I'd continue the slate, and use a heated floor there [the electric mats, if you don't have hydronic] because the warm floor with lots of texture will feel just great after a day in ski boots...

I'd seal all the slate with a color enhancer, see the thread on the subject in the flooring forum. All the floors in a ski house are going to see some moisture, and sealing will allow it to dry faster.

In at least one of my new baths, I'm doing the wood look porcelain planks as a wainscott, and continue it through the shower: I think it will be a cool, unexpected look, should be easier to maintain than regular tile because the pieces are larger [fewer grout lines] and rectified [thinner grout lines].

Oooh, thanks, that's an interesting idea. Have you seen photos anywhere?

We thought about heating the floor, but it is on the second floor of the building, and it's always very warm. I think it might be overkill.

The other bathroom could use it, though.

Okay. I'll start right off with the part that you (and others) probably won't like to hear, to get it off my chest and out of the way. :-) When I see a home that has the exact same cabinetry and granite in the bathrooms as in the kitchen, I don't really get a "custom" vibe off it. To MY eye, it is a rather more builder-y look, like the leftovers from the kitchen counters were used up in the bathrooms (the "well, we paid for the whole d@mn slab, use it up!" philosophy) and the bathroom cabinets were lumped into the same order as the kitchen.

If you are passionate enough about those cabinets that you want them in the bathrooms, by all means use them, but think about a different stain and a different top; conversely, if your heart is really set on the granite, put it on top of a slightly different cabinet. When I read your post and saw your pictures, though, what popped into my head were Jim Canton's custom "rustic" and "country" (which still has your beadboard door insert and I'm sure stained parts could be matched to the kitchen if you wanted to do that, but I like the mix of painted and stained parts) vanities. Yes, they're expensive - perhaps think of those as inspiration if your budget does not stretch that far. I admit to being a bit of a ho for the unfitted look but if you have the space a pine pie safe type cabinet would be great for storage, stained to match the trim.

Since you adore copper as much as I do, copper sinks are almost a no-brainer, and ditto for lighting. Look at Arroyo Craftsman's offerings. I just LOVE their Simplicity series which is so very versatile. I have the "raw copper" SB-1 sconces and hate how they're patinating, so I would recommend the antique copper instead. Clawfoot Supply has some pretty and reasonably-priced copper towel bars etc. (the Aztec line), and this nameless one from A-Ball Plumbing is quite nifty as well. I like how they're all subtly different instead of being really matchy-matchy.

For the floors, I think a slate-look porcelain mosaic would look excellent and be very durable/easy to take care of. I myself like a rather scaled-down tile size for a smaller room, and it does provide better traction and believe it or not it's not that busy if the grout is kept to the same color value as the tile. If the bathroom floor were going to actually touch the real slate flooring I would go in a different direction, but since they're separated by carpet and you can't stand on one and see the other, I think you're OK. Both Daltile and AO have very convincing slate-look "suites" in which there's a 12x12 tile and a mosaic; I think it would look great in the tub surround to use the larger tiles as a field with a listello of the mosaic tiles (three rows, say) at about shoulder height. American Olean's "Highland Ridge" has a fabulous mosaic of 1x3 tiles along with 12x12s. Yes, it would darken the tub alcove but that's easily enough rectified with a couple of recessed lights (about the only use I really like the things for! LOL). I think you're a very smart person for eliminating the whole subway-tile schtick, but if the dark tile is just too much for you, I'd think about a 8x8 or 12x12 white tile trimmed out with a slate-look mosaic, as a broad listello and perhaps vertically at the border of the tile.

I think the embossed copper you're using for kitchen backsplash would be perfect on the ceilings. Rather than being "in your face" they would be something that you catch out of the corner of your eye, and perhaps don't even register consciously but just add to the whole sense of warmth and charm as well as reflecting light downwards. Think about using the plastic version though - they look very good and you won't have any problem at all with corrosion. Aluminum "tins" won't rust but are much more expensive. If you have leftovers that you want to use up and you're working with steel, make sure to backprime them with a rust inhibitor.

Thanks so much ... many great ideas. I happen to have some slate/glass listello and white 12x12 tile samples sitting right next to me, in fact!

Are copper sinks hard to keep clean in the bathroom?

And don't worry, I know exactly what you mean about using the same cabinets etc. ...I don't even like maple cabinets. When I say "we" are remodeling, I'm talking four families, ie, 8 adults. I'm in charge of designing, and I'm trying to accommodate everyone. It's fun. Not.

No, actually it's okay ... but I'm much more eclectic than, say, my very practical uncle, who isn't quite sure why we didn't keep the harvest gold refrigerator (it worked, didn't it?). So, as part of the never-ending compromises, I'm incorporating wishes to keep some "consistency."

I've decided against the granite, for sure, though. And the second bathroom will be completely different. I might go wild with talavera tiles or something.

I don't have a copper sink (YET) but I've read up on the maintenance while I lusted for one and basically the most important points are to rinse the toothpaste and shaving cream down the drain after use and don't leave acidic stuff sitting in the sink as you'll get clean spots in the patina. But how often are you throwing tomato guts and lemon rinds in the bathroom sink? ;-) Copper is naturally antibacterial so there is no need to be dragging out a bunch of harsh cleaners in fear of "gerrrrrrms", just wipe it out with a damp rag. Some copper sinks are lacquered, too; there's no change in patina on those but there's also no damaging the patina either.

Talavera tiles sounds like lots of fun - it'll actually go beautifully with the pine trim. Did you know you can get quantities of Talavera tiles cheap on eBay? A Talavera sink would be much fun in there too. A wonderful riot of color!