There were only 2 things we didn't get with some kind of discount attached it. One was the granite, the size of our counter is too big, so we had to buy a 1/2 slab instead of a remmant (we also chose an exotic which didn't help) and the shower plumbing, so instead of getting the finish I preferred (ORB) we compromised and got chrome for inside the shower and brushed nickel for the rest of the room. Everything else was either on sale, marked down or has a tax credit tied to it. Our house was a fixer when we bought it 3 yrs ago, and we've DIY'd all of our projects, but didn't feel up to the task with the bathroom. To keep labor costs to a minimum we said we would paint, help with the sealing of the stone, install our sink fixtures, and I'm building the frames for the mirrors. It's not a lot but it will save us several hundred dollars.

In the drawings you provided, I noticed you had changed your entire footprint, which can increase your costs substantially. You also mentioned that you don't use the tub, that's why in the drawing I did for you, I tried to keep the same general footprint for the major plumbing and used a vanity for the corner, leaving out the tub. I have a pretty good record of the costs for our project so far. If you're interested and want to email me I'll be happy to go through it with you in a little more detail. -- Lukki