I'm moving from a 30"x30" shower, so it *is* possible to clean yourself in 3x4'. Is it luxurious? No. But if YOU prefer a tub, then don't devote all that real estate to a shower.

Since you didn't mention it, I just thought I throw out that the dual sink is NOT required. When limited by space and finances, the second sink is really low on most people's priorities. If going down to 1 sink allows you to have a tub AND a bigger shower, or more storage, then maybe that's something you can give up to get what you want?

I would prefer just the shower in that size/shape bathroom. I also like that the toilet has a bit more privacy.

If you do decide you need a tub too, then don't do the built-in tiled deck tub ... so 1980 - 1990 ... most of us are ripping those suckers out of bathrooms. I would do a free standing soaking tub as they take up less space and visually open up the room.

I'd go with the tub and shower combo.

I don't love the shower in the just-shower drawing. While it's long, it's less than 3' wide -- and while that's technically enough, it does seem a bit like a summer camp shower: Enough to get the job done, but not in real comfort. As the above poster said, 3x4 isn't luxurious, but it won't feel too small; I have 3x4 now, and it's enough. Having said that, 3x4 is NOT enough to include a seat, something that you have in the just-shower drawing; is that something that really matters to you?

I also agree with the above poster: The repetitive sinks aren't required, and since the "shower plus tub" layout takes away that nice linen closet, I'd choose storage space instead of a second sink.

I'm going to disagree with the above poster about the tub-in-tile-deck being outdated: Yes, freestanding tubs are lovely and definitely on-trend for the moment, but they do not take up less space (you need visual space around them), and cleaning around them is more difficult.

How big is your shower in the first plan? It looks as if some of the plan is cut off at the bottom.

I think a 3X4 shower is good, but not if the shower is aimed across the 3 foot width. So if you could make the shower opening 4 feet with the shower on the left wall, that would be nice. Otherwise I would go with the bigger shower. I like a tub deck. (Looks nice and is easier to get in and out of tub.)

As long as you have 36" on the wall with the shower head (elbow room) the other dimension can be anything more than 36". I like our shower with glass door and one glass wall. (BIG showers = More time to clean them.)

I wouldn't buy your house if there was no tub in the MBA. I love my fast-filling Ultra Bain air jet tub and use if often. (Yes, it is built in, to hide the motor -- fine with me.)

I am SO happy to have my own sink, while DH has his -- and cleans it.

I'd look for a better 'shower plus tub plan'. (A little help, Forum?)

hi everyone, thanks for the feedback! mrspete, in the just shower option, one of the options we're looking at is eating into the closet space on the other side of that wall, so that should make the bigger walk-in shower wider than 2' 10". if we do that, i think the shower could look more proportional.

chisue: we're asking the architect to look at other shower tub combo, but i feel at the end of the day we are constrained to a 3x4 shower stall. The last thing i want is to compromise to get those 2 and end up having a MBA that's just meh.

Can you post a larger area of the floor showing the adjacent rooms with measurements and indicate what is new construction? And also can anyone post how much room, in general, to allow for a soaker?

A 3 X 4 shower with glass is fine. Nothing *less* than 3-wide is fine. You don't have a huge room: Roughly 8 X 8. Do show us the adjoining spaces. Maybe there's some space to steal and other door/window possibilities. (Tubs don't nave to be huge. My drop-in is 36" X 56" overall.)

Hi everyone, thanks so much for all your feedback. Here is a more comprehensive look of the plans. I think what we might consider doing is eat into the master suite by another feet and make a 4x4 shower stall. and in the back of the bathroom eat into the other side of the closet and fit a nice free standing tub?

do you think that sounds more realistic?

If I still shared a bathroom with my husband, I'd definitely want two sinks. We built this house 34 years ago. He's had his very own bathroom for 31-32 years :) Our master bathroom had two sinks till we remodeled it in 2007. Since I was the only one using it, we removed one sink and shorten the vanity about 6" to make room for a larger tub (Bain Ultra air tub in a tiled deck). If your wife wants a soaking tub then why are we even questioning the options? <g> Soaking tub and smaller shower it is! :) It's a win-win. But that's just me, I like tubs. I wouldn't buy a house without a tub in the master bath. Good luck!

I think that your new plan sounds good. Where every inch counts, you could do a shower 36" by 44 or 46" with the shower head on the 36: wall. My last 2 showers were 46" deep and I had room to keep my head out of the shower spray, or in as needed. Sometimes shower heads are up too high for short people. ):

It looks like closet space is at a premium in your bedroom as well as floor space, but with the way you have it arranged, it will feel spacious. I would consider moving your window to the right a little so that you might fit a small chest on that wall between the closet and window.

If your TV stand does double duty as a chest, I'd leave the window as is. We have a chest under our TV on the wall as you have pictured. That arrangement works great.

Also, small tubs are more comfortable for me, use less water and take less time to fill. Our last tub was a 5 1/2 foot oval that I think I might have preferred as a 5 foot length. I am 5'4".

