hi there - I so feel your pain! We faced this same decision 3 years ago. We live in a neighborhood with most homes from the 1920's - many have been redone - but even if we moved and bought one of those, there would be a lot of aesthetics we would want to change. :) We too factored in all of the costs associated with selling, moving, etc.. it is an expensive process (never mind also ending up with the more expensive house) We needed a master bed and bath (tiny bedrooms and one upstairs bath does not work with 2 growing boys!), and a larger more functional kitchen. We elected to add on and remodel and every day I am thankful we did. One, we got to keep our great location and our awesome neighbors (having had not great neighbors in the past, this was important to me) and two, I got to remodel exactly how I wanted things - which meant we spent money on what was important to us, and did not spend money on what was not. (I have seen a lot of expensive kitchens in our neighborhood that I would not have wanted to pay for) We had an architect draft our plans first then we bid out the work. Times were a little tough for contractors in our area, so we got some competitive bids - we ended up with a gem of a contractor and that made the decision easy at that point. We did things to save money like staying in the house during construction, buying our own tile (from Overstock) and other little things like that. And then we splurged on what was important to us. I would do it again in a heart beat - there are so many unknowns with moving (traffic noise, unknown neighbors...) so I say if you are happy with where you are - change the house since you cannot change location. Most importantly, you will get to make the house exactly how you want it to be. Good luck with the process - keep GW posted - it is exciting!! laura Here is a link to my photobucket account which has some of our remodel noted - http://s817.photobucket.com/albums/zz95/LaurainLincoln/

Very nice change! Thanks for doing the side-by-side photos of the old and the new. I love the new look. All of your choices are charming. How are you liking the vessel sink? Do you find that you keep your splashes well contained? Our remodel will give us a vessel sink, too. I am feeling apprehensive!

OK, I've reread all(I think) of your posts now and I see your point about the wainscotting not really being truly visible in such a small space. You have options, but I really think the wood plank is not the way you should go, it is very far from what was your original inspiration. I am not sure it will make you happy. I think I would do the wainscotting, scaled down to fit the space. Layout/draw specifically the layout for each wall segment, the 36' toilet wall, the long wall next to the toilet, the sink wall. This is homework that will make the difference. The marble inset band needs to be fairly wide, maybe 6", it would be just at the level of the sinktop. Carry the marble band around the pony wall endcap, you could continue it around the shower, but I think you said you didnt want to. Top the pony wall with a marble sill. My only doubt in the cohesiveness, the peacefulness of this plan, is the two cabinets you want to put over the toilet(assuming I am remembering that correctly), I think they will make it heavy. So I would want to hold off on those until the space is complete and then decide. I think a chrome(I am assuming your finish is chrome) train shelf might be better to hold towels, yes it will not provide as much storage but perhaps it could do. I think this gives you the classic look you were inspired by.

Prefer all ONE kind of tile or marble in the shower. While well placed darker or lighter trim can be a really good look, especially if the tile/marble isn't going all the way to the ceiling, all to often the end result of mixing types of tiles or different colors can end an create a look that suggests supply or affordability issues. But then, I prefer symmetry to chaos. As to the showers shown: Would NOT want huge permanent seat crowding my shower - would prefer more room without making the shower truly huge ... but if that is something you would actually want/use, go for it. All that glass along with all those windows would not be my first choice either -- would prefer the glass only on one one side of the shower and, preferably, not a side directly across from or visible from the windows. Even if you live in a very isolated location, there's hunting season and/or trespassers and /or children... visiting or your own family ... to consider Unless, of course, you simply have no inhibitions or are an exhibitionist or nudest anyway ... then go for it : to each his/her own. I also like having the steam from my shower warm up the space (helps with sore muscles and arthritis) so a really wide and totally open top wouldn't necessarily be my first choice either. If, however, you keep your bedroom and bath warm enough to not want that warmth to accumulate in the shower, the wide open top would work for you.