I don't think you will have much room to squeeze by a real sized toilet with a load of laundry in your arms if it is really in the doorway like that.

So they will go out into the hallway to use their own toilet? (That's the most direct route). Get the toilet in the bathroom proper. I think this plan makes very little sense, as it is, sorry, its like she wants to make a big change without changing anything.

Have to agree with ineffable - your *pal* needs to bite the bullet on this one. Walls must shift. The plan as shown isn't doing justice to either the bedroom or the bathroom(s), which are convoluted beyond logical use. Come on mtd - you know you really want to!

Okay, then, let's move the laundry into the linen closet, which is where it may have to go for height reasons. And do keep in mind that this is SECONDARY laundry. I am just adding it in because I like laundry near my bedroom to do my own clothes ... there is a laundry room in the walk out basement with oversized machines.

As far as the toilet space, its there already. Think of that as a water closet (I don't really like toilets that aren't in their own rooms).

Is this a little better?

{{!gwi}}

Back again! Okay, I am moving the water closet closer. Still no walls coming down.

Whattya think?

{{!gwi}}

You're getting there! I'd still want to work that 2nd sink into the main part of the bathroom. Is there some reason you see this as being more versatile for your particular needs to have that sink by the shower?

DLM,

Oh, I have that little sink in the shower area because it already is there, KWIM? I think of that as DH's bathroom, the w/c is shared, and the rest as mine.

This layout does make the w/c closer, but it is still further than the hall bath! Yet I am not sure it makes sense to, for example, swap it with the sink. We aren't infirm!

Forgot to say, one thing about keeping the shower where it is, is that ceiling is sloped, and of course it will be closed in on three sides now and smaller probably, too. By contrast, if I move it into what was once a bedroom, it is bigger and taller and glass on two sides...

So, if we want to move the potty out of that area, and want to move the shower out of the area, then it is just ... a closet? Seems a waste of existing plumbing somehow.

Keep in mind this is a 1906 house, so whatever you do you know it will cost more due to pre-existing problems ... so you want to mess around as little as possible. Also, it's not a primary home.

This post was edited by mtnrdredux on Wed, Oct 9, 13 at 18:58

It's still a bit, um:

LOL, I know

Is that better, or worse, than "convoluted beyond logical use". You have to love that!

If you are going for cobbled in bathroom in bedroom in an old house, it could be fine. Those are sometimes very charming I think. But I really think I would want that old bathroom to be the laundry area only and put the bathroom completely in the bedroom. It is large enough

Oh, so you're a bathroom design mule for a "friend". I see.

Ahemm.

I think that in bathrooms a lot of time is spent at sinks, and that you may be under thinking the sink areas. Can you spin the sink in the main bath to the adjacent wall and add in a nice long vanity with some counter space and drawers?

Every morning I have to check to see what Mtn is up to. Following your journey with awe and interest. Have to say tho, this would not work for us. We rented a 1940's colonial where a good-sized bedroom was converted into a master bath, to include laundry closet. All the fixtures around the edge, ballroom in the middle. Cold and echo-y.

Thanks, Pal, I do like a little bit of quirkiness to an old house, as opposed to shoving the "square pegs" of 2013 norms into the "round holes" that these houses present.

I guess one needs to choose one's spot on the quirk continuum.

This is probably closer to what most people think we should do:

{{!gwi}}

I get the pros to this version, but I hate to take over all of the old bathroom for a secondary function like personal laundry. The main laundry room is in the basement. Sheets and towels and most of the kids' clothing will be done there, by cleaning people. So laundry here really a frill, not a primary goal of the reno.

LOL, Julie, I am sure I do not know what you are talking about.

You know, I am not a vanity person. For a few reasons. One, in our Montclair home, a PO had converted an even bigger bedroom into a dressing room, which included an 8foot long vanity, with a cut out for a bench in the middle and a sink at one end. It was great for changing diapers, frankly! But apart from that it was wayyyyy too big for me. You know what one does with all that space? One fills it up; in my case, with junk. I don't think I'd ever thrown away a lipstick; who knows when Goth will come back? Or if I might want to use a basil cucumber peel off mask in my copious spare time, circa 1995. And I have to keep my hot roller traveller set, if I want to be Farrah for Halloween. And, of course, we all need Sonic jewelry cleaners! None of that is made up! And the countertop itself became a magnet for stuff the way kitchen islands that have their own 9 digit postal code sometimes do.

As if that were not enough, I really like vintage sinks, and the airiness of pedestals or even wall-hung. I will have large, generous between the studs medicine cabinets, and space in the linen closet as well as under the windowseat. There is also another linen closet on the floor for other bedrooms.

MaggieQ, LOL, I do run that risk. Having actual measurements (we close Friday) will help me get a sense of that. I also plan to keep the wood floors and use a large rug, perhaps a chair somewhere. I look at this bathroom as feeling very much a part of the bedroom, with the same floors, the french doors, the window and tub view. Reminds me of Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, where literally shutters separate the bathtub from the sleeping area. Maybe that is part of the reason I wanted the w/c so far away, too.

