That room needs to have the elements repositioned IMO.

Put the heat under the tile floor, move the tub to the outside wall. This will allow you to place the sink and toilet on the same wall and work within the space allocated.
I don't think you can expect to reuse the sink. It's not really big enough to function correctly. Replace it with a vintage piece.

Be prepared for everyone here to tell you to gut. You might find alternative advice on a forum where people are dealing with old homes on a shoestring.

We finally singed on to renovate it for $25k(ish)

I'm confused. It sounds like you don't have a plan and need help with one, but you have already signed a contract. What does that renovation contract that you signed include for $25k? Gutting the bathroom, replacing all of the pipes, hiding new pipes in walls or keeping them exposed? Installing new tub, sink, toilet in the same locations or moving them? Building a surround and supports for the alcove tub? Any kind of water proofing?

Is $25k just for the labor and you are purchasing all of the fixtures and supplies on top of that?

Materials

Floor tile. Wood looks the best but isn't renter friendly. With overflowing toilets or tubs you'll have a rotting floor again. You need a true expert to have penny come out well with no obvious seams. Go for 1" white hex instead of the grey/white or black/white samples you have. 1" all white will look more traditional in your home. Home Depot, Daltile is inexpensive.

Wall tile. If you go with subway tile use pencil thin grout lines and light grout. It was invented long after your house was built but sounds like you are going for practical charm instead of historically accurate. Daltile subway tiles at Home Depot are nice and inexpensive. I can't imagine tile just one wall or one area unless you are building an alcove and it is just inside that.

Tubs. Read forums about getting your tub reglaze. It should encapsulate the lead. It will be much less expensive than getting a new tub. Start here and go down a rabbit hole! https://www.reddit.com/r/centuryhomes/comments/10plf4b/cast_iron_tub_refinishing_and_protection_from/

Sink. Ask about having your sink reglazed too. Purchasing used vintage faucets is a can of worms. (Ask me how I know - house from 1852! Get new ones that work.) These new separate taps are not expensive $115-$125, but I'd look up reviews for Kingston Brass first. Period Bath Supply has a wide range of quality. https://www.periodbath.com/faucets-for-sinks-tubs-showers/sink-faucets/separate-hot-and-cold-faucets/

If you get a new sink it has to be *really* shallow from front to back to allow room in front of the toilet. This is a more shallow one, not too expensive, and provides a bottom shelf, and hanging space. Not too attractive or vintage, but seems so very practical. You could find nicer faucet.

https://www.build.com/american-standard-0445-499/s1367487?uid=3218192#overview 

Excited to see what you come up with.

Thank you @Kendrah and @BeverlyFLADeziner.

Yes we never got an itemized estimate but we signed one for $22k (saying it will hopefully be less) by a guy we know who renovated another property for us. The other quote we got was $27k. This does include all you mentioned except no moving things b/c there's nowhere to move them (except flipping drain of tub to opposite wall if possible), no tub surround but he asked if we wanted one (it will be tiled in on two sides). No waterproofing that we know of (what kind of waterproofing would we have?). And yes we're buying everything "cosmetic" except the wall paneling.

The one inch hex looks more modern to me? It's so hard to choose. Our floor has mostly been okay for centuries but yes, I heaar you. What about engineered hardwood? That's what our local wood place recs.

Yes we need the tub tiled in b/c we are really tired of being surrounded with plastic while we shower - it will look SO much better. These guys did my tiny standing shower in our cabin with 1/8 light gray grout and niches and it's gorgeous. They also did a great job with our penny tile shower pan.

Yes we know we need super shallow sink - so hard to find. Ours is about 13.5 inches and we don't really have any room to spare. We've found a few refinished ones same as ours for $500. :( .I don't think we have time to refinish the sink - we live in rural VT and finding anyone is so hard. I've also heard it doesn't last? We've found a few cute ones but they add a few inches so not sure we can fit them (watermarkfixtures.com - love them! do you think these would look right?) . For refinishing the tub, the one local expert I found told us it wasn't safe because he has to sand the surface for the finish to adhere, and he can't take the tub out. So we'd have lead dust everywhere? He said he advises all leaded tubs to replace rather than refinish. :( .We have an 8 year old. Not too young but our house is covered in lead and I'm so tired of worrying about it. I will check out period bath!

