Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
ajcn

Layout help for my Dad's bathroom remodel

AJCN
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago

I apologize in advance that this post is long, but designers are always asking for drawings on graph paper and pictures, so I figured I'd put it all in my initial post!

My Dad asked me to measure his bedroom and bathroom and give him some ideas on how he can renovate his bathroom to get a shower (remove current tub/shower combo). I drew the existing layout and how he has his furniture currently placed. There are these really old mirrored sliding door closets and a small bathroom. His bedroom is humongous (approx 17 x 15). He's very open-minded to rearranging things, but probably he should leave toilet in current location. I will talk him into moving his bookcase to the livingroom bc i think it really crowds the room.

The combined space is so big, I feel it would be possible to get a much better layout for him. He wants a good closet (can be reach in or walk in, whichever makes sense), large shower with a bench (can be built in or a teak seat), grab bars, regular showerhead plus handshower set low near the bench, vanity (can be single sink or double if there's room), linen space which can be either incorporated in the closet or inside the bathroom.

Here are some drawing. I'd really appreciate some help.

Original Layout:



Here's how he currently has his furniture set up. Bookcase will be moved to livingroom. He wants to keep all the rest, although I might be able to convince him to place the TV on the dresser so he can get ride of the extra little chest he has in there with the TV on it.

Current furniture set up:



Here is my thought if he wants to (or has to) work with the existing walls bc they are most probably load bearing. There's a post between the 2 closets and I don't see any reason why it's there other than for structural support. In this drawing I shrunk the linen cabinet to 18" deep so that the shower could be large. I know a really good custom cabinet builder and I think he could build any kind of custom closet system he wants.

You'll see in the pictures that he is blocking the window with an armoire, and he's partially blocking the sliders with his TV cabinet. He doesn't use the sliders at all, so I think he'd be open to removing them and installing a new window matching the existing one. The exterior is siding, no brick.



If he did this layout, I'd put his furniture like this. Everything would still fit and he could swap the dresser and armoire, either way, the mirror on the dresser or armoire will help bounce the natural light around. I probably won't be able to talk him out of the chest the TV is on bc it was his Dad's and holds all his Dad's and Granddad's stamp and coin collections and it locks. I also will not be able to have him move the armoire bc it won't fit anywhere else and it hugely sentimental to him.



Here's the whole space we have to work with if he decides and is able to move walls:



He lives here about half the year and in Colorado the other half of the year. Eventually he'll live full-time in Colorado and either rent this townhouse out or sell it. His main thing is he really wants a big shower with a bench or seat.

Pictures:

Entry:


Blocked window and unused sliders:


Calling this the "Hall of Closets:"





The linen closet opens into the "Hall of Closets:"



Bathroom:





Post in between the 2 closets:


These are the sliders I'd like to remove and replace with a window.


Thank you!

Comments (11)

  • AJCN
    Original Author
    2 years ago

    I'm trying to figure out if we can make the whole bathroom bigger and add some type of closet solution. It just seems like there's a lot of space to work with but he has a king bed so I can't shrink the bedroom too much.




  • AJCN
    Original Author
    2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Would this work? I tried to draw in a double sided walk in closet, but I couldn't make the bathroom very much bigger. Are one-sided walk in closets a thing? If could be hanging along one side and hook or some kind of organization on the other wall. If he can move the toilet 90 degrees, would this work?




  • Chris
    2 years ago

    Lots is possible with space, time and money:) What happens to the bedroom window where the new shower is? That would need some exterior work to accomplish I imagine. We actually taped out a space in our new home when we were building it to see if we liked how things fit. Might be good to find some chalk and even draw it in the road to see if the space feels right to you. We actually did that When the architect was drawing things out.
    There are a lot of Talented designers on this app that may chime in. Good to gather up ideas!!

    AJCN thanked Chris
  • AJCN
    Original Author
    2 years ago

    There's no window where new shower in drawing is; there are sliders there to the side yard. But he doesn't use them, so we'll remove those and either add a window there or add windows to the front wall, flanking the bed. The exterior is siding. My Dad is very open minded and can afford the changes. I'm just struggling to give him ideas on layout. He *thinks* I'm good at this stuff bc I remodeled his Colorado house top to bottom, but there were no challenges with layout; it was just a total resurfacing of every inch. Easier project. He will hire a designer and/or architect to do real designs, but wants to think through layout first so he's not wasting someone's time right now.

  • Chris
    2 years ago

    You have good ideas. It’s good to gather them!

  • AJCN
    Original Author
    2 years ago

    Could a designer please weigh in?


    Would this work? This won't require moving walls. The closet will only be 6 feet across, but we could do custom built in storage on the other side instead of hanging space on both sides, so maybe 6' is okay?


    All I need is to give my Dad some options to consider and refine his thoughts on what he wants before he meets with professionals. I have a relationship with an excellent tile pro who is revered on this forum who built all 4 of my showers and baths, so he's going to be in good hands there.


    I also have a relationship with a local custom cabinet builder who made all my master bathroom cabinets and custom built my closet, and has done other smaller jobs for me, even building and repairing furniture; crazy extremely skilled person. So I know that whatever the solution is regarding the layout, my Dad will have an excellent tile pro and cabinet builder on his team.



  • suzanne_m
    2 years ago

    I like your latest drawing with maybe these little changes:


    AJCN thanked suzanne_m
  • AJCN
    Original Author
    2 years ago

    suzanne_m


    Thanks for your answer. Did you shrink the shower because there needs to be more clearance in front of the toilet? Is it okay to have it be 4 x 5, or will that be too tight in front of the toilet?


    I like the additional cabinet in the closet. That could be a laundry pullout with short hanging above even.

  • AJCN
    Original Author
    2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    I just looked at the math again, and it does look like it's too tight to have a 4 x 5 shower. Is it correct that there needs to be 2 feet in front of the toilet?

  • suzanne_m
    2 years ago

    Yes. You need 22" clearance in front of the toilet.