Bath plans! See here. Anything we're missing?

vermonter_2009

14 years ago

We are getting ready to install the plumbing in our master bath and are seeking any ideas that we may have overlooked. This is a renovation of a former bedroom in our mid-1800s house. All the framing, electrical and insulation (urethane foam) is in place.

We need to still need to pick out floors (probably cherry or a similar wood), a drop-in tub, which will reside in a tile surround, a 36" vanity, and the tile for the shower floor and walls. The shower door and wall will be thick glass, as will a wall dividing the shower's bench and the tub surround.

Any recommendations on a simple 5' x 3' soaking tub (we're not interested in jets or anything fancy)?

Any suggestions in general?

Thanks in advance! This site has been invaluable for our planning and design work!

Vermonter

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Comments (18)

desertsteph
14 years ago
if the shower door opens the way you have it, won't that be a bit clumsy with the step there? or is it just 1 step and that area is flat floor?

the tub looks like that back area would be difficult to access for cleaning.
vermonter_2009
Original Author
14 years ago
Just one step there. You're right about the back of the tub being a little difficult to clean. We can live with that though.

It took us a while to figure out how to place everything, but I think we're on the right track.
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Q
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A lot of windows shown on the elevation drawings are not shown on the floorplans. Be sure your architect makes all the drawings show the same things...otherwise there could be confusion down the road. So sorry to hear about your RA. Planning for an elevator is a smart move! But may I ask why you've decided you want/need two staircases going up to the second floor? Building staircases isn't cheap and your house really isn't all that big. If it were me, I'd skip making the staircase behind the garage go up to the second floor and put the savings from that into going ahead and having the elevator installed now. (I assume the elevator would go where the 2nd floor linen closet is.) If your father is in good health at 82, he could easily live with you another 10 years...maybe even 15. And, the last thing you need to be dealing while suffering from RA and assisting an aging parent is the mess of a home renovation. I'd do the elevator now if at all possible and cut back on things like maybe granite countertops instead. Getting rid of the second staircase up would also allow you to make your 2nd floor laundry larger and more user friendly. Right now it is basically three skinny hallways. UGH! I'm sorry but that is a horrible design. (Speaking of which, I don't really see any need for a second doorway into the guestroom/bonus room. and having that second door just forces you to have a second hallway.) I'd get rid of the staircase, move the laundry room door up near the master closet and then incorporate that back hallway that currently lead down to the second door to the guest room into a nice large closet for the guest room...or maybe some linen storage to take the place of the linen room that is going to become the elevator shaft. Also, by cutting out the second staircase up, you can enlarge your first floor mudroom and make it more user friendly as well. So, unless you have strong feelings about keeping both staircases, you might want to consider cutting one out. As for having the piano upstairs, my only question is how are you going to get it up there? I've never owned a baby grand so have no idea how hard it would be to get one up a flight of stairs. You might want take the house plans by a piano moving company and get their input before you sign off on the plans. Also, while I see no need for two doors opening into the guest/bonus room from different sides, if you are going to have the piano up on the second floor in that "piano room" alcove, have you thought about possible putting a set of double pocket doors between the piano room and the guestroom/bonus room? With double 36" or 42" wide pocket doors, you would have the option of leaving them open and turning the guest/bonus room into a listening space where people could sit and enjoy a piano recital played on the piano in the alcove. Plus, imagine how pretty that nice large bonusroom/piano space could look with the doors pushed all the way open. And, when you do have guests, closing the pocket doors would still give them plenty of privacy since there is likely to be little reason for someone to wander down to play the piano when guests are staying in the bonus room. As for the kitchen, so run your plan by the gurus on the kitchen forum. Right off the bat it strikes me that while the fridge is in a reasonably good location for access by folks in the breakfast nook, it is not in a very good spot for use by the cook who will have to walk around the island to reach stuff like butter/milk while in the midst of prepping dinner. Also, a prep sink on the back counter is not likely to get much use because it is "around the island" from the stove. I suspect you will find that you wind up using the main sink all the time because all you have to do to reach it from the stove is pivot around. Just my thoughts. Hope some of it proves helpful.
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Aren't you glad you asked? :>) According to my guess-alations, you have ~34" between fridge and end of peninsula. That's gonna be a real tight fit, and a potential traffic blocker. Our peninsula is about the same distance from our beverage centre, but end of counter has a rounded radius with a bullnose edge so easier to scoot by than a hard edge like your knee wall and cabinet, AND, it's not the fridge door right there, but a cupboard that is rarely used. Can you bump the fridge into that back wall even a few inches? I like the idea of the corner sinks and cooktops. WE had a happy accident that the two appliance garages we ordered didn't arrive. WE are LOVING the extra counter space, (and we have a significant amount more than you), (though really, corner counter space is not all that useful for working). If you don't move sink there, definitely use cardboard boxes and do a mock-up, make sure the appliances will even fit. eg, our new bigger Toaster Oven wouldn't have fit in ours anyways! If you put sink in that corner, you won't need the high knee wall (no cooktop splatter to worry about), so you could eliminate the wall and stretch out your counter and create a little overhang. Again, you can never have too much counter space!
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pps7
14 years ago
Looks pretty good, but where will you hang your towels?
vermonter_2009
Original Author
14 years ago
That's a good question. We were thinking of hanging the towels on the all near the radiator. I will be a bit of a reach (a step really), but I don't see another obvious place. Plus, the radiator will warm the towels in the winter!
User
14 years ago
Did you choose one sink for a reason? A 36" vanity is pretty small, especially for 2 adults. You have 3 windows so why not close up the one window next to the shower and wrap the counter around the corner so it butts up to the tub? Its not expensive to do and then you'll have 2 sinks and a LOT more counter space; all of which are more expected in a master bath. I know others will chime in with objections to my comment, but I'm a Realtor and that's been MY experience. You didn't mention if your plumbing is done already but it's something to consider.
pps7
14 years ago
Can you move the pocket door towards the radiator or is it too late? Then at least you can put a hook on the wall.
jjaazzy
14 years ago
I think desertsteph is right I would change the swing of the door on the shower. I see you have a window behind the toilet. Is this a first floor bathroom? You might just be mooning the world each time you go! I love windows and I do like a light bright room but you have 4 windows in this room. That's a lot of windows for a bathroom. I can see having the tub windows and maybe the one by the sink but depending on how you want the house to look from the outside you might want to rethink this window.
vermonter_2009
Original Author
14 years ago
Ha! No the bathroom is on the second floor and that window is a half window, and it sits quite above the toilet. The remaining windows are in their original location and we wanted to preserve that look - plus we love the morning light they provide. We will have to use privacy blinds at night, but you can't see into the bathroom during the day.

