@jenniferperie, it seems this discussion about bathrooms has hit a nerve with you! All of the remodel projects we are working on are converting at least one bathroom to larger openings and what I call "soft handicap" modifications! What I mean is, customers want the ease of accessibility without all of the "grab bars"!! Also, everyone is "updating" to more efficient "tankless" water heaters which in most cases can buy back some additional floor space to add to the bathrooms! I suggest you meet with a remodel contractor doing work in your area to review your "wish list" and get some budget feedback. After you have a rough idea of what things cost you can prioritize the project into "bite sized" bits! The journey begins with the first step. Collect the right "team" to help you get where you want to go! Have Fun!

hi jenniferperie. We'd love to help! How about posting a "Design Dilemma"? With photos/dimensions helps. But, in reading your post I think you love the home and neighborhood. It sounds like there is plenty of sq footage, so perhaps just rethinking the layout. And, yes, think ahead to the days when you may need easier access to the bathroom.

My biggest gripe is a dirty bathroom ... I've been in some gorgeous bathrooms that were filthy! I'd rather be in an outdated, sparkling clean one any day.

Where to begin?
General gripes:
S@&$*y lighting.
Lacking storage.
Toilet paper located too far from toilet that you have to "get up" to reach it/so close to the toilet that you have to contort to grab it.
S@&$*y ventilation.
One temperature knob vs independent, it's never the right temperature.
Too much stuff visible.
Carpet.
Tub thisclose to the toilet.

Ours needs renovation, leaky, the whole lot.

It's the size - size does matter. Comfort matters too. Can you shower without hitting your elbows against the wall. Toilet seat high enough?

For those of us who like tubs, it can be very hard to find one with a comfortable sloped back.

I hate the size of mine, it's tiny. My absolute hate though is the shower/ tub combination. Pity size doesn't allow for anything different.

A man that can lift the lid & seat but can't use gravity to put it down.

Textured (like slate) tile countertops, look nice, but have you ever tried to clean all the nooks & crannies, let alone keep the grout clean? Don't drop anything, as it will break, just like the turquoise stone in one of my earrings did recently.

Carpet! Moved into our "new" house to discover bleached out places on the bath carpet by the sink where someone "spilled" lotion.

Plastic tubs & showers. Imagine my horror to find red nail polish was spilled all the way down the side of the tub, twice, by the previous owner who made no attempt to clean it up!

Lighting. I have to position the medicine cabinet mirror just right to do the morning makeup. Those little pottery barn style wall lamps with tiny fabric shades look real cute, but a bath needs good lighting.

Last but not least, have you ever had to fish something out of the toilet that dropped from the cabinet above? Yep, because the man didn't know how to shut the lid!

I couldn't think of any gripes about ours...not that it's perfect, i adapted. But agree with Luciana idea...needs to be made soundproof :()

I go crazy when a single lighting fixture is installed over the mirror!!!!!! Do a test! The light source must be from below your cheekbones. When light is from above there is a shadow below way down below your neck. Was this not taught in design school? Not enough space? MAKE ROOM !!

How do you like illuminated counter top vanity make-up mirrors? Yup, that's because the light source is below.

Sound - We insulate every interior wall on homes we build.

