What are the actual dimensions? People forget but the postwar American Standard/ Kohler template bath was 5 x 6.5 feet or 5 x 7. That fits a vanity, standard tub and toilet.

Just food for thought, we are remodeling our bathroom and felt the shower was going to be way too small so we moved the wall, "borrowing" 12 inches of space from the adjoining bedroom. It worked out great, don't miss the space in the bedroom & it made all the difference in the bathroom.

Based on our recent renovations, I'd say that by trying to fit a decent sized tub in a smaller space, along with the other items you want might be difficult. I'd consider a larger shower with more "toys", and a really nice shower curtain instead of doors.

To me a claw foot needs space, and I had to talk myself out of the airjet/jacuzzi tub that I'd envisioned in our 9' x 5' space. We ended up with a 3.5'x 5' walk in shower, a 60" vanity, and are currently looking for the shallow linen storage cabinet that matches our decor. It's still small, even though we did take out the regular sized older tub/shower combo.

I know you said this bathroom is for guests and kids, but you would be surprised how many "bath" people don't like to take baths in other peoples homes. A bath is something you take some time over to enjoy. Guests rarely feel right "tubbing" at some one else's home. The kids I am sure love a bath, but there is something to be said for a shower with room!

Hope you make the choice you love and makes you happy.
Kym

>Guests rarely feel right "tubbing" at some one else's home

Never bothered me. I'm the only one who ever uses the roman tub at my brother's house, as a matter of fact.

Actually, I was about to agree with Kym... I never really thought about why, but I never feel comfortable taking a bath at someone else's house. I will take them in a hotel or B&B, but not someone's house... I think it's because in a hotel, I know the tub has JUST been cleaned and I'm the first to use it since that cleaning, and while I imagine that's usually true in a private home, too (I know I always clean the tubs an extra time before guests come!), I'm never sure if others do the same. If I DO take a bath, I have to scrub down my visitor's tub first! ;)

We have the same dilemma in a hall/guest bath remodel -- whether to replace a tub with another one (small space) or replace with a nice, large walk-in shower. I just asked our old realtor (who sold us this house a few years ago) what she thought about tub versus shower (also telling her that we are planning to replace the big 6-foot soaking tub in our master bath with a jetted tub), and here's what she said:

"Some put the whirlpool in the master with a large walk in shower (shower in the master is absolute key). The money should be concentrated in the master. Others feel the whirlpool should go in the hall. I believe there should be a tub somewhere (even though like living rooms they are seldom used). If you do a hall tub, something like an airjet tub with a shower included in it is the best."

Just her thoughts but thought I'd share them.

Here is our small bath, it is the kids/guest bath.

DH says the bath is too nice and now the kids won't leave!

Have fun,

Laura

We're remodeling our kids' bath as we speak (the GC is taking out the old tub with a crowbar right now!). It's teeny - 5x7 - just space for a tub, toilet, and 5 ft vanity with 2 sinks. We'd planned to enlarge it by taking space from the adjoining linen closets, but we had to do the remodel sooner because of a leak, and we don't want to spend the extra money right now. But at least it will be nice and new and pretty!

Laura -- we're looking at replacing a regular (in-swinging) door with a pocket door for one of our smaller baths. I love your "outside" one. How hard was it to install (trying to talk my husband into this kind of solution ... he wants to know what the "other" side of the door frame looks like? I assume it's just the same as the left side that we can see in the picture, and the door just slides along the wall, with the right edge of the trim forming the "stop" for the door?) I have to think that solution would be less costly (not to mention less messy!) than cutting into an existing wall to insert a standard pocket door). It looks just beautiful! How easily/quietly does it slide? Would an elderly person have any trouble operating it? (LOVE that handle hardware, too)

Your tile is beautiful!! Gorgeous bath -- lucky kids! ;)

Laura, Is that door on a "barn door sliding track"? Would you please post a picture of the wall to the right of the door. I'm trying to figure out a solutuion to hiding a washer and dryer and have considered something similar.Unfortunately, my door would have to slide past doors to the "room" that will house my water softener and water heater so I'm not sure how to handle a slide across door knobs.

OP - you may want to consider using a shower curtain instead of a door if you'd really prefer a shower over a tub. then no interference from the toilet

ctlady - It is real easy to install, just bolt the track to the wall and attache the rollers on a regular door. The door just has to be a little wider than the opening. We got the hardware and johnson hardware, the link is below. I actually have 2 doors like this, we put one in the master bath, where there was a doorway but no door. They are real easy to use and slide great. The hardware is from emtek, I had my door people order it, a lot cheaper! Here is a pic of the track.

Mileaday - you may want to consider something I did with my office doors, now this hardware probably won't suit your needs, but I am sure Johnson hardware may have something you can use.

