With white fixtures, keep your floors and all tile white or a stone that is mostly white. You can paint the walls above the wainscot (which might be glossy painted wood or beadboard, or you might employ a cabinet for the sink that was painted a very soft sky blue. One narrow trim piece of tile running through the white tile might be the same tone of sky blue. Then, add blue linens / towels / etc. [houzz=] Now, consider what other colors are in your home and select one that is clear and soft and lovely with white. You might use that color instead of sky blue. I used sky blue because it is the color of water and therefore always appropriate in the bath, but you can make the bath flow with the colors you have or plan to have in your home. If this was a master bathroom instead of a common or guest bath, I would shift the choices of stone and tile from white plus white to a lovely off-white, cream, or almond tone - like travertine. Use a neutral like chocolate on the cabinet and add color only with linens and perhaps some art on the wall. [houzz=]

I often look at my home and wonder what color to repaint...but I think we have selected the most complimentary color and don't want to change for change sake. Consider that as well - I love the starkness of the white for the style of your home and if you feel you need an update, maybe there are other things you could do, ie: landscape, stone, etc. Not much help in the color department - lol.

You list is all "stone" products. Stone products are natural. The durability is guaranteed with stone. Stain resistant...remove marble and granite from your list. Both can stain and etch and both will do this with "flooring" more than they will with a counter top. Gloss levels all change...but it will take years to do it. All stones have maintenance = homeowner needs to work at keeping stone looking good. Stone = expensive. There is no "benefit" for "reasonable" when working with stone. They all cost plenty of money. Stone is expensive. No way around it. If you want "glossy" that doesn't stain for a "good price" then you have forgotten to mention the BEST option: porcelain tiles. Porcelain will do everything you want for a lower price. Stone is expensive, it can stain (especially "oil" stains) it will "etch" or lose gloss level with certain liquids (acid based liquids will do this) and they all need to be maintained and eventually need repolishing to maintain "gloss". Durable is all you can expect out of stone. The rest of your wish list belongs with porcelain tiles.

I have some suggestions if you are thinking budget friendly changes. Make a photo gallery with different size frames and arrange them parallel to the stairs, so you can enjoy each photo as you climb up. And for the area that will be on a level with your upper floor, try some pretty decal that will connect the photo gallery to upper level. And last, if you have budget add some beautiful hanging lights in the stairwell. Also think about repositioning your refrigerator.