Hi Emmarene. Thank you! I appreciate your comment. :)

I also think he is very talented. He worked with some of the greats, like William Cody. There is no window currently in the master bath. It is like a dark dank cave. He added the window.

No jalousie windows in the house. I live in AZ and have never seen them. I think maybe because we are trying to keep the heat and the critters out?

24" is the minimum depth for hanging with doors over it. The depth of systems like California Closets is something like 14"--obviously the rod is hung toward the front of the shelf system. A suit hanger is 18", a standard hanger is 16".

Than you Pal. If I dont put doors and just rods, do you think 18" would be okay? I dont think I will want doors. I was thinking of the stolman ikea system.

So I just checked and I found the stolmen system is 19.5" wide. If I put it down the middle instead of a 2 ft island, I should still have about 3 ft for each aisle.

I think it looks good, and I wouldn't worry at all about the bump out of the corner into the living room. I think it will look like it was always that way.

How high up is the master bath window in the plans? Maybe I'm misreading the plan, but he suggested vertical blinds IN the shower and above the tub? I would agree with your idea of a long window high up on the wall, or go with glass that is frosted or obscured up to head height.

The closet is roomy, you'll just need to find the configuration that works best for you.

Maybe something like this for the window?

GRIFFIN ENRIGHT ARCHITECTS: Hollywood Hills Residence · More Info

Thanks jlc712! The glass starts at the bench seat in the tub/shower and goes to the ceiling. I am kind of worried it might look funny as it is not floor to ceiling glass like the rest of the house, but it would be hidden behind landscaping and the block screen wall. I do think frosting it is a great idea. I wonder if the frosted glass would be better than just a long window?

What do you think of this? I made the guest bath shower 3 ft x 3 ft (it was 5.5 ft x 3 ft) and recessed the ma toilet. This gives another foot in front of the vanity and gives room for a wc door. The only wierd thing is all the closets around toilets. I flipped the guest closet (probably Ikeas PAX) to the shower wall. This gives another foot of wall space along the one drywall.

This is where the wall would bump out in the living room:

This is a long distance look of the space. The wall with the clocks would bump forward 7.5 ft., but I dont think it would be noticeable? I hope it wouldnt make the eating area feel confined.

Did you post this anywhere else? You might want to post it on the building a home forum. You'll get good input there.

I'm sorry, but I think you can do better. You are losing a lot of sq ft to walkways, esp with having the passage way through both the bath and the closet. If that's important to you, then ok. If not, then you can gain a lot of usable space by closing that up and having a separate door for each room.

All these closet spaces, I presume, are open shelving as there's no room for doors. Also, the Mbr looks very narrow to me...it looks to be only as wide as the guest room, and that would not be comfortable for me. I'd suggest adding a bed to the drawing to see if you like the layout.

Have you considered making more of a "vestibule" entrance to the mbr with the bath on one side and the closet on the other and the bedroom against the outside walls? This might add more separation between the br and the LR which I think would be preferable. It would also help with the problem windows in the bath...windows in showers are not a good idea maintenance wise.

Also consider the balance of sq ft...it looks to me like you have more sq ft devoted to the bath and closet than to the bedroom. Is this a balance you are comfortable with?

Also it looks like you can gain more sq ft for the project by pushing the clock wall out a little further. I'd think you'd want that wall to line up with the back of the fireplace so you had a more balanced room definition for the DR.

Your architect did indeed do a remarkable job. But I share Annie's concerns that you have more space in your master bath and closet than in your bedroom. You didn't show the dimensions of your bedroom, bit it looks narrow, and if that is not a concern, then ignore my comment.

I'll just add that frosted glass is not very private. You can see outlines of bodies thru it. If you are looking for privacy, I would keep looking for another option by the tub.

I don't think the 7.5' bump out will be noticeable at all. In fact it looks as if you could come out a little further with no impact if necessary to gain space you need for the master bath/closet and guest bath/office door situation.

Where will the bed sit in the guest bedroom?