We were excited to renovate and had a plan, but once I started trying to buy everything I realized it was harder than I thought. I'm worried about ruining the current vibe while spending a ton of cash. We're having a meeting w/ our contractor tmw and I'm going to ask him to itemize so we have a better idea of if we can cut anything.

@BeverlyFLADeziner the other wall is too short to move the tub (like less than 50 inches across). The problem with this bathroom is there's no where to move anything. We've used that little sink for 5 years! Some visitors hate it but we manage... The oval shape helps. Trying to find something of the same size that I can still wash my face in is the challenge!

Here are two cast iron 30x60 alcove tubs. I grew up in a house with Villager and they still looked good after 45 years, and I currently have a Bellwether. The Villager is kind of shallow. They are plain enough that they won't necessarily "ruin" a bathroom in an old house.

For what it's worth my neighborhood is full of 1830-1850 houses and the first real full bathroom some of those houses had was an alcove tub from the middle of the 20th c.

My mother in law renovated her Vermont farmhouse from 1810 and did this for a sink:

It is a antique dry sink with a marble top that she had made. i think it works really well in the space.

Also, look at the wallmount sinks here: https://watermarkfixtures.com/product-category/bathroom/

and

https://www.vintagetub.com/bathroom/bathroom-sinks/wall-mount-sinks.html

and while modern, maybe a wall-mounted toilet to save space.

Renting is a huge factor; you may be ok with the sink’s size for example, but I would not rent the house given the only bathroom‘s limitations, especially with children. Correcting the functional issues is key, as the vibe can be achieved with flooring, tiles, wall treatment, lighting, etc. I’d tackle the structural and see how much budget is left and be flexible when choosing, ie: consider a shower or small tub so you can move sink down for better functionality/storage.

I think you’ll lose more potential renters if not well thought out to meet their needs.

" Yes we never got an itemized estimate but we signed one for $22k "

Cart before the horse. Cancel that contract and pick EVERYTHING before you sign. Scope spelled otu, and whaat and where need to be written out correctly before agreeing or you will have major regrets. Expect that bath to cost you considerably more than 22K as without selections and scope spelled out exactly he has carte blanche to abuse you.

I just wanted to share a few ideas with small sinks —

In this powder room, they used a ledge over the wainscotting to store things:

Another ledge over sink:

This sink has an integrated ledge on top (hard to see, I know):

Showing this one for the tile above … besides being charming, it’s functional for water splashes:

Ignore sinks below, just showing for having a small table (or better yet, small cabinet) near sink for storage:

As far as construction goes, it’s impossible just seeing photos for anyone to know for sure how you should proceed. I’d personally not want to completely gut it, while accepting that some fixtures and fittings may need to be replaced. But we aren’t there to see it in person. We can’t see possible problems and issues, the actual size, etc. You'll just have to rely on local pros. (Palimpsest is one of the very few people on this particular forum I’d listen to regarding old houses.)

Good luck with everything! I love your sink and hope there’s a way to save it. If I was going to rent your place, I’d expect and embrace the age quirks, as long as everything was clean and safe, of course.

Please add a measured floor plan. You can use the free and easy Ikea floor planners to draw one. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/planners/bathroom-planner/

If you have not yet tested the paint for lead, it's time to do it before you pay a contractor to start. It sounds like you may have already tested most of the bathroom's contents.

Will you have to bring the bathroom up to current Vermont code if you start changing things? Renting out a place may trigger insurance companies to require safety updates such as GFCI outlets and encapsulation of lead paint. Check with your insurance company and with whatever local agency will be doing the permits and inspections. It is really awful to have to tear out new wallboard to make code-required changes.

I am all for wanting to keep a style but bathrooms and kitchens IMO need to be in the 21st century beacuse thta is how we ive now . There are lots on nice sinks and tubs in stlyes that just function better and honestly a cast iron tub is not a must any more since we all have hot running water to keep the tub warm You can still have the vibe you want but with proper plumbing for sure .THis is aperfect example of a very vinatge look tub but in acrylic and just so much better than refinished old tub thta will never last anyway not to mention the fact it weighs a lot less If you google vinatge vanity styles you will find many all better thsn the old stuff that rusts, leaks and just plain not great in this century and improving that bathroom to meet all new codes and just all better will be a good investment too.

