Meh, the area is weird. Rural, approx 35 mins outside D.C. and Annapolis MD, mix of farmland (what we're building on) and subdivisions. Most houses on our road are older bungalows/ranch (but not cute Sears type bungalows) mix of siding and brick. There are McMansions interspersed with Cape Cods... there's no predominant style or architecture. The houses on either side of the lot are completely different from one another- and we will def be the rose between thorns.

All that being said, this house is most likely our forever home, and if not that, at least a 20+ year home. I don't think doing kids bathrooms with sort of builder grade materials would be out of place, but I might be biased, again, lazy.

I am doing granite countertops, I *think* Fantasy Brown, mostly because I love the stone, and got a really good price on remnants. Soo, thinking about your comment regarding level of materials, I see where you're going. If I'm willing to do real stone, as opposed to cultured marble, I should match that level and do tile. Otherwise do

Sigh. Would sheet goods still be out of place? It's so much easier to vacuum and mop than tile. Unless someone has a good idea for tile?

What type of sheet goods are you talking about? Vinyl tile? Is it waterproof?

What about a mottled tile with a medium gray grout that won't show as much dirt?

Bottom line though is it's your custom house so do what works for you. However having said that, we had a preformed shower in one bathroom and when we ripped it out, there was water damage behind the walls. Just make sure no matter what you choose to waterproof properly.

Another vote for preformed showers not being in anyway perfect. I just ripped out a few and considered switching to tub and tile.

The issue with ours is that they had foam for stabilization of the floor. Foam deteriorates and then the floor cracked. Mortar much better but just a reminder that one piece are not infallible.

I have a 7 yo boy who has grown up in a tile and tub. The bathtub tile is not an issue. The grout around the toilet is a bit of one. But a big deal - no.

I know things are regional but I haven't seen sheet vinyl used in a new home in a long time let alone a custom home. We built a super cheap rental house that has tile floors - but one piece showers. Vinyl rips, shrinks, burns, stains. If you have never had old vinyl, you need to look at some. Tile is pretty durable. Just to give you an idea of what this house is like - vinyl siding, vinyl windows, thermafoil cabinets, no crown etc.

Interestingly, the worst cheap out we did was the showers and I wish we did better tubs and tile.

I feel like the one piece units are hard to keep looking clean / shiny. I can't see these in a custom build, truly. A classic white subway tile won't break the bank and will have staying power.

Also - you might consider one bath with a shower only - I am doing this in a guest bath - it's helpful for older guests who don't have to step over a tub ledge to take a shower, and 95% (+?) of the time, a tub / shower combo is used as a shower...

We're building a custom home and also decided to go with one-piece shower/tub combo units in our kids' bathrooms with a similar setup as yours - the 2 boys will share a bath and the girl gets her own. Ours is in an upscale gated community and we plan to live here a loooong time. We'll still tile their bathroom floors, and we're using other high-end finishes elsewhere in the home, but I'd rather put the extra money into something the kids would truly enjoy rather than tile in their showers.

I grew up with a family that had a one piece, but it was nicer than anything I had ever seen. This style with the tile look a like. The price range is all over. http://www.homedepot.com/p/STERLING-All-Pro-30-in-x-60-in-x-74-in-Bath-and-Shower-Kit-with-Right-Hand-Drain-in-White-61040120-0/202952873

I had this debate with myself 11 years ago when we were renovating our current home. In the end we decided to do separate tile and tub for the kids bath and the guest bath. We used basic white subway tile in both, so it was inexpensive and easy to decorate around. Since my kids were about 5, they have been responsible for keeping their bathrooms clean. The level of clean has gotten better as they've gotten older, but they've learned a few tricks along the way to make it easier.

Scrubbing Bubbles with bleach is their friend. They spray the shower walls and where the tile meets the tub once a week. If they keep up with that, they rarely have to scrub the tile. We've lived here for 11 years and their tile and grout looks brand new.

In our area, custom homes frequently have one piece combo units in the spare baths. These are usually done with tile from the top of the unit surround up to the ceiling. When the shower curtain is closed it gives the appearance of being totally tiled. I'm having a hard time with this decision as well, our foundation is going in now so I will need to know soon. I feel like I will do one piece units with tile above and tile floors and granite tops.

I think I'm leaning towards a tub and tile option, (and granite countertop and tile floor too).

This area has a wide range of acceptability in design and resale. I'm not too worried about matching the market. But, I can see the value in both and am not married to either vision, design wise, but I think it may save money and/or a reno in the future, to go slightly more upscale, now.

It will def be a subway tile, which I agree has a classic, timeless look.

I do have a first floor bath that will be a tiled shower only, but the upstairs bath that my son will share as a guest bath needs a tub- many overnight visitors have little kids, too.

Thank you so much for all your input! I love this place!

Thank goodness you decided to nix the sheet flooring. We have that in our rental now. Never again.

Inevitably, when the kids overflow the tub, or splash too much, or dump buckets of water over the side, the sheet peels right up. I can't wait to have tile again.

We've never had that problem with a sheet good, but maybe it's the brand and/or installation; my husband's cousin does all our flooring, (which we get at wholesale costs yay!), and is excellent. Won't touch tile though, so hopefully one of the -few- tile guys I've gotten numbers for will call me back. Apparently tile-workers are dwindling in our area, but that's another conversation.