I think I would try to square off the guest bedroom by aligning the wet/bar vanity sink + closet on one side with the bathroom on the other. I roughly

juggled the former closet space into the other rooms a bit. I could be a narrow set of recess shelves or be partly used for shower niche space or something, but I think that wall would be the best for the head of the bed and I wouldn't want a closet door to one side of the bed, ideally. (The leftover space is outlined in blue

Thank you so much Annie, OutsidePlaying and Pal! I went back and looked at the plan after reading them and did some measuring. The master bedroom is pretty narrow and long. It is 12.5 ft. wide, 24 ft. long. I am living with it now and it is perfect for me. I have a king bed in there now. I suspect the wall the bed is against is a load bearing wall. I dont want dressers or really anything in the room but bed, night stand and chairs (and Rocky's night cage - she wont sleep unless she can see me). There are too many chairs in there right now (I just shoved them in there until I find a place for them).

Glass which is across from proposed ma bath door - it might be nice to have pass through to closet for more privacy. Pal! I know I need to change the curtains per your suggestion previously. It is on my list. :)

Annie, I was hoping to use the stolmen system. I think this would be a cheap option that might fit (19 5/8 inches depth). I dont think I will want cl. doors. Do you think it would work okay then? I think I do want the pass through so I can get out of the shower and look for clothes in the AM.

The architcect was using the original plan to make the drawings and it looks like the fireplace is not quite correct. I measure 8" of space left before the dining end of the fireplace, but if I bump the wall further 8", the guest bathroom will need to bump into the room 8", and it wont line up the the arcadia window. I dont mind if everyone else thinks that is okay. Working with an old house is tough!

Pal I totally agree with you on the closet space and awkward guest room. With his closet, the wall only has 7.5 ft. available for a bed. When I flipped the cl., there is 8.5 ft. Do you think that is still too narrow? I like the idea of adding a closet against the wall, near the bar. That would hide any potential damage to the wall from removing the bath. I could even shorten the bar a little. I think he was trying to expose as much of the wall as possible as i asked him too. If we do move the closet, there would be 10.5 ft available on the op. wall. Is that enough? This room really would not make a good guest room as it is in a very public area. It would be a great office, den, or nursery though. There are three private guest bedrooms on the other side of the house.

You guys are the best! :)

This might be a silly question but why would you not make this whole area your master bedroom/ bath/ office area and leave room for a powder room near the door? You could have a lovely master bedroom....it would give you more space to spread out in and put your guest bedroom in one of the other 3 bedrooms?. Do you have guests very often? It is you who lives there full time and you should be happy with it and not worry too much about the guests that are there part time. it would be lovely to enlarge that whole area for you with the closet you want and ensuite. It would also be great if you ever (God forbid) sell that beautiful home! (Larger master plus 3 other bedrooms) You would have a nice master separarate from the other bedrooms and I'm sure you could do a lovely guestroom in one of the other 3 bedrooms. I guess what I am trying to say is try and have the closets and stuff that you would enjoy while you are there. you might be able to confgure the other 3 down to 2 bedrooms plus guest bath and still have a beautiful 3 bedroom home Just tossing ideas...........................

Is the office mostly going to be an office? Do you really need to have the flexibility to sleep someone in there?

Does there really need to be a shower?

If this is an office, primarily, it could actually be smaller.

At 300 square feet, I don't think the master bedroom as drawn is small at all --its the full footprint of substantial number of houses in my neighborhood (12x24)--but I don't think the proportions are that great. If that other room could just be an office and a powder room, you might get a bedroom with a better proportion, similar size and without quite the impingement on the living/dining area.

anrol- I did think about your idea. I really am happy with my master bedroom size. It has a 4-5 foot doorway to the living room, which is almost like part of the master bedroom. There is another living room at the other side of the house. The guest room/office is so close to the main door and kitchen that I just wouldnt feel like it is private. I did discuss this idea with the architect though. I think it is a good idea though.

Pal, I am really happy with my bedroom dimensions. It seems massive to me. The people who owned the home in the 50's had a huge custom bed made for the long wall.