Re: Clear Lighting : Better...insulate every interior wall

Still in the throes of a major remodel caused by a shower pan/floor giving way; and had just gotten the OTHER bathroom to useable toilet and sink because of mold... (I have close to half my house in remodel right now including kitchen, laundry, two bathrooms, and I'm talking joists up) Peeves of bathrooms: *and some preferences*
Not enough room around toilet to just be able to sit or do any other hygienic business
The less tile lines anywhere the better vs what if it shifts and heaves again (buying cabinet grade birch plywood for that floor, it's not moving on me again!) I blew my budget on these 18x31 granite slab tiles; very few grout lines to deal with!
Sinks that look like bowls stuck on top of a vanity; I always want to pick it up and move it and clear that countertop! Cleaning the edge where that bowl meets the countertop.... yeuk
Towel racks/bars at edge or open storage of towels under sink. I want to be able to get at that plumbing and anything open like that just gets splashed up or the cat sleeps in it.
A place to land outside the shower or tub that isn't right in front of the toilet so puddles get left for the next person. I don't want to know if it's shower water or 'other' puddles
Nighttime lighting-I had experimented with LED strip lights and am installing more low cost for someone to be able to navigate my place in the dark, and enough light to do your duty without having to turn on any lights (and leave them blazing all night-spouse leaves them on like he's got broken arms)
Hygiene station; wipes and TP, medicated powder, and all those other things convenient to the toilet, including extra supplies and shelving/storage next to toilet not half the vanity top lined with various things.
Insulating every wall so there's privacy for the rest of the house.
Heated floors. They so make sense in a bathroom. Tile is just plain cold otherwise.
Mirrors you can actually get up to to use, and not just collect splashes and not enough light to see what you are doing. I am putting in a mirror corner with moveable mirrors and a mounted articulated mirror and light combo, you can pull both out and angle for things like removing something from your eye!
OPTIONAL venting. Not automatically you flick the light on and that monster roars.
Wimpy venting. Make sure to spend the $ and get a properly rated QUIET vent and install it properly.
Trip hazards anywhere. Spouse does not lift feet for ANY reason and trips over the most miniscule rise in floor. New shower is walkin with no lip and the door jambs will be flat.
No GFCI. I have replaced the breaker in the box with GFCI ones so the entire bathroom will be protected; and don't have to worry.
Not enough room to plug anything in; alcove at vanity will have place to plug in curling iron and razor built in (and heat resistant place to put the iron afterwards) and hairdryer built in like nice hotel....
Lighting in the linen closet. We live with not nice spiders and the need to see what you are reaching into is real. Gotta love LED lighting.
Lighting under vanity. See: linen closet. Plus nice to be able to light up the plumbing if you want to do a quick check.
Windows I don't need in the bathroom but I will be installing a light can to bring natural light down into the space.
Integrated laundry bins. Logical place to collect the stuff. My butler pantry is on the other side of this bathroom, bin flaps on this side. Other side is next to washer. WinWin.
Not enough towelbars.
I hate hooks/pegs for hanging towels, bathrobes, etc, as they usually just pull out, plus if there is any damp or yeuk that gets held to your wall
Separate heat sources for bathroom; an infrared light or something similar to turn on after showering or bathing to help you dry off... yeah. And a place to land where you are not right in front of the toilet to do your fluff.
Lighting in general; I am into task lighting for everything. Not just one fixture attached to the switch, and not just a few nice looking accent lights around the mirror. Though it's mandatory that if I flick the switch by the door I want just a light to come on OR there is 24/7 installed LED navigation lights. And if I want other things such as heat lamps or exhaust, I have to turn those on, no one switch for 'everything on or everything off'
(okay break is over I gotta date with drywall again)

We are remodeling our hallway bath and had it insulated. Everyone thought we were crazy but it is right next to the kitchen and my mother won't use it because she thinks people can hear. She always has to use the master in the back of the house.

Pedestal sinks in any bathroom without other storage available. Where do you keep extra toilet paper, hand soap & extra towels?

Those cheap, clear plastic faucet handles with the cap on the middle. Mildew, soap and dirt get underneath it and you need to take it apart with a screwdriver to get it properly clean. Just about every home I've lived in has those and I HATE them.

White tile floors! Just a nightmare to keep clean, especially when one has long, dark hair! It looks dirty all the time. Can't wait until I can replace that white tile.

MEN WHO USE THE BATHROOM AND DON'T LEAVE IT CLEAN ..if you know what I mean. :)

Short faucets in bathroom sink. I hate washing my hands and hitting the back of the sink with my hands. Wish most faucets would reach further away from the wall and into the bowl.

Oh, i'm the opposite.Huge, long faucets drive me nuts. I hate splashing water all down myself when I am washing my face because, when my hair is wrapped in a towel and there is a huge faucet in the way, I cannot get near enough to the sink!

mousemaker, there isn't such a thing. I am just making it so I can get rid of the trail easier.
Rekonn, I forgot that one. Faucet seems to stick 2" into the sink and my spouse will keep lifting his wet hands to rub or ring them and leave a ring all the way around about 2' wide. I want a nice deep bowl to that sink and enough faucet to reach up and out far enough you can get your hands in there without splattering the world.
Not enough toekick.
Vanity too low; I'd rather have one a few inches too high than too low. Too low also contributes to the splatter ring developed.

what??? :) are you kidding? there is no such thing?? :) oh, we're all doomed!!

mousemaker, been married for over 30 years and compared notes for at least that long. I love mine but. Bathroom reworks are being done for ease of erasing the trail.

As it is last night the house remodel moved into enveloping the whole house. Bank was good and I had asked for more than I thought I needed so at least I can make it happen.

This is from the TV show Home Improvement, that starred Tim Allen. We can dream.

that's so funny I'm choking!!! :) thank you!!!!

Biggest bathroom gripe? None, really....even in a Florida 1970s era condo. Spent many years in the Reserves where for two weeks per year got to experience that "loo in the great outdoors"...so grateful that this is really a first world problem.

This bath room is perfect. My gripe is out dated fixture. Or a color on bathtubs, toilets and sinks. Grrrrrrrr. Hate it.

@ "loo in the great outdoors" :) Here's where the great outdoors is over rated, esp in winter, burrrrrrrrr.... lol

Toilets that are too low -- you get this half the time in hotels. Spend the extra $20 and get an adult-sized john. Inadequate outlets. No bathroom fan to pull out moisture from shower. Vanities that are too deep -- I'm 5'2" and can't get close enough to the mirror to put on makeup (again, a hotel thing designed for men only). No storage for extra towels.

