Have you found any tubs that meet your criteria? Is the 6 inches of space for the the ends or the sides? Where will your filler be - on one end? It might help if we could better understand your proposed layout.
I don't think the alcove makes it hard to bathe.

We have the Kohler Greek tub, which is 48" x 32" and close to 24" inches deep, installed in an alcove (actually really two and a half sides of the tub). The Greek tub is really like a Japanese soaking tub. It is a drop in tub. We occasionally use it as a shower--no door or curtain--so we added a tile flange before tiling over.

We built a step in front of the tub and have 3" of decking around the side and a half that is not enclosed.

It is great and does not feel uncomfortable at all.

Just spotted this on Houzz - would this work?

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[Contemporary Bathtubs[(https://www.houzz.com/products/contemporary-bathtubs-prbr1-br~t_482~s_2103) by Other Metro Bedding & Bath Zen Bathworks

Thanks for your responses, I'm sorry I didn't explain myself well. The issue I'm fretting over is really how to construct a surround with a deck for a drop-in or undermount tub when I really only have about 2 inches to use on each end of the tub.

I don't see a lot (any, really) of drop in or undermount with such a narrow band of deck. I also looked for a drop-in that had a wide rim/lip to allow for the framing to support the tub without extending beyond the tub rim/lip. Does such a thing exist?

I'm thinking that constructing a third, pony wall would allow me to put the 60" tub all the way in the corner with only the 3" deep pony wall on the other end. But would the three wall alcove be unnecessarily confining, given that I'm not using the tub to shower?

I'll see if I can paste my floor plan to better explain.

nycbluedevil: The Kohler greek tub is what is in the bathroom currently! I do like it, we're moving it to the basement for a later bath. The prior owners put it in, and if the rest of the room wasn't so poorly done (my current shower leaks into the dining room below), we'd keep it. But the tub is currently under a window and cold. I really want an air bath with heat since we're going to need to gut anyway.

numbersjunkie: I've seen Zen baths before, and you're right, it solves my deck issue. I'm going to look and see if they offer more than soaking tubs.

I have a drop in tub that goes from wall to wall on both ends. In other words I do not have the "tiny slivers of quartz or stone for the top of the surround which would look odd and serve little purpose" that you are concerned about.

My tub happens to be 65" long but a 60" tub could be installed the same way
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Kohler has several air bubble message tubs and some whirlpool tubs that are 60 inches long that might work for you.

Here are a few:
Archerî K-1947-GW-O
60" x 30" drop-in BubbleMassage⢠air bath with Bask⢠heated surface and reversible drain
Drop in cut out 58-1/2â²â² x 28-1/2â²â²

Underscoreî K-1168-G-0
60" x 32" drop-in BubbleMassage⢠Air Bath
Drop in cut out 59-1/2â²â² x 31-1/2â²â²

Tea-for-Twoî K-852-GO-O
BubbleMassage⢠Air Bath 60" x 32" drop-in bath

Devonshireî K-1357-GW-O or K-1357-G-O
60" x 32" drop-in BubbleMassage⢠Air Bath with or without Bask⢠heated surface and reversible drain
Drop in cut out 58 x 30

Raesjudicata we have the same exact issue. I didn't want to give up 1/2 wall between the toilet and the other side is a half wall where the shower will start, did not want to make the shower any smaller, but the shower was our priority not the tub. We are would have preferred a drop in but went with the Maax Rubix alcove tub.

Badgergal, is your tub the Mariposa? Yours looks great, and like you, I would have room for a ledge on either side. I think I'm wrong on this issue. Even without the pony wall, yours would look good. I just kept seeing these massive tub surrounds in all the ideabooks. (Plus, I'm probably reacting to my last remodel where my contractor mis-ordered the quartz and then wanted to debate it. We finally patched it with just such a "sliver" and it looks great.)

Thanks so much for the picture, very helpful.

BergiesGirl -- do you at all regret the alcove or wish you had the open space around the tub (when bathing)?

raesjudicata, I guess you know your tubs. Yes my tub is the Mariposa. Whirlpool tubs don't get a lot of love on this forum but I like having one. I did downsize from a 72x42 tub to this 66x 36 tub so that I could make the shower 6 inches wider.
Good luck with your remodel.