I really want a shower in that room. I will use it almost exclusively as an office, but it seems that I should be able to fit a 3x3 ft. shower. When I visit friends in Jackson Hole, WY, and they have a full house, they have an office/den that I sleep on a pull out couch. It has a full bath off of it. I could envision using the room in that manner occasionally. LOL Although I never have that many visitors.

I thought about what you said anol and everyone else and I redid the plan. I realized that the bar has a wall on the dining side. I wanted a floating bar. But he needs the 2 ft. wall because we couldnt close the 6 ft. door other wise. If I shorten that space to 4 ft., I can bump the bath into the entry space 2 ft and buy more space in the closet. What do you think of this plan? I actually gain quite a bit of closet space-over 40 ft.. This looks too good to be true so I will need to remeasure. It also allows for a closet in the office.

I also pushed the living room wall back so it only bumps out to the beginning of the fireplace and will not be so dramatic and encroach on the dining area. The disadvantage is the full 8 ft. arcadia door isnt exposed, but maybe that is okay?

i have to agree that if you have 3 other bedrooms to use for guests, keep this space for your use. A PR in this area would be good tho (if there isn't one somewhere close).

And I think it would be so awesome to wake up in the morning and see that desert view out your bdrm doors! So beautiful. (I'm in the desert far SE of you. SE of Gilbert, S of AJ and even SE of QC)

Also, I haven't a clue what 8' arcadia door won't be exposed with your latest drawing above (in red) that was exposed before?

I wouldn't bump out for that room (office/guests) if it's taking up space for the flow from LR to DR. I think it'd then end up more like a hallway between the rooms.

Keep posting - I love seeing the desert up there - and the lovely house!

Thanks desertsteph! I definitely need a PR. I really want this as an office/den space. It would just flow from the great room/dining room. It just is not private for a ma br/ba as the dining room and entry is right next to it. I was just in Benson AZ recently so I bet I drove through your neck of the woods. Very pretty out that way too!

Actually there is a mcmansion and a road out my bedroom doors, but once all the landscaping is finished, I'm hoping it will be more private.

The arch. had the wall of the office/guest bath line up with the end of the 8 ft. arcadia door. I kind of liked the symmetry.

I just realized that the reason he has the bar with a wall on either side is there is probably no other way to float it. I was hoping to open the door and expose the floating bar. I guess I will speak to him tomorrow.

Just an update - I spoke with the architect. He does think we could float the bar. He says behind the rock is probably block. He is not adverse to moving the guest bath forward 2 ft. He said he will look at what I drew. We came up with a way to keep the master bath private with the glass. I will put white sand blasted glass a couple feet out in the flower bed, about 5-6 ft. tall. I'll plant things in there and move my current plants forward. I think this is a great idea. I think this architect is very good!

I think sandblasted glass is a great idea and will look very dramatic!

My master bedroom is 11.5 feet by 19 feet. It's a strange dimension in theory but works well in practice. Mainly what it limits is you can't put any furniture directly across from the king bed (mine is so narrow I also don't have a bench at the base of the bed). In our house that's not a problem as the bed faces floor to ceiling windows. There is plenty of room for dressers/seating to either side of the bed and it's kind of nice facing a relatively clean window instead of a messy dresser or TV.

I wonder if you should consider door placement for the master closet/bath as a way to frame the head of your bed. E.g. have the doors to either side of your nightstands instead of either side of the room.

I wouldn't limit my master closet walkways too much. I have a narrow walkway in my master closet now about 30" and I really despise it.

I have never heard of an ardacia door. Just had to look it up-- it sounds like a regional term for what's called a patio slider elsewhere?

Just wanted to say that I like the frosted glass example, but the size depends on how much light you want to add. Also there are many different types of obscure glass and even different types of frosted or sandblasted glass and there are different levels of obscurity. How much you see also depends on how close a person is to the glass. I like that partial frosted version though, since it always lets you see the sky and treetops.

That sounds like a great idea about the white etched glasss out in the flower bed. I still think I would want some kind of a drapery or something to draw across in the evening for privacy if somebody came to the door or window. I am sure whatever you decide will be lovely!

