Great job- really fantastic. A tip for anyone in the process of renovating a bathroom: I used Blake and Taylor chalk paint with a couple of sealer coats to paint a laminex vanity in our bathroom- and it looks great. Easy to apply and looks like a million dollars now. include new knobs from the great range at Paddington Hardware, and you can spend the money you've saved on good tapware.

Having helped my mother in law with her shower room (she has MS) and helping a friend who just broke her leg ... the bigger shower is a great decision, but I wouldn't build in a bench. down the track if she needs to sit to shower, she will probably need a shower chair with arms to lower herself up and down and to be able to move it around if someone is helping her shower. then anyone else showering can just take it out and enjoy the bigger shower!

A good indicator for the Niche is the photo you posted, some also add a smaller lower one for ladies to put their foot into for shaving legs. Is your skylight directly above where you plan the shower, if so it would also look good with the rest of the ceiling dropped to 2.4m as in the photo. Still think it's better not to tile next to the window, was it the niche that made you decide on that.

I’m not a professional painter but live in a old wood house with wood floors (inc bathroom), wooden windows and weatherboards so I’m comfortable with wood and water existing together. I don’t think you need your 4 steps. I would refinish the base including the legs (particularly the bottom of the legs)with a good clear wood sealer maybe something from the marine section - take advice from the paint shop as to which brand. I wouldn’t paint the top of that piece I don’t think the style lends itself to a two tone finish. I would use the wood sealer on the top as well and teamed with a white basin it will look quite smart. If you do paint the top any exterior paint would do the job, exterior paints hold up to rain and hail so should survive a bathroom. Make sure you seal well around the base of the basin. And check the finished height of your project. You don’t want it tools to use.