I think a deeper tub can be shorter in my opinion, but I'm short ):

I'm still thinking about the MBA. If this is all new, can you swing the bedroom entry door the other way, against the wall, and make the closets deeper? Will everything be built in, or will you need dressers? A chair or two?

The adjacent bathroom has a bigger shower than what is proposed in your master bath? Maybe you can steal some space there? (Or just go shower over there.)

Hi, thanks all for some great great suggestions. This is the latest
iteration. Kirstyeg, funny, i saw you post right after we met with our
architect that's exactly what he suggested. Though now i'm a little
concerned that we are jamming a little too much into a smallish MBA.
Will share the new plans as soon as he shares it with me =)

We're going without a master bathtub in our new build as well. Our master isn't huge but we have room just about whatever size shower we want (within reason)... still trying to
figure out what is ideal. (I started a thread on this topic, actually)

I think giant master tubs will go the way of formal living/dining rooms- people will realize they just don't use them as much as they think. There will be a tub elsewhere for kid/pet bathing. I do believe that no tub anywhere is a resale problem.

It sounds like you want the shower and wife wants the bathtub, so my recommendation would be to figure out a way to get both---best compromise.

My own preference is a walk-in shower constructed in such a way that you don't need a shower curtain or door. We have had that in our master bathroom for over twenty years and never regretted that choice. I only remember using another bathroom's bathtub once.

How big is the shower that you don't need a door or curtain to prevent floor getting wet?

Would you ever consider putting a shower in the soaking tub? You can do a tile surround & it would be larger than the small corner shower. I honestly wouldn't worry too much about resale value. Builders in my area say that large tubs & little showers are RARELY installed in new homes these days. Builders told us that everyone wants big tile showers. Do you have a tub in another bathroom? I wouldn't eliminate a tub from the home completely, but having one in a guest bath, or kids bath would be just fine.

I second what Mark said. I do mainly remodeling and most people are opting to eliminate the master bath soaking tubs and put in a bigger shower. Other than for a select few that really like to take baths, I don't think you're hurting resale value.

I'm such an oddball!

we think we are going with that tub/shower idea. now we just need to find a nice free standing tub that we both love. i love that old vintagey look, she not so much. let the negotiation begin!

I love baths, too, even though I may not find time to get into one as much as I'd like. As a result, I downsized from a 6 footer to a 5 footer, but it is very deep, so it gets the water up to the back of my neck if I bend my knees, which I don't mind doing. The key is to sit in as many as possible to make sure you know what is comfortable, as well as what looks good!

Lori, part of the reason DH has never used our ensuite bath in the 13 years we've lived here is that he doesn't fit. In the new place, I figured if I'm going to devote 5' of space to a tub, I might as well go 6' and get something that we be used more often. He didn't put much interest in searching for a tub because he didn't think he'd use it. So I got one I liked, that was extra long. Last week he got in it to watch me tile the shower, and exclaimed "My God, this is awesome! I'm totally going to be a bath guy!"

And Jason, mine is a vintage tub. It's way more comfortable than anything we tried new. So maybe that's a factor in your negotiation?

That's funny, Amber-- we got the 6 footer and offset the spout so we would both fit, but it turns out that is a very rare event! Maybe because I like the water several degrees hotter... Goes to show how plans and predictions are sometimes off, though!

I personally like the shower without the tub since it seems more practical in a master bathroom. Also, your large shower would look very luxurious. However, for resell purposes, having a shower without a tub will make this bathroom a 3/4 bath rather then a full bath, which can affect the home value. If this is a home you are planning to keep for a while, go with whatever you see most practical and useful.

- Deluxe Vanity

its interesting, we went shopping for fixtures today, and wifey saw a cute clawfoot, she didn't really object to it and was somewhat fond of it. Though she wasn't as fond of the silver foot, need to find one without the silver foot, or maybe just show it to her a few more times and she will change her mind! will keep you all posted once we start that phase of the project!

You can get them in any colour foot. Oil rubbed bronze and white are common alternatives. But you could also spray paint them any colour you wanted.

I wanted ORB feet too, until I discovered the V & A tub we chose didn't come with ORB feet and I went with Polished Nickle. Our fixtures are Brizo, Chocolate and polished nickle and the cabinet hardware and light fixtures are ORB. Mixing the finishes turned out ok, I think. Something to think about.

Since my tub is old, I had the feet replated. There's no reason you couldn't do that with new feet of you wanted to.

I wouldn't give up the tub because it really makes the bathroom. I think the Master Bath is more of a master with a soaking tub. I would never give up 2 sinks. It wouldn't be good for our marriage to be fighting over the sink. I like the privacy of the toilet area in your first drawing. I would go with the smaller shower with the tub. I have had a 36" by 36" shower for years. A 6'2' large build husband, who is comfortable in there. We are going to make our new shower 36" x 48" because we have the space. I agree with someone else don't put the bench seat in. I think tile also gives you more space as opposed to a fiberglass surround which adds a couple inches to the interior walls. I considered going into my closet for a 60" shower but I don't think it is worth it. I will make the smaller shower elegant and put top features in it.

This is a very old thread that got resurrected. I don't think the OP is here any longer.