Thank you both. :) Lavender--I am with you on loving floor plans. I do not have so much time as to look at every house plan on every architect's website, but I do like to problem solve with people here on GW. It has been a fun past-time for me since joining. I've learned a lot, too (about kitchen design, in particular. Our kitchen is so small, so for people with actual kitchen space, I've enjoyed reading the suggestions.) And, yes, although my kitchen footprint (or really anything in it) didn't change, it feels SOOO much bigger with the connection to a living space. And, I can supervise the girls playing while I make dinner so much easier with eye contact. Bevangel--unfortunately, we can't go out the front of our house *at all*. When we did the research to add on to the back, we discovered that our house is actually already forward of the setbacks. The city put a street in front of our house after it was built (the street is a cul-de-sac, so it isn't a thoroughfare), and when they did so, apparently the setback is officially within our foundation. We are fine with that--grandfathered and all--but can't build to the north. And, yes, I understand about how you can't touch a structure for it to be grandfathered in. I just can't believe the stairs were okay when they put them in! (Our house was built in 1982--not *that* long ago!) But, I was hoping someone would have a slick solution to that. Also, great observation/thought about not wanting to give up your Master when guests come. I think we will continue to work with the mind-frame that our "Master suite"(!--kind of excited about that prospect) will be upstairs with the girls' rooms, and the guest/flex room will be downstairs on the main floor. And, yes, I too was thankful Summerfield was able to suggest something. I've missed him/her on the board of late--must be really busy. Merry Christmas to you both!

My first collection of comments are related to your revised drawing/plan: As I look at your revised drawing it doesn't look square. You state that the room is 6x6. But even so I think you will only get about 19-20" between vanity and toilet. Unless you got an 18" vanity, which is what I did in my East Bathroom that is 6.5' wide. If you remove the chimney you could put a window there. I've placed a small window in my West Bathroom, that previously was lacking one, and I love it. In my West Bathroom (I show in the last set of pics) I have a cast iron Kohler shower pan that is 36x60", with glass doors (French). I could see you doing something like that in your room. The curb is about 2" finished floor. Easy to get in and out of. The cast iron is a dream to maintain. Even better might be using a 36x48" pan then have 18" to one side for storage, as you can see in East Bathroom pictures, to the left of the tub. The storage could be in the form of pullouts like a pantry, or cabinets with pullouts like mine. They would be deep, so the pullouts would be very helpful for access. If you did cabinets, the lower drawers wouldn't be as deep, to allow for the toilet. The upper ones could be deeper. The plumbing could be housed in that pocket too. I like the idea of moving that closet wall to give you the width you need for the toilet and vanity. My East Bathroom; to demonstrate 6.5' wide room with 27" toilet round bowl, with 18" vanity. The floor tiles are 6x12 to help with floor scale. The pull outs at the tub are not as deep as the 30" tub, due to the toilet in the way, but are great for storage. roughing in: the pullouts, the plumbing is in there too and you can just sort of see the wall mounted tub fixtures. the pullouts come out as far as that door, just to the toilet tank: This toilet is the Toto Promenade in the round bowl. I love this toilet and would recommend it. But I love Nancy's idea of the wall mounted toilet with the tank in the wall. I have a Bidet on it now as you can just slightly see by the toilet lid in the pic above): These second comments relate to the plan where the chimney stays in place: I like the idea of expanding the shower. Here, a Kohler pan 36x48" could work well. One thing I did in my West Bathroom was a long wall niche that allows for a bit more elbow room. Its the only thing I like about having a niche, because they can get bogged down with products and trap water on the shelf, causing mold. I wipe down my shower daily following the showers. Last one to shower gets the honors. Its a quick wipe down of all walls and glass. Floor gets a clean every couple months, if that, depending on the shower load. I haven't had to "clean" my shower in 4 years, because of my daily habit (that I never had before). So glad I adopted this habit, I did not want the ugly mess that my old acrylic shower/tub combo had become. Since your wall is not an out side wall you could put a niche there. I only place 2 bottles of product on that shelf, lol. Any extra go in a basket that sits on the shower floor at the far end. I have a nice clinical shower stool in there too, with a gray seat that matches the floor. Nice to sit once in a while to let the rain shower head run on me. Having your toilet move down into the new expansion would be great. If you could move the wall 18" you could have that left wall become a wall with shallow built in 15" cabinets. Maybe a even a pass through into the closet for some things. It could even have a counter and uppers sort of like a kitchen. My West Bathroom; 5' shower space, with grab bar, niche, Hansgrohe rain shower head and hand held, and Fantech brand exhaust fan with light on the ceiling. The motor is in the attic and split into two locations in the bathroom, on at the shower and the other at the toilet: French doors, allow me to open the whole thing if needed, but I just use one normally: Kohler shower pan, in remodel process. This one has a center drain: Don't forget the exhaust fan, and a gap under your door to allow for make-up air to enter the room so the fan can work at evaluating the moist shower air. Click any photo for enlargement and full view.

Thank you Lynn. Now I'll put my "work" hat on: ) I'm at your home. "Okay.....we have a floor, beautifully executed and clearly an intensive labor of love. if you will forgive my analogy, we'll pretend this floor is one of your kids. You love this kid. He/she has been with you since seemingly FOREVER. Still is. But now, you'd like a space less shared, an office or craft room in that kids bedroom space, or EVEN a completely different home all brand new. Perhaps that's in a different locale, city state or country. He/she won't leave and fully get on with their own life. .......... This kitchen floor is that scenario/kid. Do you love it enough to work around it. Not a half measure of "maybe" we shall change it later. Does it stay, or does it go? Do you love it enough to do a soft white cabinet with simple soapstone tops? Beautiful warm brass hardware, and pendants? Do you love it enough to do a pale gray island with those soft white cabinets at the perimeter? I ask , because this is what you said to me on the phone: "We are remodeling our kitchen and in that process have decided to keep it light. Fifteen years of dark greens, slates and granite were just too much. We had narrowed the cabinet choices down to white or a light naturally stained wood. Recently, my husband who has a love of all things natural, pushed for the second choice. I was happy........I couldn't picture................" "I have already let go of my dream of a blue kitchen because of the slate floor." Back to ME, and my money making hat. In a word........'WHY?" In three words, WHY, WHY WHY? ..... and what sort of blue were you thinking...............?

I agree with latfolia - that corner closet in the "master" is messing up the whole room. But 13' x 15' is a decent sized bedroom - ours is 12'x14', and we have plenty of room for a king bed. You might feel better about the closet if the doors weren't mirrored. I would start by opening up the closet, so you have full access, all the way to the right end. Efficient use of organizers, with single and double rods, could give you all the closet space you need for daily use clothes. Off-season and less-used clothes can go in one of the other closets.