Rebekah Zaveloff I would check out Lacava and Duravit for sinks like this.

imlovinknit Thanks so much for the good lead! Meant to get back to you sooner :)

Bud Dietrich, AIA If this is a remodel you'll want to consult with an architect to make sure that the structure isn't compromised. If it's a wood frame, cutting away at the existing joists and then adding the weight associated with the tile work should be done with care.

The tile has to slope to the drain. Placing the drain in the center of the shower minimizes to amount of overall slope so it's less noticeable. Placing the drain by the edge will increase the amount of slope (longer distance) but would be a nice place to ensure water doesn't get out of the shower. If you place the drain at the shower entry you'll want to use a rectangular one for aesthetics.

Hope this helps and good luck!

bepsf Bud is right - but the other nice thing about using a trough-style drain is that the floor only has to slope in one direction, permitting the use of larger format tiles which means fewer grout lines!