Does the contractor going to enclose the steam pipe up to the height of the bath tub and leave the rest exposed?

You might be able to find a 52 inch freestanding soaker tub. Then you can pull it away from the wall so it does not interfere with the steam pipe.

Do you need a bath tub? Another idea is to forego the tub and install a 48 inch wide shower. Having a window in the shower is not the best but it can be made to work.

I think we would enclose the pipe all the way up. It is our only bathroom so we would like a tub/shower combo.

If you enclose the steam pipe, then how will you heat the bathroom? A suppose you could tap a fitting into it and install a wall mounted radiator.

A standard bath tub length is 60 inches. There are 54 inch alcove type tubs which can be used to stand in to take a shower, but they are expensive and you will need to find an extra two inches to make it fit. The free standing tubs are meant for soaking and not a standing shower. They are also expensive and are very stylish if you want that type of look.

Hope you're intending to keep the window?

Your plumbing supply lines and drains are all along that left wall so you're talking about a major plumbing project that, it appears, will not actually result in more room in your bath. Since you're planning that large a project, you might want to look at your entire home floor plan and see if you have other options.

If you were wanting to turn the end of the room into a walk in shower, that might make sense; however, if you want a tub for adult use, you probably need to rethink your bathroom floor plan.

A smaller than standard tub for use by adults likely will not be worth having. If you want the tub for children and to stand in as a shower stall, that would be a different issue.

In the meantime, a corner cabinet could cover the pipe.

I found a couple of 46 inch tub/shower combo options that would fit the space. Mainly want to keep the tub for children. I am planning on keeping the window and moving all the plumbing on the same wall. Unfortunately I have no other options to expand or relocate the bathroom in my prewar nyc coop.

I’m not seeing how a tiny cramped tub will give you a better layout. What you have now looks relatively spacious for such a long and narrow room, and a shower over tub that can’t be used as a tub by an adult is kind of the worst of both worlds for adults, like for resale. It’s awkward to get into due to being a tub, but you can’t actually take a bath in it if you want to relax.

If you leave that pipe where it is and the width of your bathroom is 4'4" then after boxing it in, you are looking at a 3' - 3'6" tub. A better solution is to re-route the pipe into the right hand wall (where that towel rack is) so that you have the full width of the bathroom for your tub. Alternatively, and less expensive, is to do what Mike suggests and pull the tub away from the outside wall 6"-12" but this almost always results in water penetration along the seams.

Leave it alone. Nothing needs to be changed at all in that charming space. A remuddle with a tiny tub will drop the value like a rock.

The issue I forgot to mention with the current layout is the placement of the shower head which is in the middle of the current tub. It is very awkward when showering.

The second option we have is to build a wall next to the vanity and run the plumbing in that wall. The current tub is 5' 6" and we would get a standard 5' to accommodate the space that the wall would take up.

I appreciate all of the opinions! :)

Ceiling mounted shower head? I feel like something that would work must exist.

This long and narrow bathroom reminds me of the one I grew up with in Brooklyn. It had the same problems you are facing.

I highly doubt there is a radiator in this bathroom. The OP can comment if it exists or not. The large diameter steam pipe in the corner is a typical set up for bathrooms in old buildings. There is probably one thermostat controlling the heat for the entire building. The apartment above does not get to set its own temperature. How warm you apartment is in the winter is determined by what floor you live on.

I agree if this is the only bathroom then it should to have a tub. I am not sure if re-configuring the tub is going to lower the resale value on a $1M+ coop in NYC. Putting up the wall between the tub and the sink makes the shower more functional. But it will make the bathroom look smaller and block some of the light from the window.

I still think if you are going to move the tub the something like this one at Home Depot could work. It is 6 inches shorter than a normal tub. You will need 54 inches from stud to stud which may be possible once the plaster and lathe are removed from the walls. You could install the tub 8-10 inches away from the window wall. A shelf could be built between the tub and the wall and covered with tile. That becomes a place to hold your shampoo bottles and soap dish. Most of the steam pipe would still be exposed and will keep the bathroom warm even with the shower curtain closed. The shower head and controls stay on the same wall. This will open the space to put in a 36 - 48 in vanity with a granite counter top and a wider medicine cabinets and better lighting. That will give you ample storage space. Something that was not an issue when this bathroom was laid out 100 years ago.

Have you asked any of your neighbors if they have remodeled their bathrooms? It would be helpful to get ideas and see how they dealt with these challenges.

Thanks mike_home! What you described is exactly what we were thinking! The tile is very thick so we are hoping to gain an inch or 2. We are on the top floor and the steam pipe does provide warmth but our apartment is very warm and we are not too concerned about losing some of that heat.

Yes we checked with some of our neighbors in our line and one person put in a smaller tub, another person built a wall for plumbing. Another neighbor said they were thinking about installing a rain shower head from the ceiling and glass walls around the tub.

I do agree with that building a wall will make the bathroom feel closed in.

Measure the distance from wall to wall above the tile. If that distance is 53+ inches then you will be fine. Bear in mind plaster walls can be very crooked. Take a few measurements.

The fact your neighbor has done a similar design proves that it can be made to work. You could install sliding glass doors or go with a curtain. That is a matter of taste and budget.