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Design Dilemma Bathrooms

Toilet and shower behind a door

last year

We just bought a new house and the shower and toilet are behind a separate door in the master bath. Essentially you turn the corner and you walk into the vanities. As we are working on our redesign it seems like we’re probably just going to in large the space for the shower and the toilet and do separate vanities one on each side.

In my gut I feel like I just want there to be a door to enter into the master bath but the design flaw we are running up against is that the closets back up to the bathroom and we’re worried there won’t be enough room if there’s a wall there.

I’d hate to spend money on a bathroom remodel and build some thing that I don’t like or some thing that would be a negative upon resale if we were trying to sell. Thanks!!

Featured Answer

frankle25
Original Author

13 days ago

Bathroom is almost done! Thanks for your suggestions! We added a wall, shrunk the vanity a little, added a closet across and we're able to expand the shower :)

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Comments (9)

HU-187528210
last year
I would keep the new vanity in that spot. If you need to shrink it a couple inches. That do that. I would add a door. I’d actually add beautiful French antique doors
Or something cool.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
last year
We had a version of that layout in the last house and we extended the hardwood from the bedroom into the vanity area and closet, then the wet area had tile. We had a pocket door where you entered the bath which was rarely closed unless I was getting up before my spouse.
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Thanks bj and bill. I'll check tomorrow for your photos. My home is 100+ years old. This is the very first time I have ever done any remodeling, replacement tile yes, but this bathroom was gutted completely, due to poor original design & construction. It had been drywalled & tiled over, badly, with plain white 4 x 4 tile, on the floors, ceilings and walls. The other two bathrooms have the same tiles on the walls, both to 3/4 height. The kitchen counter and backsplash are also the same tile. That can't be normal... So we want to do this one right. Is bullnose tile customary around a frameless shower? We were told no by a contractor we know, dh says yes. Would the bullnose be used around the tile on the wall behind the toilet? Thanks again for any guidance, much obliged.
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I like the shoji screen idea, if you know where to get one or have pics of one, please let me know! I don't care if it's a completely separated room, just that there's something to block the view of the toilet from the window & tub area, like mydreamhome pointed out. The window is on the wall between the tub and toilet, for almost half the space in between. In fact, the tub is where it is because of the window---I didn't want a window in my shower, and we didn't want to lose the view outside from the tub, so switching them didn't work. That would have made life easier. We kinda got stuck with the layout. We will be pushing the toilet area back a few inches into the closet for plumbing reasons, but we can't move the shower part of the wall, because the shower pan was already in when we realized the toilet/truss problem. I honestly should just be happy the toilet is no longer in the doorway! If all I can put up is a little curtain, so be it, but wanna make sure I've thought of every option. Will go prowling for shoji screens to see if that might work. Thanks for all the suggestions and helping me work through this.
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Exactly what kirkhall said: ask the contractor what is POSSIBLE not what you should do, then make the decision for yourself. If you really want just a single bathroom, certainly that's your decision. But as others have said, it sounds like there's room for two. As for resale, you could check with a local realestate agent. However, in general, homes with two bathrooms would be worth more and probably sell faster than homes with a single bathroom. Growing up, we shared a single full bathroom (and my parents had a half bath of their own). In the full bathroom, the shower and toilet were separated from the vanity by a pocket door. For us that was quite functional. If you do opt for a single bathroom, consider possibilities of separating functions into rooms with pocket doors or something similar to allow privacy. If you post a layout here, I'm sure people would be happy to offer suggestions and options for you.
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PRO
Sorell Interiors
last year
Of course, it always comes down to how much you are willing to spend. But, I would open up the whole space by getting rid of the wall between toilet and vanity. Whether you do that or not, you should definitely put a door from the bedroom. I would get a pocket door, so it still stays out of the way when not in use.
felizlady
last year
Moisture from the bathroom, especially the shower, can migrate into your closet. Protecting the clothing would be my first consideration. Can you close off the whole bathroom with a wall and a door? If not, install an exhaust fan to remove moist air and send it outside through the wall or roof. I would definitely keep the shower and toilet in the small room and put the exhaust fan in there.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
Post a to scale floor plan then see what comes up. I need to know a budget since anything is possible. Make sure you show the plumbing where it is and also all meaurements and where doorways are and where they lead.
Jennifer Hogan
last year
Live in the space for 6 months before doing any renovation. You may find that this layout functions well or you may be frustrated every day. This is true with all the functional areas of your home. After living in a home for 6 months you will be able to clearly identify your pain points and prioritize your renovation tasks.
modpod
last year
If I understand your thinking, you are moving in the right direction.
You would add a wall at the end of the current vanity so to speak, use a pocket door.
Take out the wall between the toilet/shower and vanity, also allow allow for more natural light I the bathroom.
Increase the space then for the shower, depending on your overall Floorplan and space.
Keep one vanity where it currently is, but shorter (?l) and add another vanity on the opposite side where there is the countertop/cabinets(?).
Other considerations,
do you want a tub in your bathroom?
adding the vanity on the other side means changing plumbing, just be advised it gets more expensive.
Is there really enough closet space? You might need to post the full floorplan, there might be better ways to lay out the whole area without possibly changing your plumbing.
Congratulations on your new home!
Karenseb
13 days ago
Turned out great. Love all your choices.

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