One thing I don't like is how the mbr opens directly into the living room and the guest/office opens directly into dr. Is there a way to make a powder room for the LR/DR that could also be used as a private bath for the guest/office? Also adding a vestibule that will allow for more of a separation between the public and private spaces? I didn't realize that the mbr was so deep...seems to me some of the sq ft can then be put to more separation from the LR....

Robo - I agree the room seems very big to me. One wall is also floor to ceiling glass or red rock, so it limits how much can be done with the room anyway. Do you think 36" will be a better width? Or even wider? The wider it gets, the narrower the closet and counter get, but I think you are right. That bothered me too.

Lori, yes arcadia is another word for patio door. I hope I am not making that up? I thought that was the word my grandparents used, who lived in AZ. but were from MN. I think you are right about the powder coated glass.

Well, never mind on the white glass. The landscape architect seemed horrified when I suggested moving the plants. I think I will just do a nice long 2 ft. window up high or a large powder coated window. I guess it will depend on the price.

Annie, those are really good points. I agree the ma bedroom is in a wierd location. I think the that side of the house was the parents' wing and the other side was the kids wing. There was a sliding door, "A", that separated it (gone when I bought the house). The ma door was originally off the dining room where "B" is (moved before I came along). Ignore the kitchen because the butler's pantry/scullery is proposed. Given that there is another large living room area, do you think that makes the ma br door location any better? I dont know how I could do a vestibule in the ma br. I have thought about combining two back bedrooms to make one ma bedroom, but I dont think there is enough space. Then I thought of building a master addition off the casual room (C). I have three sets of plans from three different architects for this. The addition would have views of the mtn out one side and the city out the other side, be in front of the pool and hot tub, and should be quieter than the current ma br. If I did the addition, then I would do a quick cheap fix for the current ma bath and put the money towards the addition instead. But I just cant validate it. The house is 3900 sq. ft as is and I just dont need the extra square footage.

rocky would you care to sketch out where you see your bed, night stands and/or any other furniture going in your mbed?

Hi Robo. Here is a sketch. Now I am wondering if I should not do the bathroom door. I dont know if I can figure out a way to close off the closet space near B above with barn doors. Then I could push the bathtub back next to the sink and widen the shower, which I just realized is only 3.5 ft. wide. But I bet if I tile the wall on the walkthrough to the shower, I wont need the shower door. Then the shower will seem pretty wide.

No dressers or chairs?

This is kind of an uninformed opinion so take with a grain of salt. I like your architect's original plan because when I look at the photos you've shared over time, I get a sense that your house, architecturally, is about minimal separation between spaces, big big wide open areas for circulation, and lots of traffic paths.

So when I look at what he did with the master closet and bathroom, you keep that flow (multiple traffic paths) and with the guest bedroom, you get that wide open alcove before you get to the room proper.

The only thing I wonder about, and this is a small detail, it's whether you wold consider a smaller scale modern slipper tub in the matter bath instead of what appears to be a built in tub with a pony wall.... Would this help make the bath appear more spacious?

Also, I like your idea of a doorless shower.

One thing I realized when I put the bed in the drawing as I am not sure where to put chairs with the extra door there now. This made me wonder if I should only have one door into the bath/closet area. I dont want a dresser in the bedroom. I really want all clutter out of the bedroom anyway, but with two doors against the wall, it minimizes the area to put furniture.

I totally agree with you Robo on the tub. I was thinking the same thing.

I think Annie is right in that the ma bedroom is not private the way it is connected to the living room. I just dont know what to do about that. One thing I could do, is if the estimates come out super high, is maybe look at just cleaning up the ma ba/cl area (needs a new shower) and building a new master in front of the pool. I just dont know if this is a good idea. It would make this house huge.

Here's a photo of the stahl house master ... not too private ;)

If I were doing a chair in the mbed I'd stick it in the window corner, not by the bed anyway.

I loved looking at the pics of the Stahl house! I see a lot of similiarities. Is the bedroom coming off the living area like mine?

I think you are right - I should add a chair somehow in the corner.

No, the bedroom is around the corner from the kitchen - but the main living area is the pool deck and it's extremely open to the pool.