Master Bathroom Layout Brainstorm
We’ve nearly finished our kitchen, so my next big project is
our master bathroom. I’m just feeling
out the scope of the project. It could
be as simple as updating some fixtures and finishes, or as complex as gutting
it and moving everything around.
Here is the master suite layout as it is:
And a closer view of the bathroom:
What I don’t like about our current set-up:
- The jetted tub/shower combination with sliding glass
doors. Cleaning the jets is a nightmare. - Banging the bathroom door on the closet door.
- The weird angle on the counter and the open
shelves below it. - The wasted space in the hallway between the
closet and the bathroom. - How tight it is between the sink and the cabinet in the bathroom.
What I do like:
- The big mirror above the vanity.
- The amount of storage in the tall cabinet.
- The solid surface shower surround.
What advice do you have to make a more functional bathroom space?
Comments (27)
cpartist
5 years ago
enduring
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoRelated Discussions
Brainstorming for 1915 Craftsman Main Bathroom - Lots of Pix
Comments (8)Hi memo, thanks you too for your thoughts. The tub is a giant thorn in our side. When we were working on the kitchen, we had to open the ceiling and discovered that the tub was literally being held in place with sticks pretty much. Someone had done some plumbing repairs at some point, and had not thought to stabilize the tub properly underneath. The tub was in danger of coming through the ceiling to the kitchen, a la "The Money Pit". My contractor did sister everything up, but we wouldn't get into that tub at this point if you paid us. We're terrified the weight of the water might still cause it to crash through the ceiling. So, it needs to be removed, along with the floor in it's entirely so we can have a good look at the whole floor underneath to correct whatever is happening under there. I have already had 2 contractors that I trust completely (one, a good friend who was the one that worked on my kitchen) tell me that all the concrete in that room has most likely taken it's toll over the years and removing all of it would help enormously. Did I mention my home is built of terracotta block? We even found historic encaustic cement tile under the old vinyl tile in the kitchen, set in a cement bed! We tried to hard to get that rehabbed to no avail, it was too badly ruined and it was going to cost me something like $5000 to remove it and set a new subfloor so, it's still under the new tile that got laid. Anyway - off track. The tub, has already been painted over several times. I have no idea what color it was originally even. I have had my architect (again, a friend, someone I used to work for) also tell me if at all possible try and keep it. That, and the wall tile, but the problem with the wall tile, but the problem with the wall tile is we will have to take down the walls to reuse it anyway to be able to set them correctly. In any event, I have not been able to find anyone anywhere near me that does this kind of work. It does not seem most contractors in my general area know much about being able to reuse existing vintage materials. And then there is the electrical problems that really need to be addressed as the lighting is so awful and becoming more useless as time passes. What kills me about all of this, is when I bought the home it didn't quite look so bad. I swear, as soon as I moved in tiles started falling off the falls immediately! It may have had something to do with the construction going on right underneath, the kitchen is there, perhaps all the banging just loosened everything enough to be that "last straw". I don't know. But I really thought I was going to be able to just come in, fix a few things and get away with spending maybe $5-$8K at most, not to be faced with having to gut the room :( There is a part of me which realizes switching the room around will add cost, which you point out. I could live with the layout as is, if need be. I think the worst part of it for me is the radiator issue - we really do need more leg space there; and getting another sink into the room if possible or at the very least, a vanity with more counter space and better storage (BF is not exactly the easiest to share a sink with). Even if we get a new tub - and keep it in the same place, I do like your idea of the vintage looking stand alone faucet sets, and will look them up from that website as you suggest. Tucking the cat box in that area would work also, at least it would be out of the way and perhaps we could have something custom built, with a slide out tray or something, to hide it further. Thanks again - you gave me more to think about. I did get the names of 3 contractors this past weekend from the bathroom supplier I used to purchase my two new toilets from and some accessories, one of which did say they have worked on historic properties, so maybe I'll luck out?...See MoreBathroom layout idea with 2 small bathrooms - including measurements
