Not too late at all-- we have not even broken ground yet, I am just trying to get all the decisions made, or at least narrowed down, as soon as I can. I'm glad to hear you like the Andrea, and that you found the 60 x 32 to be comfortable. That is the one I have tentatively decided on, even though I haven't found one to sit in. I looked really carefully at the specs and it seems the closest in back slope and arm rests to the tub I have now, even though this one is much longer. I do like the modern lines as well. Are you doing the drop-in or undermount? I guess if i do a tile deck, I'll have to do the drop-in, but it should look fine. (You are so right, a lot of the modern sleek-looking tubs have way to straight of a back for me.)

> Anyone have any suggestions????? Yes. You're spending *your* money. You've wanted a jetted tub for 20 years. Get what YOU want, not what the contractor finds more convenient or easier to install. And don't fall for the "it will help resale value" ploy. Neither you nor your contractor or anyone else knows what a future buyer will want. They may well want a big whirlpool tub. I certainly would. If possible, post a floorplan here, or at least a more detailed description. The feasibility of moving walls around depends whether the wall is structural or load-bearing (i.e., holding the house up, as opposed to just being there just as a partition to divide two rooms) and whether there is plumbing or ductwork in that wall. There is plenty that can be done with 24 inches. A pantry cabinet is one possibility. An all-in-one laundry machine is another (usually when I suggest this, I'm greeted with "why would I want that? I already have a washer and dryer in the basement". Once they have one, the same people tell me, "how did I ever get by without one?" It's so convenient not to have to run down to the basement to do the laundry, once to load the washer, a second time to do move the clothes to the dryer, a third time to empty the dryer and bring up a basket of clothes. Instead, this one machine, conveniently located right where you disrobe, turns dirty clothes into clean, dry clothes without any further action on your part. Did I mention how convenient it is to have your cleaned and dried clothes a few feet away from the closet you're going to hang those clothes in? It doesn't even require any outside ducting since the dryer can send removed water down the washer drain, so it's easy to install without major modifications. It fits under a countertop. Get one!) A third possibility since you're near a closet is to add a wet-bar type sink and/or fridge, which can include a freezer and/or icemaker. If like me you enjoy a cool drink or snack near bedtime, or breakfast in bed, it's great not to have to run down to the kitchen. Towel warmers, pants pressers, or a nice plant can also fill the space. Anyway, stick to your guns on this one. There are some 5-foot tubs that are wide enough for two - some are wide only on one end, or only in the middle, which can help them fit in tight spaces. But there's no getting around that 6 foot tubs are much more comfortable - you can stretch out in a way you can't in a 5' tub. IMO, it's worth whatever it takes to make it fit. Sometimes, if expanding into the closet makes the closet too small, you can expand the closet on the other side and make the bedroom (or another adjoining room) a few feet smaller - the space is usually much more valuable in the bathroom. Also, a small closet can seem bigger if the space is optimised through careful placement of shelves, pull-outs, drawers, and the like. Be creative. Don't spend alot on a renovation and not get what you really want. It's your house, not your contractor's. It's just one more job for him, and he's not the one who will spend years living with the results of his work. If he refuses to do what you asked for, find another contractor. I've generally found 6' (or longer) rectangular or oval tubs to be more comfortable for two than 5' corner tubs, but try to find a showroom with the one you want to buy and try it out. Try to get opinions from people (IRL or online) who have installed or own them as to such things as noise level which are not apparent from brochures. I've been in some tubs that are so noisy when the jets are on that they drown out any conversation, especially if they are configured so you lie down facing each other rather than side by side. I personally prefer tubs that are shaped so they're comfortable either when bathing side by side/in the same direction, or in opposite directions facing each other. This means a sloped back at both ends, which detracts from length somewhat and is another reason I like the longer 6' (or at least 5 1/2') tubs better. A good rheostat on both water jets and air jets is crucial, especially for the latter. Lots of tiny air bubbles floating upward are quieter and feel better than large air bubbles that quickly reach the surface and pop, rather than clinging to your body and slowly working their way upward. For water jets, a large amount of water moving slowly feels better than a small amount of water pushed forcefully through multitudes of small jets, which poke and prod parts of your body uncomfortably rather than creating a real whirlpool or river-rapids effect. Waterfalls are a nice touch; handshowers are a must-have. I don't quite get the math as you state it - 13 ft. seems like plenty to install a big tub *and* a big shower. What gives?

I have a cast iron clawfoot (I know you said you weren't interested in those specifically) which we love. My husband is 6'5" and has trouble fitting into regular sized tubs; the clawfoot is deep and he can get a good soak. We looked at the Victoria and Albert tubs, but decided on the clawfoot because we found a great deal on a used one on craigslist and it matched the period of our house (1910 bungalow). Neither of us miss having the deck. We are struggling with finding storage, but that is a general issue we are having with the overall bathroom, not specific to the tub. When reading I'll just put my magazine, book or paper on the floor next to the tub. It's not that inconvenient to lean over and pick it up again over the edge of the tub. I don't have any problems getting in and out of the tub, and I've had foot surgery like you would not believe. I've had my ankle, leg, and foot surgically reconstructed 9 times in the past 6 years. While I'm no longer on crutches, I am significantly disabled (makes many DIY projects very difficult for me). I also have very poor balance and suffered nerve damage during one my surgeries so have no sensation on the bottom of my foot. I was warned that all of these issues would make it difficult for me to get in and out of a clawfoot tub, but I just hold onto the opposite side for balance and have no trouble. I have good days and bad days, and on bad days I sit on the edge of the tub and just swing my legs over. I don't think using the clawfoot tub is any more difficult than a regular shallower tub. This was my foot last year, you can see that it was pretty messed up. Even though I had a regular tub during this procedure and only recently got the clawfoot, I'm still recovering from the surgery.

Thanks. I revisited today and think a low profile built in tub makes the most sense (especially after I ditched the "future buyers/renters might want" part). My GC believes we can fit a 3' x 4' shower plus a 5-foot tub, so I guess I'll trust him and start choosing tile, faucets, etc.! As for that window in our oversized water closet....it was already installed when I arrived today. We have a full-sized window door at the shower end of the bathroom, so at least that will offer plenty of light on that end. Another photo of this space. Still trying to decide whether to place tub on right or left. If I place it on the left, my ears will have a bit more peace when my husband takes his 4:30 am shower. But if I place the shower on the right, we can do a sloped floor drain and do the open/curbless shower thing (trying to years ahead).