The time has come when we REALLY need to make up our mind. Plumber is going to get to the master bath in a couple of days. Electrician wants to know where to put lights. Here are 4 layouts we are considering. Each layout shows 2 bed positions. We think Position 1 provides for the best interior decorating options and looks best in the room (opposite the sliding glass doors), and Position 2 provides for better views and generally better traffic flow, especially in Plan A. Note: The ceiling is slightly vaulted (1/12 slope) with peak in dressing room. Plan A: what is currently framed. POSITIVES: it's currently framed, you enter right into the bedroom, and the dressing room area is nice and symmetric, a nice room into itself. The door is clearly visible. NEGATIVES: upon entering the bedroom, with bed in Position 2, you are right at the head of the bed. With bed in Position 1, you have to walk around it to go to the dressing / bath area. It may be a positive or negative (depending on how you look at it) that you enter the bathroom and can go straight into the toilet, though there is a door there. On the other hand, upon entering the bathroom, when you turn to the right, you'll see a very cool angular freestanding tub (LACAVA) which will look better from a few feet away at the top of the bathroom. Plan B: entering the bedroom up just a bit from what we currently have framed. POSITIVES: upon entering upstairs, you could easily go to the bedroom or bathroom. I kind of like entering the master bath in this position, straight to sink and no way will toilet be in view. We could even consider removing the door to the toilet. I also like this entry better in terms of stepping in and not entering right at the head of the bed in Position 2. Could put low linen closet opposite toilet entry. NEGATIVES: there is a door to the suite that can be closed off to make the whole suite private, but you can't see the door from either bed position. Dressing area closets aren't quite balanced, though this could be OK. Per earlier comment, when you walk into the bathroom and turn to the right the tub will be RIGHT there. We could of course use this Plan B but keep our existing bathroom entry. (this became Plan D) Plan C: straight shot up to the top and then take a left to the bedroom. POSITIVES: Maximizes headboard width for the bed in Position 1. Best layout for someone with a king size bed (which is not us). Clean traffic flow. Upon entering bedroom, bed in position 2 is right in view. Preferred bathroom entry NEGATIVES: no structure to hold up the 6' high headboard wall, so an "L" is added which could hold light switches but is not optimal aesthetically. Could either put a post there or give up the short wall idea and go straight to the ceiling. Plan D: Like Plan B, but with bathroom entry and closets adjusted to be like A. POSITIVES: It's already framed. Best view of bathroom when you walk in because tub and shower will be at some distance. Room will feel bigger I think than in B. Closets are more symmetric than B. NEGATIVES: Same ones as B. Can't see door from bed. Comments anyone? Is anything jumping out to anyone that I'm missing? Thanks in advance!!!!

IMO, the master bathroom is too small. 30" for a toilet (the minimum allowed) and 30" a vanity is tight even for a guest bath. Your closet is huge proportionally. I would take at least 2 feet from the closet to add to the toilet and vanity space (48" vanity and a 36" space for the toilet) because I would much rather be cramped in a closet than feel cramped in the bathroom. You could also take a few inches from the shower. 5' 34" showers are very common and plenty of room if you are not a large person.

I like the larger bathroom, but I think the doors conflict and it is nice to have them open into the closet. I'd do a good pocket door into the bathroom to avoid more conflict although it could open against the wall next to the sink. You do loose more closet storage, but corners aren't all that valuable in a closet. You could fit a lot of clothes in there by double hanging rods. That would save some money over the Pax system. Plus your closet now seems more separate from the bathroom by extending the wall. Here is another idea for the main bath. My daughter has stacked washer and dryer and is short, but uses the arrangement well. You have plenty of room in front of the W/D to get clothes in and out. The toilet is off to the side. The vanity could be 72 inches with 2 sinks. The bonus is the door would open up against the tub and the room would feel more open. The laundry would be easily accessible without the bathroom door being in the way. Folding laundry in the laundry room is overrated. I had a nice space for folding laundry in our 1 st house with a window to look out. I usually took the laundry to the TV area and sat down on the floor to fold.

Your layout is a good starting point. In the bath, I would pull make the vanity the full 7-1/2' so there is adequate separation between the sinks and not a dead corner by the door. The shower could be reduced by a foot to 3' x 5' which would allow 4' of space between shower and vanity. At the closet I would eliminate the door from the stair hall to give more wall space inside, also maybe make a pocket door between bath and closet. A 5' linen closet is excessive but perfect for a side-by-side washer dryer if plumbing allows. In the bedroom, putting the bed on the long side wall would allow room for a nice sitting area on the opposite shorter wall near the front window.