Are en suite baths worth the smaller mudroom?

last year

last modified: last year

I have a basement garage leading to a daylight basement mudroom before our kids' bedrooms. Each bedroom is an ensuite with a medium wall closet. I am considering (against the will of the kiddos) combining the bathrooms to one shared bathroom with 2 sinks in order to gain space back in the mudroom. There would no longer be ensuites, but one bathroom accessed from the hallway closer to one of the bedrooms.

We are a blended family with one 9 yo boy (his) and one 12 yo girl (mine). My daughter may hate the idea, but it seems more cost effective. Other option is to turn her bathroom 90 deg to freeup more open space in the mudroom. Also thought of taking out the slider for his bathroom to eliminate access from bedroom and make it hallway only (he is only with us 50% of the time). Anyone else with input on this dilemma? Glad to hear ideas.

An imperfect screenshot, but thought I'd add an update. We were able to move the exterior entry door for the basement mudroom to create a small vestibule under the front porch, improve room for modular closets, and keep 2 en suites (with the shared door to the lesser of the two used bathrooms).

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LH CO/FL

last year

I hate to say that the fact that they're blended siblings might make it more important to provide separate spaces, especially since the boy isn't there full time. He might always feel like a guest in HER bathroom. Giving him his own space will certainly make him feel more welcome, especially since the daughter has voiced her opinion. Why does the mudroom need to be bigger? What benefit is there to increasing the size?

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Comments (9)

chicagoans
last year
If they are 9 and 12, do they still need a playroom? Is that really more of a space for doing homework? Perhaps part of that space could be used for one of the bathrooms. I have one boy and one girl, and in our previous house (sold after they were both out of college) they each had their own bathrooms. It was great that they could both get ready for school at the same time without getting in each other's ways. And no teenage girl wants to share her hygiene space with a boy.
Karen Campbell thanked chicagoans
chispa
last year
By the time you get this built, your daughter will be at home for a short 4 years before she heads off to college!

Another option would be a full bathroom and a small powder room, both accessed from the hallway.

Add a window to the bathroom(s) if you can.
Karen Campbell thanked chispa
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After much looking and certainly not having some structural specifics, here is what appeals to me. I would relocate the MBR and Mbath into the northwest corner, Mbath would be where the kicthen is currently. Then the next two BR's would be located between the MBR and South wall, with long dimensions running east-west. Both secondary BR's could have the closets side by side on the shared wall, half the wall is one BR's closet and the other half is the opposites BR's closet. This is keeping things located as tight to the west wall as possible and seems do-able. This obviously involves the entire kitchen being moved over to the right. I see it as either an "L" shape or split counter style with the main appliance counter against the back of the MBR running south (just like the "L"). An open style kitchen-LR-DR would comprise the east side of the plan. The main bath and storage would need to be planned around everything else (narrower) but same basic area in the plan. A closet could be put on the east wall of the southern BR facing the entry. And still have more room for an entry plan. Or even the bath can go in that area and the center location currently could be made into closet/storage only. The east wall of that would be the LR. The things that "jump out at me" driving my choices are the crowded entry, convuluted BR-hallway layout (& size), and kitchen design. No doubt, once drawing things out around the existing structure's design may make this all an impossibility. But in the process of drawing, measuring, and walking-thru mentally, a more functional and more pleasing plan may show. I personally find that the process of simply trying things narrows the design choices down, sort-of a deductive reasoning. You become more in-tune with the structure and will start to see where your energy needs to be spent to address your priorities. Good luck!
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bpath
last year
Can you open up under the stairs and use that space?
jojabis
last year
Could her bathroom be horizontal like his? make make the mudroom feel less pinchy. However I do think this mudroom is a generous space.
Karen Campbell
Original Author
last year
Right now, the space under the stairs will be used as a coat closet. Thinking of rotating the bathroom 90 degrees to clear up space and make the mudroom more of an open rectangle. I also like the 1/2 bath idea for guests and quick access from the yard, thought I'd have to do a jack-and-jill bathroom or 2 sink bathroom for the kids to share....HMMMMMMM....thanks for the input!
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
last year
We have 2 ensuite bedrooms in our basement. No mudroom or garage entry though.

I just wanted to comment on how flexible and valuable our 2 ensuites are. We are empty nesters, but they are both used fairly often. I’d hate to see you voluntarily give up that asset.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
last year
That’s a good point, LH. My son has a blended family, and his son, age 12, lives there 50% of the time. He and his wife try hard to make sure that he feels 100% of the family.
Karen Campbell thanked littlebug zone 5 Missouri
Karen Campbell
Original Author
last year
Yes, creating inclusion in the blended family has been very important to us. it has impacted so many steps along the way. I think we've come up with a good solution, with the only difference between the two rooms being the 2nd bathroom having a 2nd door to access from the main media/play room. Thanks everyone!

Are en suite baths worth the smaller mudroom?

LH CO/FL

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Are en suite baths worth the smaller mudroom?

LH CO/FL

Comments (9)

chicagoans

chispa

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jojabis

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