Do a google search on "design a shower system" and words like that. I was really intimidated when we started designing our system, too! I found two or three sites that had great little descriptions and even "wizards" that helped you pick all the right components. Basically you will need one valve that controls the water temperature (that can be a thermostatic or pressure balanced. if you're doing a luxurious shower definitely get thermostatic!) and then you will want a volume control valve (on/off/how much water comes out) for each of the seperate things you have: showerhead, hadnshower, jets. With that configuration you could theoretically have all three on at once, and as studio460 noted, you better be sure you have enough water pressure and volume to handle that, and likely oversized supply lines as well. Another way to handle it is to decide what's likely to be on at the same time. For instance, if you thought you'd have the showerhead on and EITHER the jets or the handshower, you could have a volume control for the shower, and a volume control for the other two, plus a diverter to choose between those two. Keep in mind that MOST companies sell the valves and the "trim" (the actual handle you see) seperately. So for instance you will need the $250+ valve PLUS the ~$175 trim for EACH combination. It can add up really, really fast!

Thank you for the input. I agree that the ceramic looks softer and seems to bring out the colors in the listello better. Chris, I also noticed the stripe effect near the edges of the glass tile. It turns out that if you cover the edge of the tile (as the grout will do), the stripe disappears. It is light coming in the side of the tile. These glass tiles have the color applied to the back, it is not colored all the way through like the tiles you use in your mosaics are. BTW, I could see that the piece you used to show how grout changes the look of the piece looked different after the grout, but I could not quite tell what was grout, I think the light shining through the clear portions confused my eye. What color is the grout? Maybe I can figure it out if I know that. It sure is a beautiful piece. I love looking at your work and I find myself looking at old used furniture and thinking, "Chris could put a real cool design on that piece!" ML, it is good to hear you and DH have arrived safely at your southern home! I have to say that you had more confidence than I did about where that door was. I figured I would be cleaning out the garage to find it hiding behind a pile of wood products.

As a fellow sufferer of middle age (beats the alternative) the sagging isn't going to stop (as any number of pulled to tight, frozen faced celebrities can attest). I wouldn't do tile, it won't give with the next sag. Get something easy to stand on that will give a little f something else should settle or sag. It will be better for you in the long run. Cork and linoleum offer lots of versatility, great colour choices and may set off you beautiful cabinetry better than more wood.

I don't have a tub recommendation other than to beware that Jacuzzi type tubs sometimes have electric controls where they cannot be used with showers. Some use pneumatic switches to be safe around water. I will say that I think your contractor's gout suggestion is one I would not use. I have always use epoxy grout around water. Near sinks and in the washroom. It costs a lot more to begin with but it is impervious to water. Not my experience with any other grout. It is also impervious to mold and grime. Comes in any color. They used to carry it at Lowes (probably still do).