Software
Houzz Logo Print
billie4_gw

Need help with family bathroom layout please! !

13 years ago

OK, I'm struggling to come up with a family bathroom layout that would maximize use-able space and allow for a large tub and roomy shower. This is the only bathroom on the 2nd floor and is shared by myself and three teenagers.

We're all on the tall size. I definitely want a double vanity so that two people can be using the sinks/vanity at a time.

We are all shower people in the mornings, and bath people in the evenings. I have decided that I want a large tub, and am thinking of getting one with air jets. I would like to have a large shower with a ledge.

The space is new (addition to 2nd floor so there is no existing plumbing that needs to be considered). However, two walls are outside walls.

The space is rectangular, 17' x 10'. There is space to move a temporary wall (inside east side) two more feet to 12' as this is also part of the addition. The 17' long wall is an outside wall on the west side. The 10' wall faces north. There is a cutout for a 4' window on the 10' wall which can be moved. The door opening is at the s/e corner (the opening is at an angle). We can also add a window on the west wall if we want.

I was envisioning placing the tub under the window in the centre of the back (north) wall. It would be sort of a focal point in the room and it would feel airy and open. Then we could have the toilet next to it on the west wall, with a privacy wall in front (so that it is not visible from the door). Then the shower could be in front of that, also on the west (outside) wall. I was thinking the double vanity could go on the right or inside wall. But my contractor says that a shower should not be on an outside wall because then the pipes could freeze. (Canadian winters, ugh). He wants me to put in a corner tub (60x60) on the n/w corner with the shower beside it (also along the north wall)but that way he could have the plumbing for the shower on an inside wall. That would not leave much space between the tub and shower. if we keep the width of the room at 10'. He thinks that a 4x4 shower is more than adequate. Allowing for a 5 foot tub and a 4 foot shower would leave only 12" between tub and shower! I am concerned, too, that a 4x4 shower is not roomy enough. My teenagers are growing and they are already huge! My eldest is a football player and weighs 240 lbs! I don't want him to feel cramped! The size of the room is generous, I think, so I don't understand why my contractor wants to me compromise on shower size!

My contractor wants the toilet and vanity to be on the long outside wall (west side). He thinks we should have the shower on the right wall (inside wall plumbing) with space for a change area, laundry hamper etc. in front of it.

I've been out looking at tubs and there isn't much of a selection for corner tubs. I've seen some that are 72" long that I like alot. I don't want to feel pushed into choosing something i.e. a 5x5 corner tub that I will ultimately not be happy with. I'm afraid that a corner tub right next to a shower will feel tight and closed in. Do any of you with corner tubs next to showers feel this way? I'm just thinking that with the size of the room there must be a better layout possible. And I can expand the width of the room to 12' from the currently proposed 10'.

I would like a privacy wall for the toilet, since we all share this bathroom and someone may be using the toilet while another person is shaving, etc.

I will try to post a drawing of the dimensions including where the door is. I have to wait until my kids get home from school to show me how to work the scanner. But I thought I would at least send this out and hopefully someone may have some advice for me.

I need to let the plumber know where everything is going asap and I am feeling pressure from my contractor.

I would appreciate any input or opinions or suggestions. This is our only full bathroom and as it will be heavily used, maximizing space is key.

Thanks!

Billie

Comments (13)

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    If you've got four people and 10x17 or 12x17 space, consider making two bathrooms. A 9x12 (or 10) and a 8x12 (or 10) are still very generously sized baths (says someone who has a 4x7 and an 5x9).

    When it comes to resale, buyers will want a master bath and a children's/guest bath, not a shared space. Put the shower in one and a tub shower in the other. Four people - definitely nice to have two toilets upstairs.

    If you make your plumbing wall be the 12' wall between the two baths, you will keep your costs down and have those pipes insulated. You'll only have extra plumbing for one toilet and one double or single sink.

    IMO, you need more privacy for a toilet than just a wall. Even if you aren't thinking resale, talk with your children about how comfortable they are using the toilet while someone shaves, or shaving while someone uses the toilet.

