Wow! Thank you for all the responses. I'm clipping every post so I can refer back to the great advice you've given. I think y'all are right. I'll go with the black dot rather than gray. I was just afraid the black would be too stark, but there isn't very much of it. Also, a row (or two) of black pencil liner with the white subways would be just the right amount of trim. I'd love white beadboard wainscot & it would fit since we will have it some other places in the house. That's probably something DH & I would DIY. I'll also start looking at medicine cabinets. I'm assuming that the vanity should be white. I know that's not the right faucet, so I will continue to look for a cross handle. Danze has one that is reasonable. We're getting our fixtures from Ferguson's so the Mirabelle is an option. Thanks for the link. Here's another idea. What about this decolave sink that can be partially recessed: I think that would look so nice sitting on a marble top. The only problem is that it needs a single handle faucet. There are several variations on the one below. I'm just afraid it might be too "precious", but it does make me think of the hand pump I used as a kid at my grandparent's summer home. If I go single handle, an alternative is something on the order of one of these: DH & I love, love, love toile. But, I think we will use it in the breakfast nook & keeping room, so chintz is a good choice for the guest room since it is "homey". I did a quick look online & there are so many pretty patterns. I plan to sew the drapes, pillow covers, cushion, for the window seat, etc. so I'll find a pattern that has a ton of coordinates. I may also piece together a quilted coverlet & crochet a throw in colors pulled from the fabric. I have so many shampoos, lotions, etc. from hotels that I can probably supply the guest room for a decade. LOL! Actually, once we move & I have my large crafts room, I'm going to start making soap & other toiletries again. It's real soap made with lye, but not the harsh stuff great-grandma's made. It took me months & dozens of batches to perfect my formula. Anyway, I'd like to create a "house" scent blended from several fragrance oils so our guests will bath with something unique they can only get at our house. This is going to be fun. What do y'all think about the window seat? It really is charming & DH wants it. DD and I think it might be better to omit it and have what looks like a writing table, but actually is a small desk where the guest can use their laptop. I'd keep a full size USB keyboard & mouse tucked in the pull out drawer, have a surge protected power strip for the laptop & other electronics charging & they would be good to go. Honestly, I think a guest would get more out of being able to use their laptop in some peace & quiet rather than sitting on a window seat. Yes I do wish that the door to the bath could be elsewhere. The plumbing on the lower level is fixed, but they aren't suppose to start the main level until after we go there in a few weeks for the electrical, mechanical walkthrough. The main issue with changing it would be putting the tub on the outer wall. I think a guest would rather have some natural light available for shaving, etc., than having a window in the shower. I don't really want the door opening into the toilet, but I guess we could switch the vanity & the toilet and then move the door closer to the tub. I need to think about that (quickly). I don't feel the need to make the guest suite "authentic" to any specific period, I just want it to have a feeling of nostalgia, if that makes sense. Like, the guest turns a crystal or porcelain knob to enter & something tinkles around in their brain on the order of "I remember something like that from Aunt Fanny's house." The suggestions for keeping the guests comfy are fabulous. Thank you so much. I guess what I really need help with at this stage is making a decision on the sink since that drives the faucet and the plumbing. Thanks, again - Jo Ann

aliris you and I have in common some of our concerns and similar views on them too. reluctantly I have come to a few conclusions. here are some solutions that work in spite of the negatives. in no particular order. a/ a curtain on big rings that make a noise when you whack the curtain out of the way. incredibly good even though it makes a noise. a/ 2/ a pair of curtains each one on a pivoting rod. you swing them out when you want, for sight lines, and can leave them pinned back most of the time, framing the opening. b/ bypass doors on the most silent of all on rollers. an even number of doors, not odd. with or without a base guide. c/ an expensive mirrored door on hinges d/ nothing, and ideally a layout that puts a panel in the way of the most disturbing sight line / sigh line. e/ pocket door(s) a lot depends on whether or not the closet gets closed ... Hth

There are different qualities of bifold doors so you might want to go to a good door store and see how they felt. I have a combination of closet door styles in my home. Sliding doors (IMO) work best with relatively wide closets and even then I am sometimes frustrated a bit when I need to slide back and forth. In my bedroom I also like that they function as really good full length mirrors - as well as providing a mirror image of my views. Bifolds work well because I have complete visibility and access to the entire closet and obviously the function where a swinging door would impede egress.

Honestly, I look at the layout I drew yesterday. The cabinet is nice for extra storage but I should have kept some of that space for more counter. With a 24" vanity, guests can pretty much just put a tooth brush and toothpaste. Where at the other stuff go: On the toilet seat? On the floor? some little shelves above the toilet would help (but personally I don't like that (I am always afraid that will drop (either in the toilet or on the floor very close to the toilet). Again this is your MIL house, she certainly can have any size of the bathroom she wants but 7'0" is the minimum required to be to code. She could check with her contractor.