Guess it sort of depends upon your mother’s taste. Does she like bold design, colors, or is she drawn to more subtle design & colors ? Are the floor tiles staying?

Hi there, My mother's 86 and lived in this house for 25 years - everything but the toilet (round Kohler San Souci) is new. We're looking for super clean and simple look - we'll likely have to sell the house soon and told her we need to keep resale in mind. I'm ready to gut the entire powder room including tiles (mirror, lights faucet, etc). Thanks in advance, Julie

sorry, I meant - everything is builder grade/25 years old, only the toilet is new (but I think I made a mistake in getting a round small toilet as it looks like a child's toilet).

1. Since you’ll likely be selling sometime in the future, I wouldn’t spend a lot of money, just fairly basic new things, keep it light & clean looking. Whoever ends up buying the house might end up having it gutted anyway, to their taste. For example, if I were the buyer the first things I would take out would be the pedestal sink & low toilet.

Is this a powder room? If there are any signs of neglect, correct them. Clean the bathroom within an inch of its life. Spend no more than a bare minimum on anything new if you want a good ROI. Gutting is a waste of money unless needed for improving safety and/or function, or correcting signs of neglect (cracked tiles, pitted grout, mold). White or off-white paint, and a place/hardware to keep essentials where needed—toilet paper, washcloth and hand towel, hand soap, facial tissues, wastepaper basket. Mirror over sink—no chips at edges, no tarnish on frame. Adequate light—brighter is better for your mother's safety. Not fluorescent, though!

While your mother lives there, keep a plunger and toilet brush handy. You can find reasonably attractive sets these days. When staging for sale, remove those two items, and make sure you clean the whole room regularly. Daily if necessary.

It might be a bit of a fight but I would look at tiny vanities with a bit of storage that pedestal looks huge in the space Wayfair has tons if you check tiny vanities with sink This is one decent size sink anda bit of storage

Hi everyone,

I really appreciate all your advice. I shouldn't have mentioned we might sell. We actually renovated all the other bathrooms, so this powder room is overdue - plus the faucet and sink are broken now. We have a friend/contractor who will gut and install everything for us.

1) Pedestal sink dilemma: See below, I could put in a sleek Duravit wall hung sink, with leg, then when it comes time to sell, I could remove the leg and and show a nice chrome p-trap....

2) Toilet: I replaced the builder grade elongated toilet (which my parents complained was too big) with the The Kohler San Souci compact round which they find less comfortable. Should I replace with a larger elongated toilet regardless of the tight space?

3) Tiling - any suggestions? Otherwise I may just do large format tile, with beige/brownish veining that match the bronze faucet and mirror rim that I plan on.

My parents are very able bodied, so who knows they may be here 10 more years!

thanks in advance!

That's a really tiny room. See if you can't talk her into a corner sink, they take up less space.

If not, you want a smaller sink and probably a squarish one.

Small Spanish Bathroom with Pedestal Sink · More Info

Classic California Craftsman Remodel · More Info

Bohemian Classic - Apartment Remodel · More Info

Summit Hill Addition · More Info

That bathroom is very small. You couldn't use it with a walker, for example. You probably couldn't use it if 7 months pregnant. You want to look on-line or in stores for the toilet and sink that take up the least room. Any extra square inch you can save will be valuable. Can you steal any closet space?

I'd probably do a colorful tile on the floor, accessorize with matching hand towels --- you need a ring for one and a pretty soap dispenser. The rest I'd paint in a light color. The room looks claustrophobic, so you need a light and airy color. I might do a navy pattern floor tile, very pale blue paint and have navy towels and silver towel ring and faucet.

The most important thing is the sink. The shape of the existing sink makes it look like the wrong size, crammed in. Compare to my first picture below. It's a tiny sink in a tiny spot, but it looks less crammed because it doesn't have an odd space to the wall side.

thanks for your ideas and pictures! I'd love to eat up some closet space, but I know my parents aren't up for that - they find the closet small as well. The house is actually 3200 square feet with five sizeable bedrooms - but this powder room is very odd vs the rest of the house...

If your parents are comfortable with that toilet, keep it. Anyone who wants to buy the place will likely want to buy a new toilet no matter what you have installed.

Your idea for the Duravit sink seems like a creative solution. But first, have you asked your mother why she's set on having a pedestal sink? Her reasoning might be sound.

I'm not sure a tiny vanity provides enough storage to make it worth while. You could get as much or more storage out of a recessed medicine chest, and you can also hang a shelving unit above the toilet (if your folks would be comfortable with that). For a powder room, what more do you need? Just a place to put hand soap and maybe hand lotion (possibly on the sink itself) an a place to hang a hand towel or two. Is there anything else your folks routinely store there that they can't do without?

It looks to me like a very small room, and I don't see a particular need for tile on the walls. A fresh coat of paint seems like enough, but you could think about wainscoting. If you want something a bit fancier, maybe lincrusta or anaglypta under a chair rail, rather than wainscoting? At least it wouldn't be run of the mill! (This last is a fairly mad idea and I don't seriously expect you to go for it. But I'm enjoying imagining it.)

