Hi: we are empty nesters with a City Apt (3 baths 3 bedrooms): where my bath is part of the Master bedrm and hubby uses another one as "his". We also have a rural turn of century country cottage with 3 baths on multi level so we SHARE the master bath (and it is the largest). What you recently described with the split config and some passthru/shared areas resonates and we find has worked well. Since space does not seem to be a constraint, you may, for resale purposes, want to consider a bath-spa. Meaning add some spa elements. I know you said you dont need more humidity or heat...but steam enclosure or ready-to-install-cabinets may not add considerably except for the actual steam generator. Mini dry or steam sauna rooms are great (we have a Finnish-style sauna...it is about 8x5 and is a separate room. Next to it is a small 1/2 bath) Also in our 'hood, a dual bath could count as two and run into code issues. So i am sure you'll be checking out how your town regulates Here is what we've found as best configs we've lived with or had the pleasure to experience: - separated closet areas are ideal..even with a shares common entry. Also our requirements for lengths and drawers are different (just consider the accessories or shoes!) - that said, i dont like the closets being super close to the water. That is humidity from the shower or tub in the very near vicinity. Further, my SIL and BIL rebuilt their master bath with her closet being direct accessed from the bathroom. I found it nice but not really conducive to full dressing...too small and i wanted to be out in the open more where i could stand back from the full length mirror - the real reason we use separate bathrooms is the toilet and you've addressed that. we always prefer bathrooms where the toilets are a little separate...be that a half door or semi enclosed. And we really really treasure Windowed bathrooms. More windows the better - The more isolated the toilet can be from the other areas (layout wise), the better the other areas work and feel clean, fresh,comfortable. some bathrooms we liked even had a small hand washing sink in the toilet area. - A Toto toilet special flush toilet with a SOFT CLOSE lid for us is a MUST!!! once you have it (now others make the soft close lids too) you wonder where its been all your life. Same for the way the Toto flushes low and high volume. Unfortunately their color and style choices are limited but do check out the functionality and try to replicate. The power flush with minimal water use is good. - I am not fond of separate bidets (and we travel abroad alot so we see these) One more thing to clean and plumb etc and addl space taken up for something not very attractive. Instead, the Toto-type bidet function can be added to a hi-end commode. For a price, of course. - two tubs two showers feels odd. And you've addressed this too i think. A large shower with ease of access, open feeling and glass or even outside light is best. A rain head in shower is nice but not in lieu of the regular. We are very eco conscious so we arent into the multi jets --- my BIL recently did a walk in large shower with lots of jets; i cant say that it enhanced my shower experience because i would rather just finish up and not use the water. And i didnt like sloshing thru a large wet area to find a place to dry my feet. So large without everything being subject to water jets was my observation - When i want to use water, well for me its a deep tub WITHOUT jets ---nothing to disrupt luxuriating in hot bubbly scented water A handheld as option with the tub is nice (to rinse off, to rinse hair, etc) - Double or separated sinks are a plus -- really it is the separate mirror each of us is after! plus separated banks of drawers or spaces. My bath has bureau drawers and there I keep my lingerie so that i can dress the underthings right there. That said, some common space for the replenish supplies and for towels. - We love thinner waffle weave towels rather than big thirsty Turkish ones...because the former absorb quickly and in humid weather, we can use 1 a day and not create immense stax of laundry. So, we both like having a stack of towels right there in the bath rather than in a linen closet down the hall. - Lighting is important. Not just the usual over sink lighting that is good for working on the face. Some softer moodier lighting or lights on reo-stats are good. I saw mirrored cabinets spanning double sinks that had soft lighting running along the bottom. Left on, such as the evenngs, it was a nice glow and almost meant i didnt have to turn on lights brightly every time i went in. - Audio or even a small flat panel feed to your bathroom? that will take special planning if the latter. For sure, i love listening to the radio and would love to have some thing in the bath rather than turning up my clock radio so loud! Enjoy

Mark, you're quite right. Though my father has been a low volume builder for a few decades and is confident in what we have come up with, I said early on that it sounded like we could use an architect. The lot is challenging and has dictated the layout. We started with Mascords 2106C plan, but only a simplified exterior shape remains. It's now mostly a typical ranch. cpartist, this is a result of me not modeling them properly in the software at this stage. We've figured out the proper, to-code design with our stair maker. Blueberry, I have! I actually originally planned to do side-by-side with a sink & toilet in that room. Then I nixed the toilet but left the sink, then I stacked the W&D for more cabinets. Frankly I prefer the side by side look too. I was concerned with clearance in front of the W&D (about 3'). Maybe side by side and no sink is the best of both worlds.

I think you’re right and the master bath was an afterthought. When we redid our cabinets we discovered so many things about the construction. My husbands bathroom floor has a slope to it that’s always been there. Gotta love contractors who throw up houses in subdivisions and cut corners to meet timeframes. I can only see myself being able to go back 11” on the wall where the vanity which is connected to the wall in the loft. The wall near the door is just too close to my bedroom door that I can’t expand it there, and my master closet is behind the wall with the pantry and that closet is already small enough.

We’d actually just finished renovating our prior house when I saw this house and felt like we needed to come see it. We walked in and instantly knew we had to buy. It just gave us the warm and fuzzies (well 3600sf of living space vs our prior 1500sf had a lot to do with it too! My laundry room here is even bigger than my son’s room at the old house!) There was so much pride and attention to detail that the prior owners clearly put in. I work from home and spend all day in my house so as vain as it may be, I really enjoy the beauty and fine aspects of it A LOT. We definitely need to update quite a few things though. Everything is a huge undertaking though - physically and financially - with this much space and our desire to do it RIGHT. My husband is a superintendent for a custom builder and he believes in using high quality materials, even if it means we have to wait a while to have the budget for it. We’ve done a lot in 4 months - replaced an AC unit, pool equipment, re insulated the attic, all new double pane windows, plantation shutters (except this bathroom) and furnished the dining room, my office and our pool area. Next up is floor, paint and countertops in the kitchen. I imagine sometime in the next year (or two) we’ll be done. I HOPE! Anyways I really appreciate all of your input! I think I’ll head to SW this week and finally start painting!