Given the amount of work you have here you probably will need to make sure that the receptacles in the bath are up to code (20A circuit that has distinct restrictions on what else it can be shared with). The laundry 120V receptacle needs a dedicated 20A circuit as well. Most of the towel warmers I've seen are cord-and-plug connected, make sure there is a receptacle conveniently placed. If you're going whole hog, how about a heater to defog the mirror? Most floor heat systems want a dedicated (20A) circuit. If approved for wet locations you can mount a fan/heat unit over the tub. Some do not permit this. Those that do will want a dedicated 20A / GFCI circuit. If you plan on having an electrician final the job, you should talk to him about your plans before you do ANYTHING.

Opinions on your questions: 1. Pocket vs. swing door: I'm not a big fan of pocket doors on bathrooms because they're more of a pain to close and lock. If you close and lock bathroom doors in your house. :-) 2. Benches are not mandatory. I prefer niches for storing shampoo and soap. Benches are usually to put your leg on when shaving. If you do have one in that corner, I'd recommend a triangular shaped one instead of square. There are pre-fab, ready-to-tile benches like this: I think the shower controls are fine where you drew them, on the bottom wall. Other thoughts: 4. code says toilet back to front should be 5' clear. Can you bump the wall a few inches to attain that? 5. I'd hinge the shower door on the other side. That will allow a towel rack on the bottom wall. You can easily fit a 48" vanity in that space. I'd definitely do it. On design, the typical "period appropriate" materials would be subway tiles in the shower and hex tiles on the floor. You could use natural marble on the floor if you wanted to splurge. I used larger hex porcelain in a powder room (not technically "period" but "in the style of"): With a neutral white/gray in the permanent stuff, you could pick your favorite splash of color for the walls. Or use that dark gray that's greenish, and use accessories, towels, etc. for the color. Your dining room is to die for, btw. Great work!

My opinion will be biased because I have very similar tile in my master we redid 12 years ago. 4" squares on the diagonal for the shower floor and 12" squares on main floor and up the shower walls. Coincidentally we are in process of redoing my kids' bath the past few weeks (it was also redone 12 years ago) because a hard-to-find leak in the tub prompted us to consider replacing it....which then brought about the issue of replacing the tiled tub-surround that would be damaged...and we would also have to try to retile some spots on the floor because a new tub would be a smaller footprint leaving some bare spots once old tub was pulled out. My point is that we also had to figure out the whole, "do we do an updated 'patch job' to save a lot of money, or do we just gut it and accept the cost as the price of being at peace with it/enjoying a new look and improved function. Right or wrong...which is always a very subjective thing....we gutted it and I'm thrilled. I was not interested in painting my cabinets just to have them have peel-issues due to steam, and we also got rid of the tub altogether and opted for a stand-up/walk-in shower for my older kids. Resale was considered on this issue...but by the time we move, someone can either love it as we've made it, or we will price the house with an "allowance" in mind. The old space had hot-chocolate colored walls and 'slate' porcelain floor and tub surround...an overall warm and cozy feel but also tired and dated. The new space is a porcelain 'marble' hex with white subway walk-in shower that is awaiting glass doors...an overall calming feeling that is also bright and fresh. I now actually wish SO BADLY that I was able to redo/retile MY whole bathroom (tile similar to yours). And there's nothing wrong with my bathroom, and a planned paint job on the walls will help me like it even more...... In my kids' bathroom, however, even unfinished with the floor and shower tile installed just waiting for the rest to come together (waiting on backordered tile base moulding) ......... I walk in and just smile and breathe deeply because of the way the space now makes me feel :) So my very biased vote is to gut it ;) ;)

Well this is in the DIY section as well, if you are capable of answering the questions, why not spend a minute to answer a few? Gardenweb has really gone downhill with all the "pros" coming on. Many of the pros seem to pretty much say "hire a pro", which seems a little self serving. Ill add I have had the exact same thing done with very high quality for about 25K 5 years ago when things were not quite as hot. That contractor did give me a 15K bid (without vanities), but is too busy right now. Ill give an example of the ridiculous costs. I needed 3 vent pipes moved to the walls, shower plumbing cut off and capped and bathtub plumbing cut off and capped. The estimate to do the work from one contractor was $5500 baked into the whole remodel. When I had individual plumbers come out to do an estimate they came in at 1500 which is about what I expected. Of course the plumbers that bid 1500 are too busy to take the job (working on big jobs), which is why some plumbers can charge $300/hour. I did the work myself which took me about 6 hours in total because I work very slow and carefully. I essentially took out one vent pipe per day. I dont haggle with contractors on price, but I do know about how much things should cost. Ill add that the vast majority of labor here are illegal immigrants with no certifications or formal training.