Thanks for the suggestions! There's no need for storage - only liquid soap, hand towel and toilet paper sits in the room. My mother wants to keep things minimalist given the tiny bathroom (so no consoles, cabinet vanities etc) - though she likes the look of wall hung, she's convinced the pedestal will help keep the sink stable...that's how she landed on pedestal. However I can remove the leg later :) Simply for ease of cleaning I thought tiling up the wall at least above the level of the sink so the water that splashes from the faucet won't hurt the wall. I was thinking a subtle almost white textured tile (see picture) - but I like your lincrusta or anaglypta! Thank you for your help!

That textured tile is very attractive!

You might try pointing out that with a corner sink, the sink is anchored to the wall on 2 of its 3 or 4 sides, so more stable than a wall-hung regular sink.

This is a very compact corner pedestal.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Swiss-Madison-St-Tropez-Corner-Two-Piece-Pedestal-Sink-SM-PS318/325897782

DEA Bath is running a sale at the moment. Includes a few pedestal sinks, and a corner sink (shown with a pedestal that doesn't actually come with the sink).

https://deabath.com/product-category/sinks/new-pedestal-sinks/

Would she like this small pedestal sink? it has a nice height.

Limited space is universal in Japan where every toilet is in a separate minimal room. They have toilet models incorporating a faucet and sink in the top of the toilet tank. Toto, of course has models. Wayfair a d HD too. There conversion systems to fit standard toilets. The water used then gets used for flushing.

RedRyder, that is cute as heck! Thanks for sharing it.

Get a pedestal sink - it is the best of both worlds:

1. It will have good support because most require blocking behind the wall and wall mounting. The pedestal is merely decorative to hide the pipes not to actually support the sink.

2. It is a pedestal sink. Your mom wants it. She is 86 years old. My mom said she survived my teenage years by picking and choosing her battles. I have decided it is how I will survive her aging years. Just give her a pedestal sink.

I live in NYC where primary baths are not much larger than this powder room. My down the hall neighbors, in their senior years, got the second sink on your list - Kohler 21". It looks great. It appears slender and less bulky making the room seem less packed. And, the side space is *really* useful. It is like having built in counter space to sit something down on. Your first listed pedestal is a total PITA. I've used them at friends homes before. Better home the soap dispenser isn't too big.

I think someone posted a design dilemma on here with the same sink. https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6557488/help-with-powder-room

Toilet

I love my Toto Drake toilet. It is universal height, which makes it easier to get on and off of for arthritic legs. My dad asked me to install one for him in my guess room. I did. Now I want them in every room of my house, and I'm only in my early 50s! They feel great. There are other Toto elongated with universal height, but this one looks great in a small bathroom.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/TOTO-Toto-Drake-2-Piece-Universal-Height-Toilet-with-Seat-1-6-GPF-Cefiontect-Washlet/5005517327

Recessed shelves

I have learned a lot of tricks for small bathrooms. Build recessed shelves between the studs. It is an easy way to get extra storage space for toilet paper and lotion without having to use a vanity, infringe on floor space, or use clutter like baskets. You can use glass shelves or wood shelves and paint them the same color as the wall.

Design them small enough to fit a few rolls of TP and put them down at toilet height with or without a cover. Or place them above the toilet. Or make them vertical. Or slide one in beneath the mirror right above the sink. They are handy, take up no space, are inexpensive, and I won't do another small bath without one.

Just by looks, it appears the toilet doesn't have enough room, but the pic might be skewing perspective. It needs 21" in front of the bowl, so round (vs elongated) may be best in it's current position. Your parents are used to maneuvering so not a big deal to them, but it could be a sticking point with buyers, so if you are gutting the room anyway it may be best to prevent frustration later. Four solutions could be a smaller wall hung lavatory, corner lavatory, an in-wall tank for the toilet, or if you don't want to shift a wall into a closet, you can turn studs on the flat to gain a couple inches if it helps.

Also, be careful the choice of 2-piece pedestal lavatory doesn't have a lip to accept the pedestal - so if you removed the pedestal later it would look odd and unfinished. And some pedestal wall mounts are just to keep it from pulling away, not support from below. Also, if you intend on exposing pipe, the supply lines/shutoffs/escutcheons should also be aesthetic (chrome, brass, etc), and might even want moved up/tighter depending on the sink size/style.

For the tile, it really depends on the style, size, and the floor. Follow general design attributes - horizontal or vertical to stretch visually in respective directions, only one wall as accent to focus attention in a small room, larger size to not look too busy with a small room, etc.

Also, moving the floor HVAC register to the wall will improve the feeling of space and minimalism.

I second Kendrah's recommendation of recessed shelves between the studs. I did this in both my bathrooms. I had doors made for mine, but they can work just as nicely without doors. It just depends on the look you like.