If you can get knobs that stick out a little and use a double door configuration, that may work! Check out their website.

Thanks guys, hope this helps.

Laura

Here is a link that might be useful: johnson

Thanks, Laura. I took a look at Johnson hardware but I didn't see anything like your office doors. Did you just use their sliding hardware and then add your own decorative track to the front surface of the doors? I really like the way it looks.

No that was from barndoorhardware.com. The doors I got at habitat for humanity restores store, they were a steal! I guess I was assuming that johnson would have something similar. I guess you could get a long track and put 2 doors on it, just buy the extra hardware for the second door.

The actual dimensions are 5 X 7'4. When you walk in the room to the left it is set up to be sink, toilet, then at the end of the room tub and/or shower. With water hook ups on the toilet side of the wall.
There is no moving walls to take extra room from an ajoining room, b/c my DH is a brick mason, so every single wall in the house is blocks lol The blocks will be sprayed with knockdown texture.

We just remodeled our small guest bathroom. We have a nice tub in the master so we got rid of this tub and put in a nice walk in shower with bench. I just love it! First is before and then after.
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Sorry the pictures are so big. Before and after. Everything was redone and for a cost of $8,500.

msgreatdeals: This is exactly how the bathroom is layed out with the exception of the plumbing for the shower being on the opposite end.
May I ask where you keep your towels and wash cloths? Under the sink? Did ya'll install the shower yourselves? Is it easier or harder to keep clean and clean then a tub?
We will have a tub in the MB, so that is why I'm pushing for a walk in shower in the GB. I'm also trying to plan for the future in case there comes a time we are not physically able to step over a tub. lol

howmuchlonger....we think alike. lol...we are retired and also thinking about that day we might not be able to use the tub anymore.
We hired all licensed people to do the work. I did not use a contractor and saved $$$ by doing so. The biggest expenses were the tile people and plumber. Had to relocate the drain to the center and then they come in a hot mop it before the tile work is started.
We have soft water and I sqeeze (sp/) the glass before leaving the shower and no problems. Very easy to keep clean. I have a linen closet right outside the bathroom and keep my towels there except for what I'm using. We installed a double towel rack in the bathroom.
I'm so glad I did it and would do it again in a heartbeat. I think I have taken 10 baths in the last 15 years!

Hi,
Mine is in my old house, it's about 6x8, but I added an arched alcove for the sink, replaced the cast iron radiator for a low-profile wall-mounted one.
Casey

Here is a link that might be useful: Casey's small-ish bathroom

lauraella -Your door looks greatr and is exactly what we want to do on our masterbath. Can you provide details on how you did the trim molding on top of your door.

Which hardware did you order and what is the size of your door.

MSGREATDEALS - LOVE the bathroom. Can you tell me how big your bathroom is. and what did you do about what appears to be lighting above the old vanity?

Would love to see more pics if there are any.

Thanks!

I PUT AN ALL WALL MIRROR BEST DECISION I MADE MAKES THE BATHROOM FEEL BIGGER HERE IS THE LINK WITH PHOTOS http://s367.photobucket.com/albums/oo120/anton1975/

Here is a link that might be useful: http://s367.photobucket.com/albums/oo120/anton1975/

I have small guest/second bath and every part of me wants to rip out the small tub/shower and replace it with a walk in shower. I don't take baths, I am sure none of my guests will take baths.
However, I have decided to eliminate the bath in the master, so I think I forced to leave the bath in the second bathroom. As much as I hate it, it's going to have to stay I guess so the home has at least one for re-sale. The other part of that is that if I ever did have a friend with kids visiting, they do need a bath for the little ones.

If I had all the money in the world and was planning to die in the home and never sell I would not bother keeping any bath tubs at all!

jpinsonjr- sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you.

The hardware for the bathroom door is from johnsonhardware.com it is the wall mount sliding door hardware. I don't have the exact measurments, but I know the door was just a standard door. We just used a piece of molding on the top and glued it to the hardware! That simple.

Here are some pics of the door we did in our master bath. There was never a door here just the opening.

Have fun!

Laura

Laura,

Where did you get that lovely wrought iron work on the wall and the window?

msgreatdeals - Your project is exactly what I want to do, except I want it for my master bath. I think I took a bath in the mid-90s and before then it was probably once or twice in the 80s. As long as there's one tub in the house, resale shouldn't be affected. I'm saving now for a walk-in shower and your pic has made save more urgently.

Msgreatdeals-how big is your shower,how big is the shower seat and what shower doors did you use. Hope I can do the same replacing a tub with shower pan. My bath looks exactly like yours.

cdnpaci - I found them both at Tuesday Morning! They are both trellis's! Never know what you will find there!