Well...here's a rather different idea. It's based on: --small kids who grow to be adolescents; --empty nesters using the house when the kids have left; --attempting to sell the house when it's time to downsize Build two, separate, hall oriented bathrooms, each with a space with two lavatories, and another space with a WC and tub/shower. Don't forget a linen closet for each.

"Must have is 2 vanities, toilet closet, tub and separate shower. Vanity and toilet closet are marriage peace makers." My idea kept both vanities. I simply suggested switching the location of the vanity with the tub on that left wall. If you must have full walls and a door for the toilet, you must. I'm not a bath designer so don't know the minimum footprint required for a water closet. Did I read correctly that your husband stores clothes in his bathroom vanity drawers? Does the bedroom lack clothes storage? Without changing the location or size of any element, I'm not sure how many different layouts the designer could have proposed.

You may have already thought about this, but dimmer switches will make whatever lighting scheme you decide on more flexible. Also, think about where furniture will be before placing the recessed lighting. 18 months ago we moved into a 25 year old house that had a finished basement (also with some windows, like yours). While they at least had dimmers on the recessed lighting, the placement of some of the cans was puzzling, even considering where they had their furniture when we saw the house before purchasing (the previous owners did the basement fit-out). I like the one room that has cans in the four corners and a central fixture which is a semi-flush 3-light (the cans are placed about two feet from the walls). The result is that the room is lit very evenly without the use of any table or floor lamps. I use the room for an office so I have a desk lamp for task lighting. Even if you don't use the other part of your basement, if you finish it so it could be used for a family room it will be good for your resale value. The next owners may want to put their teenagers down there with a big television. :-) I love the idea of the full bathroom. That is something I don't have in mine.

If you have a plumber you trust, the first call should go to him.