Ensuite Bathroom Renovation

robert5609

last year

We are renovating the ensuite bathroom in our guest bedroom. The layout of the existing bathroom is as follows:

Our initial thinking is to:

replace the bathtub and shower with a shower only;
replace the vanity;
install floor to ceiling porcelain tiles in the new shower;
continue the porcelain tiles for the entire 125" wall;
Install porcelain floor tiles everywhere;
replace mirror (thinking of a lighted LED mirror);
replace all plumbing fixtures;
other??

The only thing done so far is that we purchased this vanity:

It is a 34.5'' H x 48'' W x 22'' D vanity by Ancerre Designs. The base is white and the top is Carrara Marble.

We would like to get some suggestions for the porcelain wall and floor tiles. Comments/suggestions on any other part of the project are also welcome. Thank you, Robert

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PRO

JAN MOYER

last year

last modified: last year

It's not a few inches. It allows a foot wider shower. . Is that a big deal? Yes. A better spend than tiling ten feet of wall too.

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Comments (15)

Jennifer K
last year
What is your aesthetic? Without some idea of your style, it's difficult to make recommendations.

Backlit LED mirrors look cool, but are over-priced (IMO) and don't give terrific lighting.

Tiling the 125" wall is another thing that may look cool but will be expensive and will complicate future access to plumbing and electrical in that wall. The advantage of tile is that it's permanent, waterproof and impervious to most spills. In a low-use guest ensuite, functionally it's overkill for a non-shower wall. And aesthetically, it locks you in-- changing the colour of your bathroom will not be as simple as changing the paint and accessories.
robert5609 thanked Jennifer K
PRO
JAN MOYER
last year
last modified: last year
Tile overkill, ( a recent fad btw ) especially with that vanity and unnecessary as well. and.....expensive and limiting. The vanity is traditional, perhaps some wall treatment that complements..even some wainscoting

Are you adjusting LAYOUT? Willing to adjust plumbing/drains etc

You are moving the toilet? Yes/no? I ask as you are replacing a 60 inch vanity with 48 inch and while it can be done, 30 inches of tub width is less than desirable for a shower with glass doors.

You may be far better off with a more comfortable shower, a toilet move, and a 42 inch vanity. Post an inspo pic of a bath you love.....for more advice on selections but with the vanity you chose, and consider the style of the bedroom to which the bath is ensuite, as well. But function, is first.

Shorten the shower a bit, ( You don't need 60" ) and there's room for shelves, at one end
robert5609 thanked JAN MOYER
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arcy_gw
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Love the furniture style of the new vanity. I think it could be even smaller but the open surface will be appreciated by your guests. What will your guests do with all those drawers!? Moving the toilet sounds like an aesthetically pleasing idea--but a HUGE expense for a few inches!! The only way to keep a bathroom reno under control budget wise is to NOT move the plumbing!! Removing the tub is a fine idea but I see the space issue with a glass door vs a shower curtain.
robert5609 thanked arcy_gw
DC Reno
last year
We have a bathroom with the layoit suggested by Jan Moyer and it works very well. you could do a half glass wall (we have that) or a full cabinet with a doo. the glass will make it look nice and bright!

how much extra cost would it add to move plumbing like this? i always hear its to be avoided but personally id spend a bit more to get more space for the availabel sf.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I need to know the style of the bedroom ensuites and bedrooms should be the same style . I love 12 x24 porcelain tile on bathroom floors and the same ones on shower walls but honestly IMO not the right choice if that vanity is the style you want. I need more info and pics of the bedroom would be very helpful I aslo do not think a lighted LED mirror would work style wise with that vanity . Why is there that weird entry ? Maybe a to scale floor plan showing the bedroom too could help.Take some pics of what is there now too.
robert5609 thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
bpath
last year
All the drawers will be nice for storing away the items you keep for guests, after they leave, and still have a couple for their personal belongings when they arrive..
robert5609 thanked bpath
kandrewspa
last year
For a guest bathroom I would keep it simple. Save your money for your bathroom. :-) The pictures Jan Moyer posted are all good ideas, as is the idea to make the shower 33"-36" X 48". This is something that will also be appreciated by buyers when you go to sell. I like the second picture Jan posted the best as it seems closest to your style. Here are some other ideas.

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robert5609 thanked kandrewspa
robert5609
Original Author
last year
Thank you all for your thoughtful comments and suggestions. Some excellent points were made and I'd like to comment/expand on those in no particular order.
1. Size of the shower
- The bathtub is about 32" wide. Note that the center of the toilet is 48" from left wall. How wide can the shower be without moving the toilet?
- What would you say are the minimum, maximum and ideal widths for the shower in this situation?
- I believe that the joists below the floor are running parallel to the 125" wall. This should simplify moving the toilet I think.
2. Shower Doors
- Would you use sliding doors or pivot doors? Pros and cons? size?
3. Wall Ties and Floor Tiles
- We are inclined to use 1'x2' tiles on the walls and 2'x2' tiles on the floor, Do you think those sizes are good? if not, what would you suggest?
- With respect to the color of the porcelain tiles, we think we like white/grey marble-looking wall tiles. For the floor tiles, we are trying to decide whether to match the wall tiles or use darker (greyish) tiles on the floor. Which do you like better?
- What size, style and color would you suggest for the wall tiles and floor tiles that would blend well with the vanity (white with carrara marble top)?
4, Mirror
- LED vs normal mirror;
- Suggestions for an LED lighted mirror;
- Suggestions for a normal mirror and lighting.
We look forward to your valuable comments and suggestions. My wife and I are amateurs at this and really appreciate your expertise in helping us sort through this.

Regards,

Robert
Jennifer K
last year
Regarding tile sizes- cleaning grout is work (yes, even if it's sealed). Less grout = less work. So the biggest tiles you can find for your shower walls will be the least work to take care of. There are now 2'x4' (that's feet!) tiles available. Something to consider.
robert5609 thanked Jennifer K
Lyndee Lee
last year
The layout of the floor joists is a major determinant of cost to move plumbing. If the floor joists run parallel to the long wall, moving the toilet is relatively easy. However, if the floor joists run the other direction, moving the toilet to another joist cavity can be much more complex. Likewise, if your plumbing is in a concrete slab, changing layout is pricey
robert5609 thanked Lyndee Lee
robert5609
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Assuming we can move the toilet to whatever location we want:
- How wide would you make the shower?
- Where would you place the 48" x22" vanity along that 125" wall?
- Where would you place the toilet?
Currently, the plumbing and showerhead are on the 125" wall.
- Should the new shower door open on the side of the 90" wall?
- Does that mean the shower/plumbing needs to be moved to the 90" wall?
- What shower door arrangement would be best in this situation? Sliding door or swing door?
As usual, I would welcome any comments/suggestions you may have.

Thank you.
Jennifer K
last year
Toilet requires 30" of space (15" on either side of centre line) minimum. I'd leave the relative positions of the fixtures as is and just adjust the toilet over to maximize your shower width. With your known dimensions, you can have a 41" shower. 36" is comfy for most people if you want to give move room around the toilet.
eld6161
last year
last modified: last year
We went with a Happy Floor gray tile called Citrus Blossom.

Polished on wall, unpolished on floor
robert5609
Original Author
last year
eld6161, that looks very nice. Is it common to use the same tile color in the shower walls and floor? I think you used a different color on the other floor tiles (or is it just the lighting?) I'm thinking of using the same tiles on the shower floor and the main floor. Your vanity looks similar to mine. Mine has a Carrara marble top. Yours looks like a warmer color. Is that the case or is it just the lighting that makes it look that way?