Comments (19)The "regular" bath layout that jensbride posted first is very similar to what our DD & DS shared for years and worked very well. The door, however, was a pocket style and placed directly across from the toilet. This allowed the vanity to be scooted around the corner to take up the whole wall. It leaves the toilet close to the tub, but with lots of elbow room. Our kids just learned to keep the door partially closed when the bath wasn't in use due to the "view"....See MoreHelp choosing master bathroom layout
Comments (4)@Bri B - I like that one a lot too. I'm leaning toward the 2nd one now though (becuase I can fit a longer bathtub, and it keeps the window in the shower). I don't love the random space left in the corner, but maybe I'll put a tree there?...See More14x7 Master Bathroom layout help
Comments (4)I agree about hating wet rooms. The tub would always be dirty. While you're remodeling, you might consider moving the closet to the other side where you currently show the tub, with a door directly from your bedroom. Then make another door all the way to the left into the bathroom. Take some space from the laundry area - you will appreciate it more in the main bathroom. You could fit the shower into the alcove where you have the laundry, with the tub and vanity on the long wall, straight ahead as you walk in the room, and tuck the toilet to the right of the bathroom doorway, behind the door, so it's not the first thing you see. You might also consider combining the shower and tub or eliminating the tub if you want to keep the laundry space. If you keep the closet location, another option would be putting up a wall between the bathroom and closet, reducing the size of your laundry slightly and increasing the closet size, accessing the closet from your bedroom wall. Either way, you'd want the vanity in front of the door and the toilet behind it....See MoreErin
5 years agocpartist
5 years agoHere is what I'm thinking.
The huge x is the shower. The toilet is in it's own alcove and a free standing tub is below the window. You have room for double sink or one sink with lots of storage. Next to the sink is a linen closet.
Your clothes would be stored in something like this:
NW London Family Home · More Info
enduring
5 years agoErin
5 years agoThat isn't a window to the left, it's an inset medicine cabinet. I apologize for that confusion. There is another bedroom on that left side, you can see the closet to that room in the upper left corner of the plan. Also, this is a second floor and if I look out the window on the top of the plan, I see the neighbor's yellow siding, so not a great view along that top wall. Here's a rough floor plan of the whole second story.
I'm not really a fan of closet entrances in the bathroom, but I do prefer more closet space to a free-standing tub. I'm also concerned about moving the toilet next to the outside wall.
cpartist
5 years agocpartist
5 years agocpartist
5 years agoErin
5 years ago
pennydesign
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoExtended the wall a little, eliminated current wall as the hallway is (to me) wasted space. closet rails in green...you could have the sinks extend and put a tower between for linens (I use my master bedroom closet, though)
enduring
5 years agoErin
5 years agopennydesign
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoErin
5 years agopennydesign
5 years agoErin
5 years agoI drew up pennydesign's plan, and it looks way too tight to me. With a 22" deep vanity and a 28" door that is right next to the toilet, the toilet is only 13" from the wall, and the closet is only 5' wide. I'm not sure the benefit of graph paper as opposed to the computer, but I have grid lines at 6" shown in the background on these plans.
Since I'm worried about moving the toilet, I tried to play around with the idea of moving the shower to the outside wall. Does this look as silly as I think it does?
I made some adjustments to my proposal per cpartist's recommendations. What are thoughts on this plan? I know the door probably shouldn't swing in, but if it swings out it would interfere with the closet door.
Erin
5 years agoErin
5 years agoI'm definitely a bit fixated on this plan, mostly because the toilet doesn't move, but also because it nearly doubles our closet space. I changed to 2' doors, which fits much better, even with an out-swing, but I am definitely worried that a 2' door on the bathroom will be too narrow.
pennydesign
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoenduring
5 years agoErin
5 years agoI've come up with a few additional layouts. They all keep plumbing off the exterior wall and have at least 28" doorways. Which one do you like best?
Option A:
Option B:
Option C:
Option D:
Option E:
enduring
5 years ago
pennydesign