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Have to agree with the above post. Four people fighting to use one bathroom isn't good for family harmony or resale value. Is this bathroom area adjacent to the master bedroom so that the entrance to it will be from the bedroom and the other from the hallway? If you're worried about cost (as we all are), there are ways to lay out the bathrooms to minimize costs. I am one that needs to see a picture, so please post the layout when you can.

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Gosh, I never even considered making the space into two separate bathrooms!

    Thank you for suggesting this! I will speak to my contractor and plumber about this and see what they think.

    Thanks,
    Billie

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    I did speak with my contractor and he is not keen on the idea of creating two bathrooms out of the new space. And the more I think about it, the more I feel that one bathroom containing both tub and shower would be best somehow. We have a century home and all similar homes in the area have a single upper floor bathroom (the existing one was gutted to make a 2nd floor laundry room) and the addition was put on to create a new spacious family bathroom. So as far as resale goes, people wouldn't be expecting to find two bathrooms on the 2nd flor. These are small homes.

    So I'd still be intersted in hearing what people think of the layout dilmma I am having. Will try to post a drawing of the layout later this evening.

    Billie

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    We need to see you layout. But, besides that. Why is your contractor making this decision for you? You are the one living in the house. You have ample room for 2 full baths (with shower and bath in both, if you want). And, having a dedicated master bath, if it makes sense (ie, is in proximity to the master), is a huge value add for RE. And, just because you are the first in the neighborhood to change your house (add on, convert laundry), doesn't mean you will be the last. Do you want to remodel to house conditions of 40 years ago, or today?

    All of this, of course, is assuming you can afford to finish out 2 baths.

    (PS, I have a small house too, to which we added on a family room. And, I will be finishing a master bath addition when we finish the upstairs. I don't want to have to perpetually share with my growing children).

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    If you don't want to create 2 bathrooms out of the space, then I think you should at least create a separate toilet room with a door. You will have a lot more functional space with 4 people sharing it, if the most private functions can be well, private. You might also consider including the shower in the private area. That's how our master bath is. The vanities are in the main area, and the toilet and shower are behind another door. That way someone can be using the vanity while another person is in the shower.

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    We have a family bath in a 8.75" x 8.75" space. It is divided into two rooms: the first 66"x8.75' with a two sink vanity and the bathtub. A pocket door leads into the second, 36" x 8.75", with the toilet on one side and a 36"x42" glassed in shower on the other. Not ideal for most, but we carved this out to replace a standard 5'x7' with single pedestal sink and it's heaven.

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    i second at least separating the toilet into it's own private space! and, if you anticipate 4 people sharing this bathroom for quite a few years, possibly add the other 2 ft and another enclosed toilet...

    we had a corner tub in our master bath and i didn't like the wasted space behind it- too much space to then clean and 'decorate'...and ours had 2 windows on the corner and it was a pain opening the windows/adjusting the blinds, etc because you couldn't do anything to them without climbing into the tub! when we redid the bath, i put the tub flat against a wall and like it much better!

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    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.

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    We just had this same discussion with our real estate agent (the one who sold us the house 2 yrs ago). We were going to do what you have planned - a good size bathroom with toilet & bathing separate from 2-sink vanity. She convinced us that having 2 full baths would be worth a lot more, and we can make 2 small ones fit in almost the same footprint.

    I plan to live here until I'm old & feeble-minded ... but I thought that 2 houses back as well! So, since I'm lousy at predicting the future we're going for resale value & will create a small hall bath for the 2 other bedrooms on the second floor AND a small master bath for the master bedroom. Our bathrooms are 5x7 each, so in a large space like you have I think you can fit 2 bathrooms easily.

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    it's your house, your bathroom and your money. put in what you want not what the contractor 'thinks' you should have.

    I vote for 2 bathrooms. do them very simply if needed - you can fuss it up later. If I were buying in the area and all was pretty much alike but 1 had 2 bathrooms - I'd go for the 2 bathroom one any day.

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Most families I know would not consider a one bath home if they could have two bathrooms. You would add more value by making 2 basic bathrooms than one big fancy bathroom. I would do one with a tub/shower combo and one with just a shower.

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    I am wondering if your kids are all the same gender. When you have two genders going among high school age siblings, they aren't keen on leaving the door unlocked for any reason.