@palimpsest yes I saw the bellweather in a store and I was so happy! I thought it was perfect! But then the salesperson noted how shallow it is - like 9 inches, and said it's really better for a kid. And I see the villager is even smaller! But a little wider. My tub now is more like 10.5 inches deep, and significantly longer than both of them. Do you find the bellwether is big enough to relax in?

@cyprissa yes i love those sinks so much. but our current is only 13.25 back to front and their smallest I could wash my face in is 17" back to front, so I think we'd have to do a wall hung toilet to make it work. I'm scared of a wall hung toilet?

You seem to have part tiles and part wood flooring, I suggest tiles throughout.

The sink, on Wayfair.

The following is from Home Depot:

Good advice already - do you absolutely need to keep the tub? this space has a lot of constraints, could it be really nice and functional with just a shower?

Thanks all, this is helpful. We did give a detailed list of what needed to be done which included full gut, removing giant tub, tiling around shower, tile floor w/ radiant heating, flip tub drain to opposite side and install tub, sink, new toilet, vanity, electrical to allow for a vanity light, replace sconce, replace baseboard covers, putting water pipes inside walls, walls of painted shiplap and beadboard. but, since we live in an ancient house he did say he allowed extra in budget b/c things come up, we don't know the framing in side the walls, how hard it will be to move the drain, etc. we are over crawlspace so not enough space for them to really work from the bottom side (probably 1 foot over the dirt). I agree it's nice to have a fully funcitonal bathroom - I just feel so bad ripping out the old stuff, but this helps me feel more confident.

I haven't been able to find a cast iron tub that's at all as deep or wide as our current one, but maybe I will just accept that. Since it's the only bathroom I do feel we need to keep the tub.

"tiling around shower"

Where is your shower? It sounded like you can't fit a separate shower in here - right? It also sounded like you want an alcove, but don't want to build walls around an alcove tub. So I'm kind of confused about where the area around the shower is that you will be tiling.

You may not have much to compare to because you are rural. But, what do other homes for rent in your general area charge for rent and what are their bathrooms like? Is there going to be a market for a home that has a teeny tiny sink? You don't want to build an impractical bathroom that nobody wants to rent. If someone is a large person, they might not easily fit between your toilet and sink.

What are the basic dimensions of the room?

Here's our tiny bathroom that we recently renovated with a Bellweather cast iron tub. (This shot is wide angled, it is smaller in real life than in this picture.) The bathroom had a free standing cast iron tub that we took out. We installed one wing wall, crammed a console sink between the wing wall and the end of the room. I suggest making recessed shelves between studs. It is a great way to get extra storage space without taking up floor space.

Thankyou! How do you like the bellweather? Do you bathe in it? I think it's our only option if we want cast iron but worried it's shallow/small. The tub will be tiled into two walls, and maybe we need a pony wall for the 3rd side.

We will probably airbnb, not long term rent. Our house has many "quirks" and honestly this bathroom is the least of them! We will not rent to large people who need all the amenities - this house is only for people who are really prepared for some vermont charm - half our house is only heated by woodstove! I'm definitely not aiming to make this bathroom modern and large enough to suit the average boring suburban American.

The room is 52" wide by 8' long.

Our tiny powder room forced some decisions, so I got a wall mounted sink with generous sides. It might work for you as well. It is from Home Depot.
If this is an Air B&B or short term rental, would you consider JUST a shower? Or do you think a tub is necessary for families?

We will not rent to large people who need all the amenities

Being able to stand in front of a sink without falling into the toilet is not an amenity, nor is it a concern just for large people. :) I'm skinny and that set up looks like I'd be brushing my teeth while sitting on the john! It is so easy to adapt to the quirks of your own house that it is hard to get the perspective on what is acceptable and what is not.

I have good friends who live in a rural home - from the 1700s full of quirks. I totally get that it is different living than any other kind of home and odd quirks are just the way it is. But, you do have to parse out the few things that truly must change just for basic usability for anyone who is not you. Otherwise you run the risk of horrible reviews and nobody booking your space. Great to have "this an awesome quirky old house", not great to have "run from this rental the bathroom is totally unusable and you'd be better off using the kitchen sink!"

