We are going with a freestanding in our new master bath both because we like the looks and also with our layout it worked better. Given the cost of a good tiling job I'm not sure a built-in would have been less expensive than a standalone. We had 2 drop-in tubs (one to be removed with shower stall) and one of them still in-- acrylic-- which we put in 12 years ago and somewhat regret now because it flexes and the grout cracked over time so it has needed a lot of maintenance. (this is mostly because of the material we chose). But when our kids were younger they loved the bubbles!

I'm a little gun-shy as far as trying another brand that I'm not familiar with. When I originally researched this, I went with the Cheviot tub filler based on not finding complaints. Boy, was that stupid. Because in hindsight, I didn't find glowing reviews either. The Cheviot tub filler continues to run full force for about 6 seconds after shutting off the water and then drips for another 10 seconds, leaving a puddle of water on the floor behind the tub. The wand does the same thing. According to Cheviot, this is normal. I'll be damned if I'm setting out a bowl to catch dripping water every time I use my brand new tub. I have had good luck with Kohler, Moen, Grohe, and to a lesser extent, Hansgrohe. I intend to stick with something from those brands. There is a comparable filler by Toto that's a stretch but probably no more expensive than building the pedestal, topping it with quartz, re-doing the wainscot, painting, buying a roman deck set etc. I need to find some glowing reviews about Toto!

Email a few manufacturers. Tell them in one sentence you want flex lines, remote valves, and high flow. like the examples you will give them, the ABC and the YXZ. They will all respond. It's all mix and match these days, with remotes and flex lines. Last week I saw that Kohler's Oblo 3/4" valves would do fine for what you need. Geberit's Cascading Overflow will also do fine. In Italian, "erogazione" or erogation will bring up some other results like this. The tub fills from the same place as the overflow hole. Any remote valve will do.

Is the den a feature of the master bedroom? How does the bath relate to the master? You don't want to get to the front door and remember to go back and get a jacket in that closet; what a trek! I think the den closets need to be incorporated into a gutted bath to add some square footage into the footprint of the bath. Put dual sinks under the two windows and put a free standing tub out in the floor area so it can be a feature, and so your housekeeper can keep the floor around it clean. You could also incorporate the WIC into the bath and change the den to a dressing room/closet.