In our last home, we used Brecchia Oniciata marble slabs on the tub deck, which was in the middle of the bathroom and open on 3 sides. I sat on the marble all the time and it had a candelabra and bubble bath bottles on it as well...no problems whatsoever. In our almost-complete new construction home, we went with Crema Marfil slabs on the tub deck, shower seat, shower shelf niches and shower thresholds. No experience with cracking and they're completely installed, so as Bill says, I don't think there will be any problems since it's set already. Don't know about etching yet, but we won't be placing any items on the shower seat anyway. It's personal preference, but I would opt to do slab in any material over tile for the shower seat, for both looks and comfort. We had emperador marble tiles on the tub deck and shower seat in a previous home and although it was nice, I do love the slabs so much better. YMMV!

Thank you everyone for bearing with me as I wade through all the different options. budge1: glad to hear I am no alone in second guessing all my decisions. Do give us all an update! I certainly have not made any decisions. I bought a yard of drapery fabric at CC because I wanted to see all the colors in the fabric and I know that is part of my indecision. I'm also thinking of making a couple of bolster cushions for the bergere chairs with the material. BTW, squirrel, I never bought any chair fabric. The chairs were always meant to be a focal point and if you recall, many of the fabrics I was considering were $$. I brought in all fabrics and swatches of the existing wall colors to get their opinion as computer monitors can be deceptive. They first off suggested a gold, but did see the issue of it looking good near the Oat Straw--since both are neutrals, one with more green, the other with more yellow. Then they suggested going a shade darker than the sofa/drapes, but didn't seem too enthused about a terra cotta. At BM, I fould a lovely shade of terra cotta, audubon russet; that is until the salesperson told me it would be too intense to put on all the walls. If I took it a shade less, we would then be thinking about pink. He started steering me towards Wilmington Tan and Tyler Taupe. He liked Tyler Taupe the best as he felt it blended well with all my fabrics plus the Oat Straw. Unfortunately, they were out of the sample paint for Tyler Taupe though it will come in tomorrow and they don't make it in Willington Tan so I'd have to buy a quart. So, tomorrow I plan to go again and pick up some samples, In the meantime, here are the swatches for you to see. The russet is to the upper left near the flower (I tried to match to that), and then left to right are: Willmington Tan, Oat Straw, Tyler Taupe, and False Cypress. I am so confused right now which direction to go--everyone seems to have a different take on it. At this point, I do know I want to paint the entry--the living room I am still at a loss. The more I see the fabrics together the more I like them. I just need something to tie it all together at the same time be an accent to the trim which is in Swiss Coffee. I know these are not on the wall, but perhaps you can take a look and at least let me know if I'm headed in the right direction and which samples to buy.

I think black/charcoal trim will be too stark of a contrast. I would do the sage green that you posted above with the bottom "white" of your paint samples, which looks like the softest white...and closest to all of your inspirations.

I'm doing some renos to a 30 year old house that used to be my parents' house. One decision leads to another and next thing you know you're redoing the whole house! I have ordered white vinyl replacement windows (no dividers) and am now regretting it, but it's too late. They are installing as I speak. I need help deciding what color to paint the trim. Please see the photo of the house below, taken before the new white window install. The second photo is just to show you what the new front doors will look like (stained wood with 6 lights, but double doors) I've thought of using white on the trim, but do I try to match the windows, go warmer and creamier, or something else? I'm all "decisioned" out!