Oh my bellburg, you sure have an active imagnation. Perhaps you could create a work of fiction from those thoughts.

We've lived in this house well over 25 years. We did not just move in. We've made improvements over the years and now,our home functions beautifully and we think it looks nice.

After 18 years of having to climb the stairs to use the bathroom, we finally installed a first floor bath/laundry room. We never needed a second bathroom opposite the other upstairs bathroom. That's why we took it completely out.

I would hardly subscribe to some theory that you have to have everything figured out before you become a homeowner. Completely too anal and soul crushing. You do things your way and I'll do things my way.

I'm dealing with a devastating illness, beating it so far & that's why I'm one tuff moefoe. Yep, women's tuff too. *does ninja kick*

That's "he" (me) in the before photo of our family room remodel, taken maybe 15 years ago in our "tenement slum".....the star in the after photo is my gorgeous cat who in a rare stroke of luck positioned himself perfectly for the picture.

Justerrilynn has a great point... I don’t think it’s the toilet itself but seeing its “intestines” that’s the issue. As others have suggested, a small basket will solve your issue. Can’t wait for pics!

Without spending time to read all of the above posts I suggest the only way to make this NOT a focal point is to create a new focal point in front of the toilet. A long narrow table on the wall across from the tub is an immediate focal point when entering the room as it will be the first thing to navigate when entering. Failing that a soft furnishing on the wall across from the tub such as a number of hanging towels displayed nicely would also do the trick. I would suggest the towels be hung from hooks as they will block more of the toilet view than a towel bar. Give thought to enhancing the place that you want your eye to travel to first.

I looked at several old houses (1810-1840) that had toilets built into old storage closets in the hallway, several that had a toilet in the open basement and one that was cantilevered off the third floor landing (in a closet) with the soil stacks and other plumbing running exposed through the stairwell.

So you can't really judge the bathroom layout in an old house at all. They were built before there was such a thing. (And you could still buy kit houses with no bathroom well into the 20th century).

Cantilevered over stairs

From underneath

A basement toilet

And cookstove for good measure. (I have seen this (original cooking FB and Civil War era cookstove) layered with a 1920s and 1950s gas stove in some basements here)

its really the big frikken empty wall to the left (on hte pic) that you notice first, and then since theres nothing there but an empty wall your eye goes to the toilet. So hang some towels or art piece on the wall, put in a storage piece of some sort, Or something. That bathroom scale can go to some less prominent location - preferably out of the house in storage in the garage would be my choice LOL.

palimpsest, interesting pictures of those toilets tucked into old houses.

I asked hubs if he thought the upstairs bathroom plumbing was original to our house and he said yes. We live in a small town (pop. 5,000) with lots of older homes, and the water/sewage system was in place even way back when. Builders just didn't place much value in a tricked out bathroom back in the day! Any kind of indoor bathroom with plumbing, no matter how small, was an upgrade to outhouses. "Squeeze past the clawfoot tub and sit sideways on the toilet so my knees don't hit the sink? No problemo!"

Thanks to all for your comments and suggestions! They are appreciated!

Hubs got the Zinser oil based primer coat on the marlite walls this weekend.

Some of you have deleted your posts. Not sure why! All of my posts on this thread are here, nothing deleted!

I like the suggestions for either leaving as-is or hanging a towel rack there (which will break up the long wall and distract the eye). And maybe artwork above the towel bar. With panels/any divider the window/light would be hidden and will cut an already narrow room in half.

The update looks great already, getting the shine off.

I didn't see if this was mentioned already, sorry if I'm repeating, but what about a standing toilet roll holder? We have one in my daughter's bathroom. I like your window (which is what my eyes are drawn to, rather than the toilet), and not having a mounted toilet roll holder on that wall under it.

Miz, great point about not blocking the source of light from the window! The room is on the north side of the house so light is of the essence.

I would love the standing tp holder and you make a good point about drawing the eye to window insread. I am not sure hubs would go for the standing holder but I will ask what he thinks. I've already told him that the tp holder needs a better placement , which will happen, but he saw no problem with where it was at!!! ??? Smh. Haha.

He often needs convinced about new ideas. He thought a half wall of bead board was better idea than painting marlite, so worried it wouldnt work or look right, but the beadboard look isnt what Im going for. He also resisted trying a newer type material of drop ceiling tiles, being comfortable with old school ones. I bought the new style to try, and now he's bragging them up to everyone! Haha. They look amazing.

He selected the tub, the tub faucet, handles and shower wand and they look terrific, and we work well to find what we both like. Its always a process!

