Need Home Update advice .

I have had some many great ideas with the hardwood that I would like to ask a few other home ideas. My husband wants to tile our bathrooms, is there a better choice for bathrooms. We really like the Italian look, and since we have a large Garden Tub we'd like to bring it into the look if possible.. Right now there is regular vinyl and it looks cheap. He has decided to try to do it himself if possible to save money any ideas and he is very talented with things like this, he did our bruce hardwood floors in our old house, SO THIS COULD SAVE US A GOOD AMOUNT FROM THE QUOTES WE GOT! Any other less expensive ideas to update the look of a house built 4 years ago. Everything looks builder stock, we have started changing the light fixtures. I have 18 foot ceilings in the living room and it has double rows of windows , so one wall is almost all windows. I'd love your ideas!!! We bought the house at a great deal after the owner had it built and got divorced 2 weeks later,so he did nothing to the house, every things was off white and Berber carpet, which just want come clean in a few places, not sure what he spilled, any ideas what to do, tried to have it cleaned but the spots come right back. I hope we want have to replace them, if I do I think Id good with wood with the large windows, what do you think?