Hate:
Raspberry tub and toilet
Blue carpet in the bathroom
Clothes closet entry in bathroom

Love:
Tub is big enough to float, great for my back
Has a window, love the light

omg! it is sort of awful :) I wouldn't turn on the lights :)

Mouse maker, sort of awful-you are too kind! LOL

Not enough space! This means that there should be one sink for each person (double vanities are definitely welcomed).

-Adrienne http://bit.ly/1cP0kbF

adrieneredwood no! I hate when perfectly usable bench space is taken up by an extra sink.

coxie, I didn't really know what to say :) I do relate though. my bath used to be pink--horrid pink with horrid reflecting wallpaper with butterflies!!! it was so bad that I just used a night light instead of real lighting :) thank goodness the tub wasn't pink!!

Biggest gripe: my remodel is on hold until spring.

Mouse maker, one of the other bathrooms has reflective wallpaper too! Pink bathroom......sounds good in theory : )

it was eeewwww :) a very small bath because it had been a linen closet (which I could have used)
so it needed to be white. what a relief :)

Our Master Bath is huge (16' x 26') but it is built over a unheated garage. Even though it's insulated the floor gets awfully cold in the winter. Would love to tear out the tile and put in floor heating in.

@coxie1958 - ... Is the side of the tub actually carpeted? EW. I mean, the pink you can work with if you must, but all that carpet just makes me shudder to think of all the Ick potential.

Current bathroom gripe: Vanity in the downstairs bathroom sticks out too far into the space and compromises access to the toilet. (Bathroom isn't very large.) As soon as I have time, I'm replacing it with one of those ones where the vanity cabinet is cut back from the front of the sink, so there's only enough space for concealing the pipes and storing some extra TP and essentials. Most of the time the bathroom will function as a half bath even though there's a shower, so I figure that's enough under sink storage space. I'll just put a couple of nice shelves in the shower itself for guests to use.

Piratefoxy, yes that is carpet on the side of the tub. Lovely, isn't it? LOL

My biggest bathroom gripe would be the toilets that have all the curly-q sides that are just begging the dirt and dust to land on them, and the bolt caps that don't fit properly and just spin around when I try to clean that area.

That is why I selected this toilet. Why does it have to be exposed? It is not like the plumber is going to go in thru the side to fix it.

Yes! How much more difficult could it be to design a toilet with straight sides?

They are out there. It was one of my requirements when I was purchasing. Had to order it online and it came broken twice but the third time it was intact. Luckily I wasn't in desperate need. Mothers of little boys should insist on straight sides. Mine are grown but I was thinking of the next family that moves in.

I would love a wall hung toilet & vanity. Not only for the look but for ease of cleaning. One day...

That is great, mkmort but I just dealt with installing two toilets recently so those can stay there... I hate erasing the 'dribble lines' down Sir John's 'chin' from my fellow, especially where it meets the floor in front.

Yes! And then they comb their hair over it....

two things. I saw a commercial for "plumbers butt shirts"--they're long tailed, durable shirts especially for the plumber in your life.
and my other bathroom gripe, besides that I have to share it with men :) is that the heat vent is right next to it so the toilet gets dusty all the time!!!!

We're about to do a complete master bath remodel, so this thread has been very, very helpful!! We're fortunate to have lots of space, but not enough storage. We have room to work with and should be able to work in fixes to a good many of the "pet peeves" mentioned here. At the risk of starting a war second only to the "which way to hang the toilet paper roll" war, my husband and I have a pact: I leave the seat down, he leaves it up. We BOTH have to move the seat. Equality of the sexes in the bathroom. No arguments for 22 years!

mousemaker, I have mentioned that place here before. Duluth Trading Company. Their clothes aren't cheap but they have 'longtail tees' to deal with Plumbers's Crack, they have some clothes that will take abuse, I'm trying to kill a pair of their Firehose workpants right now... and they have been surviving. They have a gift pail of a longtail tee packaged in a drywall mud bucket labeled 'crack spackle' ... that has been a great thing I've bought for others in the past. And the 'Larry' light... I've bought several of those BEFORE they started carrying them; they are great.

Ann Meyers, we have one of each persuasion both for which way to hang the roll and which way the seat's supposed to be. With two bathrooms working again, he has his and I have mine, and we each put the seat according to which one we use (his it gets put up if I use it, mine gets put DOWN if he uses it) and can hang the paper the way we want in ours (I'm over he's under) Putting the little hotel maid point on the end of the roll just to tweak the other one has been declared 'out of bounds' And I have almost a decade on you in that... sigh.

My Suffering Better Half has been allowed to hobble about and stitches out, and did laundry today. I'm loving the bin arrangement to the new butler pantry/laundry area; from the master bath one can toss the clothes right into bins on the other side of the wall... next to the stacked washer/dryer. I built the riser and put in heavy drawer glides, and the soap and such all stores underneath the dryer. I had the glides (long story but free) so I saved a lot that way and I could park a semi on that riser. He wants to paint bullseyes on the hinged flaps when I install them, I don't think that's a good design accent in the room....