I love the niches! Though your mom's looks built-out, not recessed between the studs. I could do that, even with the pocket door, but it would have to be very shallow as there is only 11" from the wall to the tub at the closest point. I also love the windows all the way to the deck - wish mine were lower (maybe not all the way down, but so that I could see out when sitting) but I lost the battle on that window and the one over the kitchen sink - I kept putting in bigger windows and they kept changing the plans, every time a study plan came back it had the smaller windows in again so I figured there was a structural reason and gave up. I could take out the linen closet - I've never liked linen closets in bathrooms, always take out lowest shelf to slide a hamper in and use the rest to stock up on shampoos and soaps - towels go in hallway linen closet where they won't get musty. I just need to keep a column at the front corner of the linen closet near the tub, there is a vent pipe running there - though maybe it could be relocated to the opposite wall of the closet, that is shared with the toilet/shower compartment, that's a thick wall anyway b/c of another pocket door (that slides in the opposite side - b/t the shower and the vanity which I'm not crazy about but I don't think I'm into trying to gut the unfinished bathroom around the brand-new tub and shower. Anyway, code says the controls have to be accessible from outside the tub, so faucets definitely have to go in front corner if I don't tear out the linen closet and box out around that vent pipe. I could forgo the handshower completely but it is convenient for rinsing hair and for rinsing the tub after cleaning (which I have to get into to tub to wipe so I usually clean just before or after using the tub). I could just return this small handshower and get a slightly larger one (with multiple settings!) that could mount on the deck and then I don't have to put it right in the middle, on the acrylic rim. I don't really like a big spout right near my face, would have to try it out and make sure it was far enough away not to be claustrophobic (or a hazard!) if I put it at the head of the tub instead of by the drain. The hot and cold water lines are the ones that would require 6ft hoses from the shutoff valves to the faucet handles/valves, the handshower is fine since it won't be that far from the spout (even when I had planned on it being opposite end, I just figured I'd put a 10-ft braided washing machine hose on). Maybe I will put a grab bar under the window - have to see if it really helps getting up/out. But if I were to put on on the deck for assistance getting in (I've only got a 30" inseam and the deck will be about 20" from finished floor), where would you suggest I put it? Thanks

Can you return the tub? We are getting the Mirolin Azzura Azul tub and considered returning it for the smaller Azzurra Merro, the supplier would let us return it with a 25% restocking fee, ouch!!!! Considering they still have it as the plumbing company hasn't picked it up yet. The Merro is similar to your tub but has the deck mounting option. Or you could talk to a plumber to see what your options are and if you can use free standing faucet which also can be pricey to install and buy. This post was edited by xc60 on Tue, Mar 4, 14 at 14:35

Thanks for the kind words. I call this bathroom "classic on the cheap." The subway tile is cheap american olean subway tile from lowes, $1.76/sf minus 10% coupon. The liners are the 1/2" x 6" gloss black liners also from lowes, as are the 6x6 tiles. The vine deco tiles are also from lowes. They are a slightly different color white (they are "ice white" instead of "gloss white") but you can't tell really especially with the black liner separating them. The only thing I couldn't get at Lowes was the black chair rail and I special ordered that from my local tile store. It actually cost less per piece than white chair rail from Lowes, so don't assume the big boxes always have the lowest price. It's the same exact American Olean black gloss as you find in the liners at Lowes. You can also special order the liners - for 3x the price, though I do admit that it took several trips to the store over the course of weeks/months to get enough of the liners for my project, but I used a LOT of them. They're like $1.18 a piece or something so using 150 of them is not a huge $$ outlay. The floor is once again cheap cheap cheap, it's white on white daltile octagon and dot from Home Depot, $2.29/sf minus 10% coupon. I made a border using the white and black octagon and dot. Here's a better shot of what that looked like before they covered it up: The paint is Ellen Kennon's Aqua. For more info on Ellen Kennon's paint check out the paint forum here. Her paint is NOT cheap but I used less than a gallon for the whole room so it was worth the splurge. It's gorgeous stuff.

Thanks for the link cncnh. My problem is that the tub will be in front of a bay window which will come down to about the tub rim -- not much room for a wall mount gorgeous as they are. I contacted Vintage Tub and they very helpfully informed me which brands will work with plumbing stubbed through the floor. It looks like I'm in luck. Both the Sunrise Specialty and the Strom Plumbing models should work for me! Thanks again!