Bathroom Remodel Conundrum

5 years ago

I have a 1974 built split foyer home. Current master bath is en suite, but very, very small. One 30 in sink, a toilet and a stall shower. Dimensions are standard 5x8. The second main level bathroom is also 5x8 with a tub/shower combo. These 2 bathrooms share a wall. There is also a half bath with plenty of room to add a tub and/or shower on the lower level.
My question is if I combine the 2 main level bathrooms into one large bathroom that will accommodate 2 sinks, a stand alone tub and a shower with access from both the master bath and the main living area, does that make sense? I would convert the 1/2 bath to a full bath so I wouldn't lose the second full bath. But because I know my shelf life in this house is no more than 10 years, I dont know if this plan would discourage buyers because the bathroom on the main level is no longer exclusive to the master bedroom, even if it would be way nicer. Thoughts, please? I dont want to damage my resale, but for health reasons, I want to add a soaking tub.
The other option would be to convert the 1/2 bath into a full with the soaking tub and just update the existing bathrooms.
Thanking you in advance for the insights.

Featured Answer

Helen

5 years ago

You should renovate in exactly the way that you want. Trying to guess what a mythical buyer might prefer in ten years is a crap shoot especially when you are attempting to determine which of two not truly desirable outcomes is better.

Many people do NOT want a master bath to be shared with guests or even with other people living in the household. That is why people have powder rooms - so that casual visitors aren't in the most private spaces.

Many adults don't take baths so having a tub in a master isn't particularly wanted. Preferred is a nice walk in shower. How large is the stall shower in the master bath - in generally the en suite masters from that era have fairly small showers so enlarging the shower and making it as luxurious as possible would be my choice if I were looking for a new home. I recently remodeled and removed tub shower combo in my master and installed a great shower.

As others have posted, many people don't care about two sinks. I personally think they are not sometimes the best use of space as I will see two basins crammed into a relatively small counter and so there is actually less functional space. Less counter space and also less storage space. Most grooming doesn't need to take place over a sink so - again - my personal choice would be more counter space and one sink. In my recent remodel, I went from two sinks to one sink so I could have a really nice vanity area - and my counter was relatively long compared to some where there is barely space between the two sinks.

So do exactly what works for your needs because you are the one who is living there for a decade.

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Comments (8)

elcieg
5 years ago
How many bedrooms on the 2 bath floor?
Sandy Graves thanked elcieg
Sandy Graves
Original Author
5 years ago
There are 3 bedrooms on that floor. A fourth bedroom is on the lower level.
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JudyG Designs
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
If you combine, then anyone who is staying in bedrooms 2 or 3 would, in an emergency, have to come into your bedroom to get to a toilet?

I honestly don’t think two sinks are that important. I don’t think a house needs two tubs, and I do think two bedrooms need access to at least a toilet and sink.

Is there a closet in your master? Is it near the bathroom?

Traditional older closets take up so much floor space. Could you give up the closet in any of the bedrooms, and then build new ones on either side of a bed?

Oh, and don’t forget pocket doors….that gives another 3’ arc of floor space.
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JudyG Designs
5 years ago
Our remodeled bathroom is not any larger than yours. We took the tub space and did a shower just like this, except our shower doors are Franch door style which open in or swings out. We did those so should either one of us have need of an easy access shower, the doors could open and close either way, and independently of each.
Sandy Graves thanked JudyG Designs
3katz4me
5 years ago
I've seen quite a few homes with that kind of walk through bathroom arrangement. I wouldn't mind that. I'd prefer it over the current two bathroom arrangement you describe. If you would like it I say go for it. I know plenty of adults who do like to soak in a decent sized tub including both of us in our household. We have new neighbors who bought the house next door that had no tub - first thing they did was gut the master bath and add one. Other friends just remodeled their master bath and added a large soaking tub. So a tub accessible from the master is wanted by some people.
Sandy Graves thanked 3katz4me
maifleur03
5 years ago
One of those interesting things about growing old or being very athletic with an injury. Until you reach a certain stage where showers are the only safe way to bathe people are often told by their doctors to soak various body parts either for pain relief or for medicines to reach certain body parts. While I understand the esthetics of having only a shower in a bathroom I have wondered at the lack of a tub. The need was made clear after a car accident when I was told to help relax my muscles that were injured by soaking in hot water.
Sandy Graves thanked maifleur03
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Debbi Washburn
5 years ago
Since you expressed the need for a soaking tub, why not try to invert the 2. Make the hall bath smaller with just a shower and add the space to the master for your tub.

If you post some dimensions of the bathrooms and even the adjacent spaces, you may get some more ideas... There are some very talented people here with loads of ideas!!
Sandy Graves thanked Debbi Washburn