Strange Half Bath (maybe new full?) Layout - ideas?

4 years ago

So I'm looking for some ideas for our half bath remodel. We started with a very small (3ft x 4ft) half bath downstairs. We were shuffling some rooms around and decided to grab up as much space a we can for the half bath and put it near a big window to let in natural light (previously it was on the interior of the house with no natural light).

A little background - we have a historic home in a historic district. The exterior can not be changed. Meaning the window stay as is. The ceiling height is around ten feet. The window is a french casement which swings in, and we didn't want to impede it's function. It sits a whopping 24" off the floor, is 32" wide, and about 7 feet tall, so it takes up a majority of that exterior wall.

We were able to grab up an area that's 7.75ft wide x 4.67 ft deep (93" x 56"). When looking toward the bathroom, the door is in the middle of the entry wall, and the window is to the right. Originally, we were planning to just have this be a half bath with a bench under the window. The toilet and sink are too tall to put anywhere in front of the window swing area without limiting its ability to open.

It dawned on us that there are some small tubs that could fit in the area. The only configuration that would work is making sure the tub doesn't sit higher than 24" and popping it right in front of the window.

We love the idea of making this a full bathroom, both for resale, and for the convenience of a tub on the first floor. We do have two full bathrooms upstairs, and it's a three bedroom house. We recognize that a shower would be more convenient/practical, but I'm not sure it's plausible.

That's where I'm asking for help. Does anyone have any ideas that might work? We have such a tight clearance that I'm not sure we could turn a tub into a shower.

A couple of thoughts i had was to put a very tall shower head that would clear the window, and possibly a clawfoot tub style round curtain rod, to make sure water didn't hit the original wood windows, but it would have to be nearly 6" from the ceiling to clear the window.

I'm not sure this is a viable option. Any opinions or ideas?

I've attached a very crude sketch of the layout, including the window swing path.

Featured Answer

calidesign

4 years ago

I like your first idea of keeping the half bath with a bench under the window. Make it a storage bench. I understand wanting to increase the number of baths, but a charming half bath with a nice sized vanity and an interesting window might be better than trying to cram a tiny tub in the space when you have two full baths for three bedrooms. Trying to add some sort of shower would cover the window, and likely not be up to code as you could slip and fall into the window.

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Comments (7)

Nancy in Mich
4 years ago
Yes, you would have to put in special glass if you have a shower there, for sure. Probably also true for a bath tub, since you could still slip in the tub and fall toward the window. Depending on your climate an the direction of the the window, I would put a big plant there, on a wheeled stand, so you could move it to open the window. I would look for something that fits the space and needs the lighting conditions available there. Using a sheer curtain that is shirred on rods top and bottom would give privacy and filtered light for the plant, and the plant would grow to add privacy. Depending on the age of the house, you might be able to find a pot that fits into its era,, too.
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I agree with Palimpsest's suggestion of making it a 3/4 bath (i.e. a full bath with a shower instead of a tub). That would let you shrink it so it doesn't eat into the LR, and create more separation, but it will still list as a 2BR/2ba on any real estate listing. (I've never seen "1.75 bath" in a listing--a full bath is a place where you can wash yourself, and whether that's a shower or a tub it's still a full bath; AFAIK people just call it a 3/4 bath to be more precise, but a realtor's still going to call it 2 bath). I think the 3/4 bath idea will accomplish both of the things you want to accomplish here. It will let you shrink the space and give it more separation and privacy, but it will still keep your house technically as a 2BR/2ba, so when you're trying to sell it, potential buyers won't automatically cross you off the list as soon as they read "1.5 bath" in your listing. Also, maybe this is a stupid question, but not seeing your layout I can't be sure. So here goes: Is there any way things can be reoriented in that bathroom so that it doesn't open directly into the living room? What are the other walls adjacent to, and what's nearby, and where is it at least theoretically possible to move the door to? Could it possibly open into a hallway?
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Thanks for the ideas houseful! They are so helpful. I like the first one especially, but I need to show both to my husband to see what he thinks. I love the idea of a walk-in shower--no door means less to clean. We currently have a queen bed, but would like to upgrade to a king sometime in the near future (too many kids, not enough space). So, I don't think it will fit between the two windows. On the first one, did you expand the bathroom by a foot just to make it roomy? Any idea how much it costs to move a wall by a foot or two? I'm wondering if it's worth the cost to gain an extra foot in the bathroom. I'm guessing we could do something similar without widening the bath. I'm not a make-up person so personally I could do without the makeup sitting area.
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I am not sure what part of the country you live in, but I would really miss the little hall off the kitchen to the garage. Snow, rain and dirt directly into the Family room is not the best idea. I've had garage entry into the family room and would avoid it if possible. I don't think the shower/tub would be worth the re layout for an occasional guest. When I visit, I have no problem taking what I need to the shower. I agree that the entry to the hall bath should not open directly to the kitchen/breakfast area. Can the coat closet be eliminated so that the angle can be removed and the bathroom opens to the entry hallway or the mudroom hallway?
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Do you have a separate Dining Room (this is where it would help if we saw the layout of the entire floor - both here and on Kitchens - not just the addition, the entire floor). I'm asking b/c if you do, you might consider making the table space a banquette and taking more space for the Powder Room. (Bench along the Powder Room and, possibly, "top" walls) Regarding the laundry - I'll be honest, I would not want my laundry anywhere where guests could see it - and putting it in the Powder Room means guests will definitely see it! It might help to build an enclosure around it - it would at least hide the washer & dryer, but it wouldn't help with any laundry sitting in the room - clean or dirty. Note that expanding the Powder Room may mean going with the narrower window (8'+ vs 10').
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hemina
4 years ago
How flexible is the pocket door location and plumbing? Could you put the shower on the inside wall? And the. The toilet near the window/door and maybe do an interior fixed, privacy glass so you can still get light.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
IMO a full bath on the main floor with no bedroom will not increase value would rather have a nice 1/2 bath for guests and use the space for more living space There is no reason a 1/2 bath needs a window . I would need to see a floor plan of the main floor to really understand what you want to do.
HU-527663426
4 years ago
We have a 3/4 bath downstairs which IMO should have just been a 1/2 bath to begin with. The only time in 21 years the shower has been used is when some other bathrooms in the house were being remodeled.
User
4 years ago
Having broken a leg (many years ago when I was young), I would highly recommend the importance of having a bathroom on the first floor. You never know when you might need to shower while being unable to go up stairs. I love having a bathroom with a shower next to the back door so we can shower after doing yard work without getting grass or dirt throughout the house.

Another issue is as you get old you or your spouse may be unable to go upstairs so having a bathroom and bedroom on the first floor is essential if you plan on staying in this house the rest of your life.
Paul NY 5b-6a
4 years ago
Having broken a leg (many years ago when I was young), I would highly recommend the importance of having a bathroom on the first floor... Another issue is as you get old you or your spouse may be unable to go upstairs

This is why I'm hoping to expand a half bath into a 3/4. My house does not have a bedroom on the lower floor, but the family room could be converted, at least temporarily.

Strange Half Bath (maybe new full?) Layout - ideas?

calidesign

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Nancy in Mich

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