Thanks, gardenweb. We really appreciate the frank input on our shower trainwreck. To answer the specific questions: 1. There's a custom fabricated copper pan under the mud, which was installed by the plumber. This is in a a basement, and the copper sits directly on the slab with nothing else underneath it. 2. Yes, we may have forgotten to pull a permit. This turns out to be a pretty forgetful town. I'll deal with the plumber who caused this mess, but priority #1 is keeping this project on track. 3. There is no corresponding cement board on the interior of the curb, yet. It's just exposed copper right now. I'm planning to attach durock there, but please let me know if that's a bad idea. 4. The attached picture shows the "corrected" mud job. We spent a good deal of time measuring and fabricating a form which would allow us to achieve a good slope, and I'm pretty confident this will drain (and plan to test before tiling). So I've at least got one vote for ripping it all out and starting fresh from live_wire_oak. Frankly, that scares me a little, and I'd appreciate any further thoughts folks have about the pros and cons of tearing it out vs proceeding with the added mud. Please don't be shy if we need a little tough love here. Here is a link that might be useful: Corrected mud job

"What size lamps are standard for bedside table &/or night tables? " There is no "standard". Lamp height would depend on the height of your bed, the height of your tables, and what you need the lamps for.

there's a couple nice things here......I might center the head chair on wall opposite powder room entry....and even move table back toward that wall when you don't need seating for 8. that clears a nicer wider area around your windows and possibility of small plant stands/etc with the light flowing in from windows[I assume] So this means moving table closer to couch and up closer to top non-window wall as well......you are off-setting it somewhat....I would probably pick a "close to ceiling fixture" so you don't have that longer drop and conspicuousness of a chandy..but that's just me...over time....I prefer to have more flexibility...some people leave the same postion of everything for the long haul. Enjoy your new space.......

You'll be lucky to find a short enough end table that is 30" let alone 36". They often range between 24" and 28"