wowed, I agree with your response, and it's interesting to me. I would want at least sound, if not visual, separation, between a lavatory/dressing area and a bedroom. It's interesting to compare the bedroom/lavatory area/toilet and bath area layers to a palace set up: the anteroom, the throne room (no pun intended) and then private quarters. In the same way, access and function are layered. I think most users would agree this sort of layering is a good thing. Contrast this to the evolution of design of the kitchen/dining/family room area of a house. For me, sound separation of activities (eg., tv watching vs. a conversation in a dining room, or relaxing in the family room without the din of dish stacking) or visual separation (chatting with guests in the dining room while not worrying about how the busy food prep area looks) or even olfactory separation (reading a book in the family room while onions are sliced and sauteed in the kitchen). The grand, open flowing floorplan for these areas is popular, but for me, I prefer a little segregation, especially as the number of users and potential simultaneous uses goes up. Seems to me, as the average household size has shrunk and more people are living in a house of only 2 or 3 people, sure, the open floor plan can work. But for now at least, I want a little bit of separation of activities, and I like my "antiquated" floor plan, with separate kitchen, dining room, family room (tv) and living room (piano). A tv and piano in the same room would be a nuisance for us. So I guess on a more micro level, I'm looking to separate activities in the bathroom. But I agree, if in the process of pulling them apart and relocating them, I mix grooming and sleeping, well, yes, that would be a disastrous unintended consequence! responding to another post, I don't know why that link didn't work, here is the direct url: http://www.farrow-ball.com/Company/FBStyles.aspx?language=en-GB&style=5

Trilliant- you are exactly right, this is no longer a small bath!! I guess when I wrote the subject of the OP, I was referring to the current footprint. Monoct and other design gurus: Sorry for the confusion. The dotted line area really should have been drawn only BELOW the current bathroom outline, not to the left of. I erroneously drew it on both sides, but in fact it should be only below (south) This is where the current roofline slopes downward and this area is 6-8 feet to the south which could be expanded and used as bath space if the roof were raised and the space turned into a dormer. To the left of the bathroom is the existing hallway with access to the bath and upstairs bedrooms. Thanks again for the help and sorry for the confusion! ;) d

Thanks for your thoughts, folks! flyleft.. I'm laughing at your posts :) Regarding the leaking issue.. I don't think that the angle will affect our set-up. in either case, the door is hinged on the wall, and the door clese against a piece of glass it's not in plane with. We have the option of installing a silicone flange along the long open side of the door if need be, but we're going to try it without the flange first, because I want a cleaner look. In either case, the showerhead is facing away from the door, so we're *hoping* it won't be a problem. I'll check with the fabricator though and see what he thinks. I also emailed this question to my brother, who is an architect in Norway (currently working on a new courthouse for Mecca!!) and he said, angle the shower door, no question. So now I am pretty well convinced!! Thank you!

I just finished an addition to my twenties home. I tried everything to get a bath and closet with in a 13 x8 ft space but everything felt cramped and instead of having a tight closet and a tight bath with small shower and vanity we decided to add wardrobes to or large bath. I wanted custom but due to an unexpected health issue we scaled back budget and went with IKEA pax wardrobes they hold all of my most worn seasonal clothes and all of my husbands work clothes plus most worn casual wear. I like the reach in better for organization too. We still have the orginal reach in closet and a pine older armoire for extra items in the bedroom but never open it. Could you add wardrobes in the bedroom and have a nice sized bath with additional storage? I really love my large bath after years in this old house with tiny baths and closets. I was unconventional and like keeping my clothes in the bath which has two venting fans. it is my most private from the street area in my room so it is where I change anyway but the wardrobes take up so little space I could have placed them in the bedroom without losing much floor space too. in your second plan you can turn the vanity and make it longer and have the edge abut the shower with a half glass panel and than the door....