You will not be happy with soaking in the Bellweather. I got it as a tub/shower combo because it is a low tub and easy for my 80 year old parents to step in and out of too shower without having to lift their legs too high.

Can you draw a simple picture of the bathroom, where the door is located, and what is outside the bathroom on either side of the door and walls.

If your home is quirky enough, could you have the sink outside of the tub and toilet room like it often is in a hotel? This is actually really great for people on vacation so someone can brush teeth and wash face with the other is using the toilet.

I think your budget might be too small to get a deep cast iron soaking tub. They are expensive. Your budget is shallow cast iron or deep acrylic. I understand why you don't want either. So you have to up your budget, or make a decision between what you want to sacrifice. My current home has an acrylic tub. I've only ever had cast iron. It felt super cheap (even though it is an expensive tub) and just odd. I have gotten used to it. But I 100% get why you wouldn't want it.

Just now learning that a well-functioning bath is for boring suburbanites 😅 (my house is only a 100 yrs old & i also love charm but baths feel the best when they are clean & well designed with space to get everything done) -

I’d be tempted to do a just shower in the bath and add an outdoor soaking option (there are many charming ways to do this) we stayed on a farm with one - all the trees had twinkling lights - it was divine

https://www.countryliving.com/home-design/g4529/outdoor-tubs-trend/

@RedRyder that sink is interesting - do you have a link or name? Haven't seen it and curious if it would fit.

@Kendrah lol I DO sit on the toilet every day and brush my teeth! I actually love that aspect of the bathroom! My MIL actually does use the kitchen sink to wash her face! But we have rented on airbnb, and house swapped with people, and all have given great reviews. I try to make it really explicit that our home comes with quirks (and what they are) to head off that situation. It has to be a match. That said, we want to modernize as much as we can, but we just don't have much wiggle room at all in the layout unfortunately. There is a pantry on one side (that we need every inch of) and a doorway on the other side of either wall - we can't expand the footprint. Can you link any deep cast irons? I can't find any, in any budget. Our bath is actually only 10" deep. And while I love the idea of a luxurious bath, the adults in the home have probably only taken 3 baths in 5 years, so maybe I shouldn't make myself absolutely crazy about this? I just have to choose the less bad of shallow cast iron or deep acrylic I guess. If I make the water hot enough it should be okay for a while at least?

@la_la Girl yes we'll be doing the shower in the tub, but hopefully moving the shower fixtures to the wall, instead of floating. sadly we don't have the land or privacy to do that super adorable option of outdoor soaking. Also in VT it's freeezing for 6 months. :)

Thanks for floor plan.

Suggestions:

1- Antique style toilet with old fashioned, high-up tank with pull chain (brand new, but antique style), if it can be installed closer to the wall than what you have now.

2. Sink faucet mounted on wall with tiny sink.

3. Classic rectangular, not clawfoot, bathtub with tile surround. Shallow, easy step-in style is fine. No one can soak for long in the one and only bathroom in a house.

4. Consider adding antique style sinks, perhaps in converted vintage dressers, in the bedrooms.

I have concerns regarding your signed estimate, about which you, the OP, commented, ”No waterproofing that we know of (what kind of waterproofing would we have?).”.

Your bath/shower needs to be ”waterproofed”. Tile and cement backer board (which hopefully the contractor suggested he will be using, are insufficient for protecting your walls from water intrusion damage. There are several ways to waterproof; be sure you understand what he intends. The pretty stuff comes after the more important waterproofing.

Oh yes that's definitely happening. These are skilled and reliable contractors that we trust. They built a bathroom at my other property.

Is it possible to move the doorway at all? If you could move it up 2 feet towards the center of that wall, you could put a small sink on short wall, next to the tub. Still very quirky but would give you standing room when you are using the sink.

@mcarroll unfortunately no. that becomes our pantry after the door where it currently is. the contractor was here today and said it's possible really to do anything - move drains, move walls, move doors. but the layout of the house doesn't offer much help. we could do a wall hung to save space. we could push the wall opposite hte window back a bit, and have the toilet back up to window. we could move the door to the wall where the tub is? not sure if any of these actually help that much, and would cost a bit more.

