I would definitely take it out and open up the bathroom. You say you don't really need it but having a spacious, updated master bath is a very nice thing.

I don't think moving the closet door is necessary. We have a 7x7 walk in master closet and the entrance is in the bathroom. We thought about moving it but we like having everything behind a single pocket door. You enter in the morning and exit completely dressed. Just make sure you install a proper exhaust fan and use it.

You could turn the space into a little breakfast bar. A mini fridge and smaller cabinet underneath, new countertop, a coffeepot and/or microwave... a cool hanging pendant light. Just a thought. :) we're adding a beverage center to our new master bath.. it's already in use in the bedroom and we love it. Cold foot lotion, face masks, water, gatorade and beer in a convenient location.

LOL! I don't think I'd be putting in a fridge anywhere remotely close to the bedroom - I eat way too much as it is, can't even think of having anything closer to me. I might develop that night time eating disorder!

My mind has been busy thinking about what to do with this area and wish I could find a similar bathroom layout on line or even in one of the zillions of books I've looked at, but nothing yet. I'm not even sure if we can open up that wall that the shower/tub is on as it takes up that whole area.

I'm thinking it may have to be removing the small vanity next to toilet and replace the bigger one on the outside making that the main vanity. Not sure what I'd put in place of the one next to the toilet though - was thinking maybe a piece that can hold towels & bathroom related stuff since there's not a linen/towel closet in there. Maybe a pocket door instead of a regular door to the toilet area. Can keep the door to the closet as is, so that would save some money and headache pain. Still put a door at the opening.

Any thoughts, anyone?

Our development has a number of houses with that setup. Some people took out the sink and used part of that area to expand the master bath and the remainder to expand the closet. The closet door would then open on the wall facing the bedroom.

How about leaving the first section of wall... the tub wall... and removing the door and the wall between the 2 vanities?

Go with a pocket door to enter the whole area and leave the closet where it is.

The bath area seems a little confined. Have you tried measuring it out on graph paper and drawing different configurations?

I disagree with eliminating the sink. Master baths are pretty much expected to have two sinks these days. It's what makes a master bath a master bath, not just it's adjacency to the main bedroom.

What I'd do is eliminate the wall between the sink area and the bath and then put in a door where the opening is to the bedroom. Make the sink in the bath and the one in the alcove into an actual double vanity. It'll be much better for resale value and function better as well.

If you can move the sink in the bath down a bit towards the one in the alcove, then you may have room to install a wall to make the toilet area more private. That's also part of most new construction master bath plans.

Thanks for the input everyone.

I'm trying to avoid having to put more money in to this than I really have to. I'd like to avoid changing the door to the closet if need be.

JustJulie-The only problem with removing that wall would be it has electrical switches on it, possibly outlets too, can't remember. Wonder how easily that could be moved, but then again, where would you move it? Probably wouldn't do a pocket door to get in. Makes too much noise and I'm a light sleeper and would hear DH closing it to get ready for work at 3am. I'd probably do a door like we have now, glass panel, like a Frehch door, I guess it's called? We put a mini blind on the backside for privacy and so you can't see the vanity through the glass. I haven't worked on any type of configurations but I don't think there's a hell of a lot that can be done to change it around and I don't want to get too crazy as I'm trying to keep the costs down.

LIVE WIRE-not sure we could remove other wall, that right side of the doorway is where the plumbing is, so when you look at the tub, the faucet is on the left side, not the right where I wish it would be. I can't remember if there is any wall space to the left of the tub, but I take it there has to be something there for the plumbing to be. And as I mentioned above, the right side of the wall has electrical inside. I'd definitely like to have the toilet area "privatized". I'd really like to keep it to one sink, we just don't need two and I'd much rather have a place where I can sit down and do my hair/make-up as I have now. Currently I have my vanity where the left side has a drawer and space for a chair underneath that I can sit at, a bank of drawers and then the sink with a cabinet underneath. I also think about one less sink to clean and one less pipe to unclog. Now, a linen cabinet, that would be a nice addition in there.

When I saw the house last, I took some measurements. The outside vanity is 44" wide and the inside vanity is 29" wide. I think the length of the bathroom is 8'2" with the floor space between the vanity and the outside of the tub being 5'. I didn't take the measurement of the outside vanity area from where I'd put the door to the back of the wall where the vanity is.

I can't believe I'm having such a hard time finding a floor plan/layout on the web that's similar. I'm going through magazines, books, websites and nothing yet.

Pray that I get this house!!!

If you find yourself happy with the current bathroom layout and the current closet layout, and just want an easy fix for replacing the extra vanity, I'd suggest putting in a floor to ceiling cabinet system in that space -- a home can never have too much storage -- something that flows with the style and color of the bathroom cabinetry. Or, make a little storage bench/reading nook area there with either a freestanding bench or a built-in (would look more finished). Soften it up with a cushion and pillows, add new lighting, and voila...cute and inexpensive place to sit and put on your shoes. With either of these ideas, I'd forgo putting in the extra door; it's really not needed and will just close up the space and make the bedroom look smaller.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Well I hope you get the house!
If you can't do a reconfiguation of some kind,
think of it as a "his and hers" bathroom. While he is inside saving, etc., you can be at the outside vanity, doing your makeup ,etc. We have an arrangement much like yours and I wouldn't have it any other way. 2 sinks are not a luxury- I consider them a necessity. DH can't complain about me leaving my hair curler in the way of his shaving gear. I am thinking that your main objection is that you see the vanity from your bedroom. If your bed doesn't have to be placed directly oposite,facing the opening I doubt that it would bother you.
If putting in a pocket door between the bedroom and the
second vanity /closet area is an impossiblity- then treat the area a dressing area and an appendage of the bedroom.

Thanks Kazmom and Pamies!

Pamies, I think the thing that bothers me is not having the door and being able to see in there. I like the option of having the door, whether we close it is another story - much like it is in our current home. We removed the door between the shower and toilet, opened up the doorway a bit and closed up the open entry way with a door, just makes it so much bigger and more open.

Also, in our bedroom we have carpet, and in bathroom, tile.

I think our deal is about dead, they counter offered and I won't budge with my offer price. BUT, if we were somehow able to revive the offer and did get the house, I'd probably go ahead and put wood down, though I like carpet in a bedroom, but tile in the bathroom - to me, I like to hae a door seperating the two different floors as well.

Still can't find an option on line that I'm looking for! Oh well, looks like I may not need to search anymore :(