I ordered mine from Vintage Tubs on 1/19 and it's supposed to leave the warehouse on 1/31. Since I haven't gotten it yet, I can't say for sure that it will be as wonderful as I hope, but I'll be finding out soon. I am impressed with their service so far - they quickly answered my questions, told me when and how the tub would ship, and sent an email to tell me exactly how to inspect the tub and what to write on the shipping receipt to protect myself in case there is damage during shipping. It's a 5' tub with great dimensions (the lean back is better for me than some tubs) and it cost $979 before the $100 discount I got for also ordering a tub drain and tub faucet. And the shipping is free.

I'm buying a Sunrise specialty slipper tub with deck mount hardware. I decided on this tub because I felt it was very high quality cast iron. I have a very small space and they make a small 54" slipper tub which is smaller than most. Sunrise doesn't sell direct so I'm buying it through Vintage Tub and bath (http://www.vintagetub.com/asp/clawfoot_tubs.asp) who has good prices, good customer phone service and offers custom exterior painting which I am having done. The Sunrise web site is also responsive and I met the Sunrise manager of Sales at a trade show in NYC and found that meeting additionally useful in making my decision about exactly what version I wanted. If you can see the tub you are buying in person it really does help. Note that if you get a deck mounted faucet rather than wall mounted that your tub will hold deeper water, if it matters to you. Standard tub typically holds more water than slipper tub.

Sadly, this is an excuse I don't "need" =) This bath was suppose to be at the bottom of my to-do list.....right after the refinishing the whole-house hardwood, new windows, farmhouse shed rebuild, etc etc etc. I'm concerned because the joist undernearth the bathroom is moist and I can see white residue/mold(?). I don't think it's a sudden thing. I suspect the plumbing heading the shower is leaking. There is no way to access it from the shower. The shower is an all tiled enclosure. I guess I could open up the back wall in the kitchen to get to it, but then what? The plumbing is galvanized. Fixtures solidly on there....couldn't even remove the showerhead. To add to that, it seems like the drain area is wet too. That's a big junk of the shower area right there. I was going to do everything except the shower area (wallpaper, old tile, etc) but now it looks like a complete gut job. I'm leaning with Option 4 too......as this would give me my tub in the house and fix the problem of how to route the new exhaust fan (theres none now). There is window in the pantry, so if I did it right, the tub would be right next to window. I have to watch the Money Pit again to motivate me =)

Thanks everyone, By "very dated" I meant awkward - thats as kind as I can be. The best label I can come up with for this house style is contemporary mountain. But this bathroom was late 70's early 80's uber country, I couldn't see how it fit with the rest of the home. But after many many hours looking at design photos I think I can make it work visually, it just really doesn't seem very practical. But I guess practical isn't everything! We have had 3 pre-1850's houses before, so I understood them in that context, it just took me a while to see that it a claw foot could also work in a more contemporary setting. sushipup1 - I'm not terribly worried about the first round of interest rate hikes - maybe I should be - but when we bought in spring 2004 rates were on the rise and it seemed like houses were snapped up as fast as they were listed because buyers were trying to get in before the rates went higher. Anyway thats what I'm telling myself. Plus we are moving to the other side of the country and wanted to give DH time to settle into his new job before having to decide on a new place to live.