I DO sit on the toilet every day and brush my teeth! I actually love that aspect of the bathroom! My MIL actually does use the kitchen sink to wash her face!

Ah ha! This should have been the lead in your post! Don't spend too much money on a bathroom that is going to leave you with poor design and bad function. (No judgement here - great that you and your airbnb guests are cool with it.) Just saying, put as little money into this bath as you can.

Oh yes that's definitely happening.

Then it should be in the contract as a scope of work item and the water proofing materials should be specified. Skilled and reliable can still have different visions of what waterproofing means. Spell it out.

the adults in the home have probably only taken 3 baths in 5 years, so maybe I shouldn't make myself absolutely crazy about this?

Oh for crying out loud Jenny, save yourself the headache! I thought we were on the path to get you the best possible soaking tub. Get any cast iron tub that fits your budget and don't worry about the luxury soak. Yes, adding the shower head to the wall instead of floating in your space is what is really going to matter here.

Can you link any deep cast irons? I can't find any, in any budget.

No, there are no deep cast irons that fit your budget. Get a bellweather or another shallow cast iron that fits your budget. You have used it less than once a year. You don't need a deep cast iron tub. Most people renting your home will not use it either.

If you really want to save money on this jerrymander bathroom, get an acrylic and keep the shower curtain closed. I 100% understand wanting the feel of cast iron. But, I wouldn't invest more money than I had to on this bathroom. You are still going to end up with a wonky space. Just let it be all wonk.

What is your plan for a shower curtain rod and shower curtains?

Reading what your limitations and what how your definition of quirky is what others call awkward/non-functional :), I'm changing my tune. Get super practical, durable, and very affordable fixtures. Let the vintage vibe come through how you style and decorate your bathroom. You are making a bathroom where people either don't use the sink or have to sit on the toilet to use it!

Design this space as a powder room because it is the size of most powder rooms. Look at small vintage powder room inspiration pics.

Sink - Get the most shallow (front to back) wall hung sink with a bit of room on the side and one hole for faucet/handle combo.

Kohler Veer - 12.6" front to back $100

https://www.build.com/kohler-k-5248-1/s876189?uid=2233827&searchId=mNq2shluVP

Many other shallow front to back sinks .... Link

The one hole faucet allows you to sit down glasses or soap on either side of the faucet.

Hang a little glass shelf above the sink for toothbrush, contact lens case space.

I was opposed to a single handle for my guest bath because I thought it looked too modern for the space. But it actually looks fine and is so much more respectful of my guests and their need for a wee bit of "counter" space.

Faucet - This Signature Hardware one has softer, less modern vibe [link] I have never used this brand. Don't know how reliable it is.

Other single hole. [Link]

Glass Shelves https://www.build.com/search?term=glass%20bathroom%20shelf

Tiny bathroom inspiration - this is also a house in Vermont.

Snug yet elegant powder room · More Info

My wall mounted sink from Home Depot:

There are two sizes.

I grew up in a house with a clawfoot tub and shower set up like yours, and have no wish to relive that. Between the limited “floor“space in the tub and the shower curtain sticking to me and the awkwardness of getting in and out of the shower, I vote for shower only, or at least a tub with a lower side.

That 12.6" dimension of the Kohler Veer sink is the size of the bowl only, not the overall size. I suggest try searching for something like "tiny home bathroom sink".

A couple of other thoughts--forget on fitting a bathtub and go with a shower. Maybe reverse the door from swinging into the bathroom to an out swing door if possible.

Unless your kitchen is absolutley miniscule AND you have no basement storage options, I would take some or all of that pantry for bathroom space. Vacation renters do not need a pantry at all. And if you think you might move back? Surely a person who is willing to sit on the toilet to use the sink is willing to fetch canned goods from the basement. And that tradeoff will drastically improve your every-day life. You could even get a tub deep enough to soak in.

If you want best advice I’d ask for you to post the whole floor plan for this level. There has to be a way to do this better.

Your tub appears to be larger than 60" long. If so, it is very rare. I'd put money into saving it.