Eh, I don't think so. While freestanding tubs are lovely, showers are practical. And while showering in a freestanding tub is possible, the all-around shower curtains don't look easy to use -- especially for a child.

I'd stick with a plain old shower-over-tub.

I think your bathroom planner is allowing aesthetics to overcome practicality. I agree that it makes the most sense to put in a shower since you have bathtubs elsewhere. Does your daughter want to take the time to run a bath each time she wants to get clean? If that ever becomes a guest room, wouldn't most guests prefer a shower over a bathtub if they had to choose?

Yes, the question is, aesthetics over practicality. And in a bathroom, where real life happens and you're frequently in a hurry, practicality means keeping the water where it should be: Inside the tub/shower. That's not a freestanding tub's strong point.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess to clarify we would have another bathroom downstairs that is a tub/shower combo which is usable and yet another downstairs that we will eventually redo. Our master bathroom is a shower only bathroom. So the house will have additional showers, with the downstairs ones being for any guests.

My daughter could go downstairs for a shower, but perhaps this would be an issue in resale. It would just be really nice to have a deep soaking tub somewhere in the house, rather than being limited to shower/tub combos!

No guest wants to be confronted with a soaker tub when all they want is a quick shower. Neither does your daughter. No one needs a double vanity in a guest bath either. Storage is more important.

Your designer is kooky, and I'd now view much of her suggestions with a high degree of suspicion as to their practicality. Not to mention expense. Creating a soaker tub out of a tub shower instead of just replacing the tub shower will cost you at least 5K more. Does she get a commission on the total cost of the project rather than have a flat fee?

Make a decision based on what works for you and your family. Having only
a freestanding tub is not a bad idea. If your daughter or guests prefer
to shower then perhaps they can use another bathroom.

I'd rather have the opposite: That is, the shower next to my bedroom ... and be free to go to another, less convenient bathroom when I feel like taking a bath.

Nice design. Horrible function.

I can't live without my shower and the thought of bathing in my own dirt and BO grosses me out.

Go downstairs for a shower? Yikes. Who wants to schlep around their change of clothes or have to be robed walking around the house?

I'd opt to give her privacy and respect.

I just got rid of a tub/shower combo in a secondary bathroom and turned it into a nicer and larger tiled shower. I would have a big issue with buying your house, if the only other bathroom upstairs had a freestanding tub and nothing else. Not practical at all.

Devils advocate here because it happened to my brother's family recently. They live in an older neighborhood in a small college town in East Texas. The neighborhood is very desirable though, and property resale values stable, even with the new subdivisions springing up. They recently moved for Jobs and put sold their home. It had been updated cosmetically throughout. A large utility room had an enclosed acrylic shower they had redone in tile as well as the rest of the room updated. The hall bath had been a tub only when they purchased 10 years ago, but was short. They tore it out, shortened the 2 sink vanity to 1 sink, and put in a long, free standing tub on a base. The master bath is small with a double vanity, shower only with the toilet right next to it. They retiled the shower and did other cosmetic updates. All these updates were done 5-6 years ago. When the house went on the market, there was a big open house. Many buyers made comments that they did not like the shower only in the master while others didn't like the tub only feature in the hall bath. Needless to say, it was not an issue for many other buyers and there was a bidding war over the home and it sold very quickly.

Do not remodel for what will work for someone else. It is not their home. They have their own home to do with what pleases them. If having a bath only bathroom works for you and your lifestyle, then by all means do that. How often do you have guests? Are you like a B & B or is it just an occasional person every few years? If a guest has a problem using a tub, they have an option down the hall. If that is too inconvenient for them as a guest in your home, there is always a hotel. Someone that high maintenance in your home may not be worth the hassle.