It is a process! But a fun one. :)

I also like your idea of a narrow bench. I have a vanity stool on a wall, and love it for setting things on when I'm getting ready (items of clothing, towels, etc). My bathroom is long and a bit narrow, too. I was worried it would be in the way, we'd trip over it, etc, but that hasn't been the case at all.

Miz, your round vanity bench is perfect for the space and the printed fabric adds a fun touch to the room! Very nice!

Thank you! My last house had a built-in vanity area for it to slide under ... this rental doesn't, but I was determined to keep it. :)

I would frame a large piece of artwork (or small piece of art with decorative will hooks or towel bar) for that wall and add in a tall snake plant with a beautiful pot to place next to toilet. Then, add a long narrow wood bench beneath the artwork.

With small art work above decorative hooks and/or towel bar above bench...

Hope this helps!

You could replace the toilet with a more stylish model. Then there is the Ukrainian version - not sure I would recommend it, however.

Oh my, Lars, that toilet is bizarre!! Hahaha! I'm sure if we installed one of those, that IS all you'd notice in the room! Lol

Glo, I really like the idea of a plant to camoflauge the toilet plumbing, and specifically the tall snake plant. I know they are low maintenance and do well with indirect light. I will be trying something like that. The room is going to be painted some shade of grey, and I may consider Ansel Adams framed prints for the long stretch of wall per your suggestion of placing some art there. I have one of his prints in another grey painted room and really like it.

Actually, Glo European's snake plant in a pretty pot/basket is a really good idea. Like someone said above, it is more the guts of the toilet that are ugly. The potted plant will take care of that nicely and I don't think you can kill a snake plant

Alternatively, could you get a new toilet and actually make it a feature?

Your picture looks kind of distorted, i.e. the commode looks so small compared to the wall and window behind it. I'd get one color for the wall and window.

I mean, with this wallpaper below and the toilet in a prominent position, it looks good.

nosoccermom, I get what you're saying about the distortion. I think the toilet looks disproportionate because I took the photo as I was coming up the stairs in order to get the whole length of the room. The toilet is average size in reality, we have a slightly taller one on the first floor and being short, I like this one a tiny bit more. The photo you posted of the bathroom is absolutely beautiful. Elegant, not over done, I just love it. I don't think Hubs is up for a new toilet, this one is not that old, but if I ever would replace it, I would think about getting something like in the picture you shared. Its just a little more architectural, if that would be the word for it.

I want to let you know, the oil based primer worked wonders on the marlite. And today, hubs finished putting the color on the walls and it turned out lovely! He even managed to patch up some holes in the wall where we'd hung things and they are no longer noticeable.

It took me awhile to find the shade of gray I had in mind. It's surprising what colors are called "gray" when it comes to paint chips! I tried several samples and was sort of like Goldilocks, one was too purple, one was too blue, one was too light, one was too dark. Finally arrived at this pretty shade of silver-gray and it was just right. It it goes very nicely with the tile we're putting down.

I can see now that once we hang curtains, add a bench and a few pictures to the long wall, a shower curtain and a plant in front of the plumbing on the toilet, the toilet itself is not going to take center stage as much.

katin, that is brilliant. As it happens, I was just reading the above post and looking at that dang toilet - and realized that its not the toilet itself that the problem (its a bathroom, duh). The problem is it being a side view and seeing the undersides and the grungy old pipe and stuff. Your toilet solves that problem - as would the other solutions (eg the bench, basket or whatever next to the toilet would conceal that gap as well).

Thanks current! As I said, I did it mostly because they're so much easier to keep clean, especially when the toilets get condensation and then everything sticks to them. 1tuff, perhaps something like this could kill 2 birds with one stone for you.

This one looks even easier to clean:

We gutted our other bath as there was no choice, the master bath, and put in a Toto with no side intestines. Best thing ever not to clean all those curves and recesses. Someday I'll get around to changing the guest bath toilet above.

The toilet paper bar I picked for the master bath is maybe not for everyone but I got so many compliments on it I just put one in the guest bath. It came in handy when I broke my foot. It's a Moen.

Lars, another interesting toilet!

justerri, that's some heavy duty tp holder! I have a much smaller version of that, with just one anchor base on the wall, in the first floor bathroom and love that the tp roll is easy on and easy off. I've seen some that are not curved, either, just straight out and kinda like them---see photo. I would think yours has a bit more cost to it.

Katinparadice is right, I have 2 of the skirted toilets in my home. (Kohler duel flush with skirted bottom) and they are great. I have not had to clean or dust the sides at all. That would look good in your place

It looks great with the gray wall paint. Honestly, I don't see anything wrong with the toilet where it is. A few accessories, and you're good to go.

