It's not uncommon to have a powder room, that is, a bathroom, serving a downstairs living area. Sometimes they are too close for comfort to where other people are. Not uncommon at all. Get a noisy fan ;) While it is unusual to have a bathing unit included in lower level bathrooms, I think yours feels particularly off because it's dressed like a bedroom bath. I missed that you've already got a lower level apartment. If that would work for one-floor living at a time when you might be temporarily unable to do the stairs, then you don't really need to retain a full bath. Unless this is a house for a large family with four or more children or something. Lyfia has a good idea but how much further is the upstairs bath from the kitchen (which looks like it is still another level away)? Was this general area a separate apartment also?

There are plenty of codes that cover bathrooms from the allowable clearances for toilets, vanities, tubs, ceiling heights, ventilation, anti scald protection, proper waterproofing for wet areas, etc. You can Google the NKBA bath planning guidelines for some assistance with that as they are really too numerous to list in a post. Also read the Bath forum here for many of your questions. Posting your scale layout in the Bath forum will let others help you to see if you are following the requirements. There are other common sense precautions to take as well such as not choosing a polished tile for flooring in a wet area, making sure that you install blocking behind the walls now in case of future grab bar installation, choosing a comfort height toilet, having enough towel bars at the correct locations, not choosing a porous tile unless you are prepared to keep it sealed and baby it, etc. Then there are all of those little luxuries that you didn't even know existed that you now have the opportunity to include in your new bath. By no means am I suggesting that you order the 9K Inax toilet that will play you music and offer bidet functionality with remote control, but there are many things that can make your life easier and more comfortable. Or prettier. Like bidet toilet seats, towel warmers, heated floors (THE best!) fog free mirrors, shower niches, super quiet bath fans, and low iron super clear glass enclosures for tubs. Read the planning guidelines and the Bath forum for a couple of hours (or days!) and then see if you still have unanswered questions.

I appreciate all the feedback, I know it’s a little different. We figure we won’t be moving anytime soon, so we didn’t have to worry what anyone else likes. And my husband is design indifferent, so I get to fulfill all my own wants. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who likes this combo!

Some thoughts: A hot water recirculating pump is the next best thing to an electric water heater right at the faucet. I have hot water in my shower and everywhere in 6 seconds. Small expense. Saves water. Instant gratification many times a day. A shower only *needs* to be big enough for an adult to face the spray and rotate with his elbows out. People of any age benefit from a hand-hold at the spray and at the door. Shower seats are dangerous and awkward to clean. Our hand-held spray is adjustable on a vertical bar -- no additional, stationary spray. A swinging shower door is easy to wash; must be far enough from the spray not to require a side seal. Our MBA would be drafty without it's own door. Spend for a *powerful* exhaust fan. I'm glad we installed floor heat under the bathroom tile. We have two large pedestal sinks with 'laying space' on them. Two mirrored-in-and-out 'medicine' cabinets are sunk 5" into the walls above the sinks -- doors close flush with the walls. A full closet holds towels, toilet paper, bottles, soaps, cleaning supplies. There's no stooping to root through lower cabinets, and the room looks larger. I find pocket doors cumbersome for daily use. They have a less secure 'seal', and the sliding motion is unnatural for me. We have only two, on our his/hers walk-in closets, and only close them for 'company'.