It seems to me that forum readers periodically post about wanting to replace their old, noisy bathroom fans with a new, quiet one -- so all you have to do is wait and pounce on someone getting rid of their old noisy fan! And it'll probably only cost you a few bucks for shipping! ;) Seriously, though, I'm not sure why you would want a noisy fan or white noise in the bathroom, when you say the problem is that people outside the room hear the bathroom noises coming form within. A noisy fan would just re-create the situation you have now: the bathroom occupants think their noises are masked by the fan noise, but outside the room, people hear everything. I'd think if you had a quiet fan in the bathroom, you'd at least remove that mask, and the bathroom occupants might be more aware of the amount of noise they're making. If, on the other hand, you're asking about a bathroom fan which is so powerful it sucks up all noise, like a black hole absorbs light, then that would be pretty cool -- but I don't think any such thing exists. Fans can't keep noise in; only better walls can door can do that. Perhaps you could do the wals and ceiling with carpet to absorb the noise? ;) -- Eric

Thanks for your suggestions: Jejvtr, That's an interesting idea, making a mock-up of the door! I'm not concerned about any noise but--ahem, "bowl noise." Our pipes are cast iron and quiet, and our Toto toilets flush quite quickly (~20 seconds). Our bathroom is on the second floor and it would be quite difficult to climb in and out of the window (although possible). What I have been doing is leaving a radio on in the bathroom and seeing if different things lessened the noise. I know that's not perfect but it's all I can do right now. The door LOOKS tight in the frame, but we got some seal (weatherstripping) that I will put around the door tomorrow. I'm really trying to mock up the fire door, which of course has weatherstripping. I may look into acoustical tile and work on that mock-up idea... kitch n kat, I finally got around to the idea to hook the fan to the light (Dh can do that; he's really good at wiring, etc.) HOWEVER I tried the fan today and IT'S TOO QUIET! He sure as heck is not going to trade in a quiet fan for a noisy one (LOL) Nice that you thought of that idea first... I really like the idea of "extending" the door. We actually did that with our front door when the door company cut it off too short! I was heartbroken since it was a beautiful knotty alder door and I complained to everyone I saw. Fortunately I complained to our dear cabinetmaker who told me it could be fixed...and it was, beautifully. You can't even tell. We do leave the bathroom door open except when we have company (it looks a little tacky in our nice entry). Getting a different door is probably the best solution but almost impossible since the style wouldn't match. There's only the $900 fire door... I'll keep you posted if I make any progress. - Magpie

I wouldn't feel uncomfortable using a powder room placed where you suggest. It's not as if the door to the PR opens into the kitchen or DR. I'd go for all that storage and not give a second thought to the PR location. BUT.....this advice is coming from a person who has been likened to "trailer trash" by posters here because I have a toilet and sink in my laundry room. Despite the fact that the four of us living here are the only ones who use that toilet, that guests are directed down the hall to the proper bathroom, and that the door remains almost completely closed (can't close completely because...gasp...horror...the room also houses the litter box) during any type of large or small party, some here still think of me as trailer trash. Apparently, having a toilet in the laundry room breaks some sort of cardinal rule about which I have never once heard or read. Silly me thought converting the original laundry room, which took up the entire breakfast table wall with its huge, ugly, double bi-fold doors, to an actual room with a standard door around the corner near the back door would be better, more functional, prettier (gained a large wall in the breakfast area for art), and be less trailer trashy. We put a toilet and pedestal sink in because we garden extensively, and I have the world's smallest bladder. Having to take off all my dirty gardening clothes 22 times a day to tromp over light carpet through the whole house to get to the nearest bathroom wasn't practical. Nor did I enjoy having to get the carpet cleaner out every night after a long day outside to clean the dirt ground into the light carpet. Now, I sometimes put an old rug or towel down at the back door and can step right from the garage into the laundry room without having to remove all my dirty garments to get to the toilet. This decision was made even before having kids who like to play outside and need a bathroom. Yep, I'm trailer trash. And I'm not holding any type of bad feelings about being called that, am I? ;) Sorry for that rant. Keep the proposed PR and the storage.

Green glue sound proofing Sound transmission is a partially a function of density. Cast iron vent / sewer pipe really helps. Also you could use two layers of sheet rock with green glue To quote their web page: "A lot of people wonder how a simple layer of Green Glue Noiseproofing Compoundis so effective at dissipating noise. To understand the science behind the compound you need to understand a little about the energy of sound waves and how they travel. Noise travels through the air like a wave or an airborne vibration. When these waves hit a ceiling or wall, the vibrations will pass through the structure and exit through the other side as sound again. That is, unless the structure is damped. Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound has a unique polymeric formula that converts the mechanical energy from sound waves into small amounts of heat. When the compound is sandwiched between two rigid layers of material (like drywall), it forms a damping system. So, when sound waves pass through the structure, the energy is dissipated in the form of heat. The result is dramatic - just one layer of Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound in between two sheets of drywall can eliminate up to 90 percent of noise, even at low frequencies."