Thanks to sewage backing up into two bathrooms and the resultant damage to walls and floors, we are going to remodel one of our three bathrooms.

We've done partial remodels on the other two bathrooms, but it's been work that's been cobbled together with mixed results.

The Great Indoors seems to be having a very good sale on cabinetry this week, so I'd like to order my vanity/linen cabinets and plan the rest of the work.

We've already re-done the bathtub-shower combo, we used a tile man who did a fabulous all-mud surround for the bath alcove and used larger-than-usual Daltile subway tiles and have a very generously sized Kohler cast-iron five foot tub. So that piece is done, and looks good (all white).

This is a girls bathroom, and I"m thinking of a white/black scheme. White paint on maple wood full-height doors vanity (two of them, installed side-by-side), Absolute (or Crystal) Black countertops, I hope to get a remnant since this counter is rather small. I'd like to use a Damask patterned black/white wall paper and have pink as an accent color. Possibly paint one wall pink in the sink room.

Flooring will be a thick high-end vinyl tile called Spacia by Amtico. We have a concrete slab foundation with lots of shifting, so anything grouted will eventually crack. The floor will be a light gray/darker gray checkerboard pattern on the diagonal. The grays are very warm and cozy, but are true grays, not cream or taupe. Should I install 12" square tiles or 18" square tiles in this rather small space? There are no fake grout lines on this flooring, just the checkerboard look (plus slightly beveled edges) give the tiles dimension. We have had Amtico "wood" (vinyl) in the kitchen for 5 years, and I really adore this brand. It's durable, waterproof, and wears exceptionally well.

This bathroom is two small rooms. The first room is has the 56" vanity with double sinks, each vanity cabinet will measure 27" wide by 31" tall. This room measures 56 by 85". This room has a Solatube in the ceiling and then the 24" door into the toilet room. There is a 14" deep soffit above the vanity, and we will probably go with recessed lights since there isn't enough space for sconces, and the Solatube is in the center of the ceiling, so we can't hang a fixture there, either. We will probably place a very large mirror on the wall opposite the sinks so that the girls can see more of a full length view of themselves. Perhaps sconces on either side of that mirror?

The second room, which measures 60" by 85" has the tub/shower and the toilet. Even after the remodel, this room will be very full and very functional. We will tear out the ugly linen closet and put in a 34" high, 30" wide, and 21" deep base cabinet, and it will hold two tall plastic clothes hampers. On that base there will be a 30" wide, 42-48" high, 12" deep wall cabinet directly on the granite counter top. The KD recommends little apothecary drawers between the base cabinet and the wall cabinet, which is a charming, but very expensive look. These cabinets will have "furniture ends" so that the sides are durable and look good (at least that will be the view from the toilet). There is a small window in this room which has blinds on it and the blinds are usually closed. The window is right up against the tub/shower tile, so we cannot even frame the window. It has a modest window sill.

I would like to put a pocket door in the first room leading into the hall just to eliminate the swinging 24" door, but it's probably beyond our budget.The room is currently wallpapered, and we haven't had a problem with steam/water on the walls, so we'll forego the extra expense of wall tile. Since there is only one outlet in the sink room, we would like to add at least one more there and possibly another one in the toilet room (perhaps in the cabinet). Also, since the storage is so pathetic, we will buy medicine cabinets that will recess into the wall above each sink.

I need to find a contractor, and I do have a couple of leads. I plan to buy everything on my own unless he can get me a better price. I will use Kohler sinks/faucets, Diamond cabinets, and I plan to install a Panasonic whisperfan in the ceiling where the 1970s red heat lamp is currently located. We will also replace crown molding, redo the soffit above the linen cabinet, and probably put in new doors and doorframes.

If the pocket door costs too much, I might put a split door opening into the hallway in that 24" opening. Four girls use this bathroom.

Also, what should I look for in a contractor?

Thanks in advance for your replies. I really need all the help I can get.

~Cupofkindness