1tuffmoe, we are not responsible enough for this roll holder you posted. Had one but it always ended up like this.

The one I posted isn't real expensive, only 33 bucks. Moen LR2352DCH Toilet Paper Holder with Grab Bar, Chrome

You're welcome. I just refreshed 2 bathrooms with an 8k budget and managed to stay on budget. I didn't want to replace shower tile or floors so just worked around them. Upgrading vanities, sinks, faucets, etc. made a huge difference in each bathroom. Keep us posted with updates if you would please!

Justerri, ha ha, you bring up a good point about that style of tp holder, and views I read did say it tends to sag after awhile. So maybe not for us either.

Katinparadise, our renovation is going to cost pretty much the same as one of your bathroom upgrades, which for us includes the desperately needed new tub and shower surround. Well worth the money! The vanity area in my bathroom that isn't seen had a brass towel rack attached to an oak board, both of which had seen better days...back in the 80's!!! Ha, ha.

Gotta love the eighties. My sister just refreshed her guest 1/2 bath/laundry room combo. The towel holder in it was from the 50's. She looked online and they were selling for $150 on Ebay! I doubt you'll see anything from the 80's selling for that kind of money!

Hello to anyone who chose to follow this thread! I see it's been about three weeks since I last posted yet it feels much longer! We are pretty much done with the bathroom except for some small tweaks here and there and finding a few things for the walls, altho I don't feel any hurry for that as it will evolve. I'm posting a couple photos. After realizing we had some issues with the old toilet, we bought a new one. The choices were limited as I wanted a standard height with round bowl and wasn't going all over creation to find one. Picked this up at Lowes and it's just fine! I found the perfect slender table to go along the wall and absolutely love it! Eventually, we'll get a picture for above it; and it's unfinished wood so I may decide to paint it; for now I've just staged it with items from around the house. It's very pretty to look at getting out of the shower! My bathroom is so clean and nicely updated!

Ta-dah! Well done.

Looks great! Love the blue rugs.

As for me--I wouldn't want plush rugs like that in a bathroom because of dampness and slow drying. But lots of people do it, so...

It looks good. Next project...

Is there a vanity in the space between the wall at the end of the tub/shower enclosure and the outside wall? If so, swap placement of toilet and vanity -- put the toilet in that nook.

Ta-dah indeed! It looks great. And that awful floor is gone!

Well done, enjoy tweaking and remember to post when you add.

Thanks for the compliments. Tho they look super plush, probably because of their newness, the rugs are simply average ones purchased at JC Penneys and dry quickly. The idea of switching the vanity (yes, its in the nook across from the toilet) is one I had years ago; however, it was not an option.

Wow, what a transformation. It looks so much crisper and brighter as well as larger. The small table is just perfect and, I imagine, very useful, too!

(The only thing I'd probably change is the swagged curtains; I'd just let them hang.)

I did try various looks for the curtains, lowered the pull backs, raised them, allowed them to just hang; the way they are now is was what looked okay to me. As the room evolves, these ones may get swapped out; for now they'll be fine. I also tried a heavier white curtain with white dots in the fabric which was too much as well as a valance that was totally hideous.

Ohmygosh, the table is incredibly useful!!! I'm a huge fan of small, versatile pieces of furniture like tables and benches that can easily be moved around if need be, so this one was ideal. Many tables like this have a bottom shelf which I'm much happier without.

I'd welcome suggestions for what to do with the wall to the left of the vanity/medicine cabinet. Shelf? Picture? In the photo, I can only get one light in the picture frame, there's a matching one on the right of the medicine cabinet.

Oh, how nice!

I believe foremost in function, so what would you need?

Do you need additional storage" If yes, floating IKEA shelves? Or just art work?

Great job on the bathroom!

Do you need a towel rack/ring by the sink? If so, that’s all I’d do there. If not, yes, a pretty piece of art or shelf. I like the ones posted above or something like these glass ones.

nosoccermom and MizG, great pictures of shelves you posted and like both floating and glass ones. The towel rack is to the right of the vanity on a short wall opposite the empty wall, out of view of the photo.

Nicely redone. I would add nothing more other than a tall snake plant next to the toilet.

Very nice! So clean and fresh. A pretty piece of white metal wall art would look nice next to the vanity if you don't need anything for practical purposes.

katinparadise, I'm loving that metal scroll medallion, I've always been a fan of that style wall decor! That's one of the prettiest I've ever seen. Thanks for the link, going to check it out!

You're welcome. Since you're putting art above the bench, I thought it might be nice to do something different there.