Like Kendrah, I live in a New York City apartment. Making every inch of a tiny bathroom count is what we do!

Kohler Memoirs pedestal sink has good sides for a soap dish, etc.

@dan1888 - a house for sale up the street has a combined sink/toilet like you showed in thier PR and it makes so much sense but folks really struggled with the concept during the open house - it was funny to listen to their reactions 😅

What @3onthetree said about clearances--it's questionable whether you have the legal clearance in front of the toilet, which could be a resale issue. One possible solution is a wall-hung toilet with an in-wall tank. Toto makes one that works with 2x4 walls, and it allows you to have an elongated seat with a total projection of 22.5." Combine this with a much smaller pedestal sink (especially a corner one as others suggested) and the bathroom is much easier to use right now, much more attractive at resale.

The pic Dani posted those are very poppular in Europe where tiny bathrooms are the norm and often the toilet and sink out side the space with a shower or tub so make sense. I have used the rectangular sinks installed horizontal in many tiny bathrooms that aslo works

This is off-topic so far as haeyeon's needs are concerned, but I remember visiting (decades ago) homes in England where the toilet was in one room, and the bathtub and sink were in a different room. That setup struck me as insanitary. I've never understood why they didn't put the, or at least a, sink in the WC.

Hi Everyone- I read all your comments and would like to weigh-in. I agree with the early comments by Amy Stoller and K. Laurence; but I will go even further- This bathroom most likely does not meet current building codes and will not serve your parents' needs in the future. Save your energy and money by replacing the broken sink and faucet with the least expensive thing you can find. When the contractor removes the broken unit, clean, clean and clean the area again. The grout between the floor tiles might need a touch-up- not expensive.

I would then focus on the big project ahead- finding a place that has the space and amenities that will provide your parents with what they will require in the future.

You are a wonderful daughter! Wishing you all the best-

Susan

There are a lot of great suggestions here. Given the situation you described, I would be inclined toward renovation rather than remodeling. The sink needs to be replaced, so yes, do that. There’s no need to tile up the wall. A simpler solution would be a few coats of high quality, semigloss paint on everything that can be painted, making certain to integrate with the new floors. You could also wallpaper with a texture, like white grass cloth, again making certain to integrate with the new floors. Adding a sconce to the left of the sink will amp up the clean and bright feeling. Pretty mirror, a piece of art, new toilet paper holder and vent cover. That should do it.

Can the toilet be turned so it is parallel to the sink. if you put in a tankless toilet that is hung on wall it will open up some floor space and make the bathroom seem larger. consider a wall hanging soap dispenser and decorative mirror that hangs above the sink to bring some interest to the powder room. Since wallpaper is so personal I would consider painting the walls in a deep dramatic color (navy, dark beige, dark green)for some drama.

When I said parallel to the sink, I mean on the same wall. If you have a smaller sink it may fit. I also like to cut niches between the studs to hang my toilet paper holder with a shelf below for storing an extra roll or bathroom sprayer.

If you bias the toilet towards the wall, that would give someone more leg room! The toilet paper can be moved easily. I know that may add considerable cost, moving the plumbing by mere inches! Good luck!

I’d be inclined to see how something like this works in the room. https://www.signaturehardware.com/point-roberts-porcelain-corner-pedestal-sink/484430.html

Can the foilet be turned so the tank is on the sink wall? my son was able to do that in their older home without affecting plumbing. I really like the streamlined modern pedestal lisedv posted, and if toilet was turned there maybe enough room for both. I like the idea of tiles, easier to keep clean,no dark colors. aging eyes need brighter not dark, and non slip flooring. If you turn the toilet, install a bar to hang onto, find a toilet comfortable in height (low is difficult for seniors to stand up from). I know you said both parents are able bodied, but that can change very rapidly with seniors. I am wondering if your mom wants a pedestal sink because one of them has developed the habit of hanging onto the toilet to lower themself to the toilet or hang onto the sink to help stand up. I am a senior and there are times in some bathrooms I have done that, and no , i don't say anything to anyone. (height of toilet is usually the reason)

Although my bathroom is not as small as your parents (5x 8), my layout presented a challenge when selecting a sink for my bathroom. A hallway closet juts into the room, and the large apron on the original tub (1947) take up space. Code dicated I have at least 24 inches between the sink and the tub so I could not install a sink where the depth was more than 16 inches. I installed the Barclay Mistral 510 Pedestal which has a depth of 15 1/8 ". You can get the sink with a single hole faucet which leaves room on top for a soap dispensor. I prefer the look of an 8" widespread faucet so I went with a wall mounted soap dish. I had the contractor tile behind the sink for water splash but did not tile the entire wall. Since this is a main bathroom I had the contractor install recessed shelves behind the door giving me plenty of space for extra TP, toothpaste etc. The photos are from my phone so they are a little dull but you can get a look at the sink.

The recessed shelves are brilliant.