We can't move the pocket door because it's at the end of a small hallway, which will have small walk-in closets on either side. There will be room near the radiator for two towels.

We specifically opted for one sink over two. My wife is also a realtor, but this house is for us and we are renovating it to our tastes. We hope to be in this house for the foreseeable future.
User
14 years ago
I'm not sure why you're asking for outside opinions then? Seems like you have it the way you like it and it's a go!
houseful
14 years ago
I'd switch the vanity and the shower and remove the window. I'd also relocate the radiator, put the toilet there, and build a pony wall.
jjaazzy
14 years ago
That looks good house! I think the glass showers are so pretty to look at when you walk in. That also solved the issue with the deep recessed tub area. Cool! But, I think they said they were already ruffed in.
astridh
14 years ago
Even if you only want/need one sink, houseful's plan gives you the option of more storage in the vanity. I'd swing the shower door the other way, though.
lizbeth-gardener
14 years ago
Think houseful's ideas are great! When you walk in you face a beautiful glass shower and the tub is no longer blocked by the shower. The size of the double vanity is more in scale with the rest of the room/pieces. Also love what she did with the toilet, both for the privacy and I don't like walking into a bathroom and immediately seeing the toilet before anything else. Just my opinion--hope you find something that works for you!
andreadeg
14 years ago
You didn't mention lighting so that may be one thing that is missing from the plan. I would put one can over the shower and perhaps two over the tub. Lighting at face level on either side of the vanity mirror is nice. Good luck and please post pictures when you are done!
vermonter_2009
Original Author
14 years ago
Wow! Thanks houseful! That was one option I did not consider. I really like that layout.

My biggest hesitation is losing the one window. We wanted to keep the exterior design unchanged. Nonetheless, we could still make these changes- the plumbing and floors have not been installed. The framing is complete and has been insulated with rigid foam, which would make it messy to clear out the electrical already installed, but not a huge deal.

Hmmmmmmmm...
busybee3
14 years ago
you can still keep the window...
vermonter_2009
Original Author
14 years ago
That would give our neighbors something to talk about!
marcolo
14 years ago
You could close up the window on the outside using a ghost window. Meaning, you keep all the exterior window trim in place, but cover up the window itself with the same clapboard or whatever the rest of the house is covered in. It's a common technique in historic houses when someone wants to preserve the balance of the facade.

Bath plans! See here. Anything we're missing?

Comments (18)

desertsteph

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