I've had my eye on a Toto Clayton tile-in airbath for a while. I can't say they are any better than a kohler or other brand; we just stumbled on it because we'd already bought a toto clayton toilet and thought we might stay in the same line as we redo the bath. As for the step depth, I remember reading about the design work of Shusaku Arakawa and Madeline Gins, who believe that we can defy death through architecture. They believe that houses that are physically challenging to live in are better, and their designs are frankly crazy by any standards we are accustomed to. I rolled my eyes when I first read about their work. One of their designs required crash helmets and hiking boots to tour, and some visitors broke bones. (I couldn't make this up if I tried!). But as bizarre as their designs are (you can check out their website at reversibledestiny.org), it did make me start to wonder, what if our houses required us to move and stretch a little more than they do now? So while I don't want to live in a house where visitors regularly fall and break bones, it seems to me that a navigating a deep step into tub is not asking for that much, especially if you have grab bars in the right places and a non-slip floor next to the tub. I suppose an indigenous hunter-gatherer would roll their eyes at our sedentary coddled lifestyle and think we're crazy to live in a way that allows diabetes and heart disease to become epidemic. So go ahead and get that airbath. Maybe you'll live a little bit longer :-) Here is a link that might be useful: toto clayton airbath.

I have had a Hydrosystems Fuji 6040 fiberglass for years and find it wonderful... sitting in a dry tub in a show room isn't a very good way to judge the comfort, since when the tub is full of water your body is almost weightless and very little pressure is put on your body. I put my overflows on the deck of the tub, so as to get the full 32 inch depth immersion. This placement of the overflows means you must recess the tub an additional 6 inches into the deck and tile the recess to make it waterproof when the tub overflows during vigorous activity. I use two 50 gallon 40,000 BTU hot water heaters to fill the tub through a one inch copper line with ball valves and side spout. The filling takes about 5 minutes. I also have installed the Fuji in some of my apartment units and the tenants love them. Here in Venice Beach, California, the cost of filling the tub is about 50 cents total for the water and the gas to heat the water. Feel free to contact me for any questions.

I wouldn't give up the tub because it really makes the bathroom. I think the Master Bath is more of a master with a soaking tub. I would never give up 2 sinks. It wouldn't be good for our marriage to be fighting over the sink. I like the privacy of the toilet area in your first drawing. I would go with the smaller shower with the tub. I have had a 36" by 36" shower for years. A 6'2' large build husband, who is comfortable in there. We are going to make our new shower 36" x 48" because we have the space. I agree with someone else don't put the bench seat in. I think tile also gives you more space as opposed to a fiberglass surround which adds a couple inches to the interior walls. I considered going into my closet for a 60" shower but I don't think it is worth it. I will make the smaller shower elegant and put top features in it.

I am putting one of the Japanese soaking tubs in my bathroom remodel. I don't like lying down in the tub. I have visited a few spas in California that have these soaking tubs set up. I found them very comfortable. Mine will share the shower area just like a traditional Japanese shower area. I am getting an acrylic tub probably from Hydrosystems (Fuji 40x40). My config will look something like this. Mine will not have steps as you will be able to sit on the ledge and swing your legs into the tub from the shower area. There was a gwebber that did a shower with the beverly from Americh. Good luck!