You know me, form follows function...I like that the potty is closer to the bedroom which is important with how much cold floor do bare tootsies want to touch at 2 am or how much light you need to be exposed to to find your way there.

Hard to know without actual measurements, but I would consider putting the tub where the window seat is...so you face out the window when soaking and leave the bigger window open and available for a chair. It is less expected than sideways in front of the big window, and it will help fill the center "ball room" as MaggieQ said.

Just love this tub!

[Eclectic Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2104) by London Interior Designers & Decorators Slightly Quirky Ltd

[Contemporary Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2103) by London Photographers Beccy Smart Photography

I also agree about the sinks...I'd want more space and 2 sinks over one...perhaps something like this might suit.

This might involve a little less plumbing re-do. Also perhaps would allow for a comfortable seating area and maybe a gas fireplace?

This post was edited by oldbat2be on Wed, Oct 9, 13 at 21:36

Annie,

I like the idea of moving the tub, I will have to try a floorplan like that. As four double side by side sinks, they don't thrill me. At home we each have totally separate bathrooms on opposite sides of the bedroom. I was trying to give us each a sink, in separate rooms. I will see what falls out from moving the tub. Thanks!

PS I freely admit to being willing to sacrifice a soupcon of function if the form really tickles my fancy. : )

Oldbat --
Hmm, that's creative. I am going to have to look at it closely. Only you are assuming that the primary view is the one from the tub. It's not, they just happen to have double windows there. The primary view is straight ahead from where I have the bed. In fact, to harken back to earlier thread, the windows shown head on from the bed may become french doors (TBD). You have also made a really large bedroom. I like smaller, cozier bedrooms, and i like very little furniture in them. Really like nests.

Okay, this one is Annie-inspired. I think I like it. I give up the windowseat storage, but I may actually be able to put some storage in the w/c of all places (symmetry dictating its size here).

{{!gwi}}

Only question is, what is the view from the tub from that vantage point --- will try to figure that out when we are there.

Also, I kind of wanted at least one wall in front of the tub or in back of it to be done like this:

Have you considered something like this?

Hmm, Geo, interesting.

Pluses - do not have to move existing doorway, more privacy having the bed there, not sure if the view is better or worse, getting rid of double french door give more wall space.

Cons - less light in MBR, still as far to the w/c.

Hmm. Adding it to the iterations to consider. Thank you!

You could do a transom window over the bed. Light plus privacy!

While geokid's version has some pluses, I'd want to see the view when I was sitting up in bed. Also, I would move the door to the bedroom down the hallway some to retain a corner in the bedroom for chair or dresser or something. Not sure about the transom either as if someone's using the bathroom at night it can light up the bedroom...

I know you may know, but just want to be sure, in "annie's version" the tub goes the other way so the plumbing is near the window, so when you sit in the tub, you are looking at the view, not the room.

The shelved wall is pretty, but PITA to clean....reminds me of my grandmother who had something similar with floor to ceiling dishes. I'd opt for the view from the tub over the shelves. You could always do that as a mirror surround by the sinks or behind the sitting chair or at the blank wall by the closet.

I see what you mean, Annie. I was trying to make a more direct route to the WC and move the head of the bed away from the door wall. For some reason it really bothers me to have the door to the room behind my head.

Ignoring the bathroom layout, here's another idea. I would still get rid of the doorway in the hallway to the laundry area. Too many doors in one small area.

This post was edited by geokid on Thu, Oct 10, 13 at 9:58

I'm having a problem doing laundry in that old linen closet ... can't get in the door to access either machine. Those walls GOTTA come down.

I have two machines in a linen closet near my MBR at home --- works fine. The doors slide in.

Just so you know my priorities, i would sooner give up having a personal laundry then take down walls.

(Sorry this is a take down wall reply)I would take down the wall where the old bathroom and bedroom soon to be bathroom join, then add a bit of sf to the bedroom/bath area. I would then put a few feet of the hall and nearbly area onto the old bathroom's square foot. The old bathroom is now a utility room reconfigured and the bedroom turned bathroom is larger. Then, I would put the toilet in a more convenient location. In most of the drawings above it would be an obstacle course to get to the toilet in the middle of the night.

This post was edited by jterrilynn on Thu, Oct 10, 13 at 11:05

yes there are some small walls missing the black line is a flat screen mounted on wall so you can either look out the window from the tub or watch your favorite show.

Thanks again, everyone! I have printed out all of these permutations. Tomorrow I meet with our contractor for his input, including feasibility and cost.

Less than 24 hours to closing!

Here's one more idea. Can you replace the windows in little bath with clerestory windows? What if you made this a 'shower' room?

The laundry (hopefully) fits in the linen area, with shelves above. Just an idea :) {{!gwi}}From Kitchen plans

Problem is, Lav, all of the windows are new. So I'm hesitant to mess with them, too... Not to mention my DHs bathroom in CT has a shower room, and I'm not a big proponent of them anymore.