If you want timeless, then do white for your fixtures and tile and forgo the blue and brown except in the paint and accessories. Maybe do the vanity in the chocolate, but with a white vanity top and sink. 4K isn't a lot to spend on a bath, even if you are DIY on the labor. The vanities will cost you around $1500-$2500 if you do the more custom double vanity with the drawer base in the middle, and that imprisons you to a more expensive custom counter as well. You just went over budget, and you've only got as far as the vanities. Despite the expense of redoing the plumbing, I think you can stretch the budget further by having 24" individual vanities that you can find as stock at one of the box stores and individual mirrors above them. You can probably do that for $1000, including the tops. FOr the tub, to be able to use it as a shower, it needs to have an integral tile flange on it to seal out moisture infiltration from behind your walls. You'll need to tear out the current tile to ascertain if it has that. If it doesn't then replacing it with a nice, slightly deeper soaking tub can be done for around $400. If you want a jetted tub, American Standard sells a $699 one at HD with a lifetime warranty and the new system that angles the internal jets downward so that all the water drains out when you empty the tub. That keeps it from sitting there getting yucky. It's a great buy, and can be used as a shower too. The real necessary expense is updating the tub faucet with a tub/shower valve that contains the new anti scald technology. A thermostatic valve is the better but more expensive choice here. Classic subway tile mixed with some classic 4x4 and 6x6 for the shower walls would let you do an interesting tone on tone pattern but not break the bank. White tile for the floor may seem "boring" but it lets you use any color accessories that you want to liven it up. And, using the layout to add pizazz just like the shower will work to add interest also. Paint the walls a pretty silvery blue and put in chocolate and blue towels and your vision is complete--and on budget!

Lynn, your kitchen is just so perfect with your surroundings! Those views are pretty amazing, too! Loved all your detail shots! I've got mine on the computer awaiting uploading into my photbucket album. You'll laugh when you see my spice drawer, it looks almost identical to yours!

Really great inputs from all of you. Thank you for taking your time reading and responding! There are some great ideas here, but unfortunately, we will not be able to make all the changes due to various reasons. For example, we will not change the framing of the windows because that will require extra permit (I think); We will not re-do the walls and the ceiling in the wood room so we preserve its historical look (and to keep the budget down); etc. But @kaismom, you gave me some idea for re-doing the kitchen. (Love it in SketchUp since it doesn't cost anything to tear stuff down!) I moved the fridge to behind the division wall and made it tall cabinets all across. I realize that this will make the galley kitchen look even narrower, but it got the fridge out of the way, and since this is a single cook kitchen, being a little narrow is not too big a problem (I have about 39" of clearance between the counter top edge to the other cabinet wall.) I also moved the dishwasher to the left size because now I could put a 33" drawer base by its side. Now, I have two 2-basket trash pullout (for trash and recyclables). Not sure if that's an overkill. The only non-drawer cabinet is there because the code require access to the propane shutoff which is hidden behind that cabinet. (We will not use propane but the pipe is already there.) However, I still face the choices what to do with the opening at the kitchen: leave it completely open, have a one tier open counter, or have a small breakfast bar. I personally like the look of the one tier counter, but I have no good aesthetic sense; hence I appreciate your input. Currently, I'm putting this IKEA VÄRDE drawer unit for the two non-open options. Either way (one level or bar), I have a 40" opening from the short wall to the other side of the opening. I wonder if that's too narrow for the kitchen installation. But with the hallway at 39" wide, and the opening at 40", I can't foresee any problem with getting the appliances and cabinets in. Hope someone can point it out if it will be a problem. Without further ado, let me take you on a tour in our newly remodeled house. Again, click on an image for its full size. Overview. North is up. Living room, seen from the wood room. Looking into living room standing at the front door. Same exact angle, but this time, we put in a bar (open counter or tiered) at the kitchen. You probably have to bring up the full size to see the difference. View from the couch. This picture explains why we choose dark cabinets in the wood room -- so that they do blend in. Now, what if we have a bar (open counter or tiered) at the kitchen? A look at the living room from the desk area. Okay, this series is important. which option would you vote for? Open? One level counter? Tiered breakfast bar? Here is a look into the galley kitchen. Three options again. The wood room.

This is one nice rental. We have a asymmetrical wall with a fireplace and a surround. My DH and I go round and round. I like the traditional surround and he does not. It turns out our fireplace is low clearance. What we both do not like is the 12 inch square around it. If a mantle is placed, it has to be a certain depth and height. Marble was there, wish our black tile was not there. We have considered placing the marble porcelain tile from the bath. We will have to make a decision soon cuz new flooring in the 1st level.