pictures, scaled drawing etc.

Why would the door get in the way? Would it literally not open?

I have basically the same configuration in my small narrow bathroom as the vanity is connected to the short wall - door in middle and shower (or what used to be tub/shower on the other side.

Before I remodeled the door opened away from the vanity so if one wanted to use the tub/shower, one would close the door. When the door was closed there was access to everything. When the door was open the entrance to the shower was blocked.

When I remodeled I have the door swinging out - there is a perfect dead space for it in my master bedroom and since the door is almost never closed, it is not an issue.

The old configuration (blocking the shower entrance when door was open) wasn't ideal but it wasn't a major issue as I had always lived with urban spaces so I am fine with functional spaces that might not be what one would have designed if space was not an issue.

If a drawer is open and someone else comes in, they hit the drawer.

My question isn't about how I can redesign the bathroom, it's more about opinions on a non-standard vanity, ie, a vanity with a bank of drawers down one side, and an open space down the other.

Well yes I understand that if a drawer is open the door would hit it. That was also true of my configuration in my bathroom before I remodeled.

However in real life it wasn't an issue. You learn to adjust and why would a drawer be open with the door closed - wouldn't the person standing in that section of the room also be hit if people swung the door open suddenly?

Not to get into your habits but why is a drawer left open? I am not the most fastidious person but drawers in my bathroom vanity were generally shut immediately for whatever reason.

As I wrote, people adjust to whatever configuration there is and the one you are describing is actually pretty standard in many small bathrooms. The issue is if the door can't open with the drawers closed for some reason as has been posted with poorly designed kitchens where there isn't clearance for handles.

People like storage - keep stuff that is rarely accessed in those drawers if you think that having open drawers frequently left is going to be a major lifestyle issue. The people who look at the bathroom configuration in the future will probably be more pleased with additional storage and not worry about drawers - I wasn't when I bought my place with an identical configuration - never entered my mind that it would be a negative.

I think I understand your issue, but if I do, then I don't think you need to have an open shelf there. From the photo of our bathroom, you can see that the pull-out on the left of the left sink is right up against the wall, and it is true that if the door is slightly ajar then I can't open the pull-out. However, if the door is shut or wide open, that cabinet is completely accessible. It is a situation that I do not even consider an inconvenience at all. I store things that I do not access every day, but even if I did, I can either close the door, or open it up.

You may be overthinking this. I don't see this as a real problem. It's a pretty common configuration. If a door is shut, I would think people would knock before they just open the door, especially in a bathroom. Like someone suggested, just keep lesser used stuff in those drawers. Just be sure to add a spacer at that end so you leave enough clearance for the drawers to clear the casing when opening.

Catherine - yes, overthinking. But your post gave me a needed laugh this morning. In reading it, I went back and checked doors on two of three baths...the third is a pocket door so doesn't apply ;)

Yep, two of my bathrooms have drawers to doors just as you described. Doors couldn't be opened if the drawers were open. As far as I know, its never happened and I wouldn't call DH the most thoughtful and efficient person in the mornings. I checked the drawers and door edges for scuff marks and found none. 1955 bathrooms. We moved in 9 years ago Thanksgiving and I'd never even noticed until today.

I noticed immediately when moving in that I have a bank of drawers in the kitchen that can't be accessed if the dishwasher is partially open, but quickly adapted to that too and I wouldn't call it inconvenient enough to be a 'problem'.

My problem: 1 1/2 yr old grandson went in the bathroom and shut the door PLUS opened the top vanity drawer, Result. I couldn't open the door! Luckily he's active enough so after he eventually pushed the vanity in, Looking for suggestions for that happening again!

Maybe too late to be useful, but I did open shelves in the vanity next to the door, It's maybe 10" wide? Then there's a cabinet under sink and then two sets of stacked drawers (we have a 6' counter, but only one sink that's not centered). We like the set up. I roll up towels and put them in the open cubbies and my husband has a little basket that stores his beard trimmer that he slides into one of the cubbies.

@Leon Samuelson, place a baby gate at the open bathroom door, so the grandson doesn't have access to a room that isn't child proof. Easy and cheap temporary fix. He'll grow up in no time!