bathroom layout

8 years ago

Hi guys !!! So our bathroom is needing an update ! I hate how the toilet is behind the door ..but in your opinion, is it better to have a smaller bathroom ..with double sinks (we can update those) ...,should I put a wall behind the tub to divide the toilet/tub ....would it cost to a lot to move the toilet opposite the tub (by the window) and have a SINGLE SINK...? It’s an odd layout ..this is not a master bathroom...but it’s bigger than the master bathroom In the home. I was thinking I could add a barn door here to avoid that weird layout ....but do barn doors lock ??? Any ideas are welcome. We can update tile/fixtures later, but my layout I’m unsure of...thank you !

Featured Answer

Nancy in Mich

8 years ago

HI! To start, you need to say whether your bathroom is on a concrete slab, over a first floor, over a crawl space, over a finished basement, or over an unfinished basement. That will determine a little about how hard it is to move your plumbing. As for the door, barn doors are usually not very private, but they can be made that way. You might be able to do a better style of sliding door, an in-wall sliding door or "pocket door." They are latch-able and I think they close out more sounds than a barn door would.

It sounds like you are willing to consider a new vanity and a wall to make a semi-private toilet area, so that is some serious money. Are you happy with the tub? The shower curtain?

How many people use this bathroom, and what age are they? If you are no longer bathing young children in the tub, would you consider a glass enclosure for it?

I could see one remodel option of taking out the existing vanity, moving the toilet to the area under the window and putting in a screen (metal or a wood and plastic shoji or something thin and interesting looking instead of a thick wall, in order to save space). Then, since you now have access to the wall where the vanity was, open up the wall and put in a pocket door. Put in the largest vanity that you can fit into the space, maybe with a trench sink with two faucets to accommodate two kids washing up at the same time, if necessary. Then, over where the toilet was, put a linen closet.

Another option is to leave the toilet where it is, remove the vanity and put in the pocket door and put in a new vanity that updates the bathroom and meets your needs (or paint and re-use this one, which has great drawer space!). Put in the glass tub enclosure, new tile, new floor tile, new med cabs and lighting if you like that look.

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Comments (10)

Trista Taylor
Original Author
8 years ago
Concrete slab
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Trista Taylor
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you. No kids use this bathroom. 1 -2 People at most. A pocket door is a possibility ...thank you. I will have to look for some (hopefully modern)
Nancy in Mich
8 years ago
How much do you want to spend?
Trista Taylor
Original Author
8 years ago
7k max
Nancy in Mich
8 years ago
I just had my bathroom remodeled from the studs out. You can see my pocket door there. The door operates so smoothly I only need a finger. The style of it can be whatever door you chose to buy. My pocket door can be seen in the 12th photo, if I counted right. [My bathroom reveal thread.[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/bathroom-reveal-ada-shower-with-custom-vanity-in-small-bathroom-dsvw-vd~5437746)
Nancy in Mich
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
You won't be moving your toilet for 7 K. Not in concrete, unless someone who knows more about it comes along and disagrees with me.

Are you planning on replacing the wall tile and floor tile? Do you have experience in laying tile or a friend/relative who does and who will do it for free? Unless you have a very experienced tile layer to help you, be sure to stay away from the larger tiles that are popular now. They require knowledge and very straight walls to lay them properly.

Or someone with experience with woodworking or drywall who could put up wall panels above your tub like [Kohler Choreograph or other Solid Surface material?[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/bathroom-reveal-ada-shower-with-custom-vanity-in-small-bathroom-dsvw-vd~5437746)

That could save you a lot of money (to have a family member do it for free) and really make your bathroom pop and be mold/mildew free.

If you are happy with your tile and you are looking just to update the paint and the vanity and mirror and lighting, you can do that and the door for under 7K. It all depends on what DIY skills you have in your family, what the cost of labor is, etc. The pocket door takes a carpenter and drywall work. You are going to have to update the electrical, too. Do you have a GFCI? You probably need an outlet on either end of the vanity, and I don't see one on the far end. You may need one in the middle, too (I know in kitchens you have to have one every 4 ft, I am not sure if the same is true in bathrooms).

It also depends on how much they inspect remodeling work where you are. Some places, the building inspectors and the homeowners require that everything be inspected, and when you go to sell, if the new homeowner sees something in the house and does not see an inspection for it at the city, they will not buy your house. Here, people don't care. The city inspector has been in my house and walked right past new work in progress to get to what is being inspected and never asked about the other work.
Trista Taylor
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes moving the toilet does not make sense for us unless we want to spend a lot more. To update the bathroom (tile, vanity, fixtures) was approx 6k ....no plumbing ....
Nancy in Mich
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
So you have had some one out to price it. Are you looking for ideas on what to change? Do you have tiles that you like, vanity styles that you like?

Put up your favorites for people to see and they will give you advice.
Nancy in Mich
8 years ago
Or, are you wondering if it is worth $7K to do all the updates only to have the toilet still by the door?