I have a cast iron clawfoot (I know you said you weren't interested in those specifically) which we love. My husband is 6'5" and has trouble fitting into regular sized tubs; the clawfoot is deep and he can get a good soak. We looked at the Victoria and Albert tubs, but decided on the clawfoot because we found a great deal on a used one on craigslist and it matched the period of our house (1910 bungalow).

Neither of us miss having the deck. We are struggling with finding storage, but that is a general issue we are having with the overall bathroom, not specific to the tub. When reading I'll just put my magazine, book or paper on the floor next to the tub. It's not that inconvenient to lean over and pick it up again over the edge of the tub.

I don't have any problems getting in and out of the tub, and I've had foot surgery like you would not believe. I've had my ankle, leg, and foot surgically reconstructed 9 times in the past 6 years. While I'm no longer on crutches, I am significantly disabled (makes many DIY projects very difficult for me). I also have very poor balance and suffered nerve damage during one my surgeries so have no sensation on the bottom of my foot. I was warned that all of these issues would make it difficult for me to get in and out of a clawfoot tub, but I just hold onto the opposite side for balance and have no trouble. I have good days and bad days, and on bad days I sit on the edge of the tub and just swing my legs over. I don't think using the clawfoot tub is any more difficult than a regular shallower tub.

This was my foot last year, you can see that it was pretty messed up. Even though I had a regular tub during this procedure and only recently got the clawfoot, I'm still recovering from the surgery.

We pulled out our decked jetted tub and replaced it with a clawfoot. The jetted tub with all the decking made our large bathroom look small and it was hard to get in and out of.

Now that all the decking is gone, the clawfoot tub makes the area look spacious and is much easier to get in and out of.

Okay, Portland, you have me beat on foot troubles! I'm sorry for everything you've been through -- I know how awful foot pain is, so it's hard to imagine what you go through every day.

So I am even more impressed that you like the freestanding tub. I guess I need to get to a showroom and just try some out. Of couse, with Expo and some others gone, there aren't many showrooms that carry a selection.

I have this idea that leaning or sitting on the edge of a clawfoot tub could cause it to tip (because I had been specifically looking at the V&A Asia tub which is on wood blocks). I guess they can bear a little weight..... they seem to run 150lbs+ without water....

And trtmb makes a good point -- it occurred to me also that it would be nice to tile the whole floor and get a more airy look...

I haven't completely shut the door on cast iron. Did anyone have to have their floor reinforced? We're in a 1980s colonial, obviously builder didn't use all the best materials because the whole reason for this remodel at this time is that the greenboard they used in the shower has disintegrated and tiles are coming out!

Wow, we are on the same wavelength! I just did a blog post on this today, and I have had so many wonderful opinions. I have always thought that I wanted a built in tub - it is what we have now, and I love it. I take lots of baths, read lots of magazines in the bath, so I do appreciate having the decking around the tub. But, ultimately, the tub is way too big and wastes a lot of water. And, the decking is also a place where things accumulate - my magazines, the kids' shampoo (which spills). My main concern about a freestanding tub was the lack of storage space, but many of my readers say that if you have a freestanding, you just have to plan for something you can pull up and set next to the tub.

The opinions so far are overwhelmingly in favor of freestanding, although some readers (who are designers) talk about the pros and cons of each style.

Here is a link that might be useful: Seeking tub advice

Thanks for that blog link!! I guess I'm convinced! We definitely have space for a small cabinet, and I saw one bathroom where they placed a granite ledge at the windowsill, so that's another possibility. All I really need space for at the tub is a towel, book, glass of wine.

BTW, many of the posters expressed concerns about the big windows. I was thinking of getting the shades that you can lower from the top, giving the bather a tree-top view, but the neighbors only a block of color and glimpse of the ceiling.