I have given you a whole list of reasons why I am going to do a gut remodel of my retro master bathroom, but the main reason doesn’t have to to with the condition of the tile, the color scheme or the lack of towel bars — I’m gutting my master bathroom to the studs and starting over, because the layout is just not working for how we live. When we first bought our retro ranch house about two years ago, I knew the bathroom was going to need some help. I’ve spent hours thinking, measuring and imagining how I could fix the floor plan to be more user friendly, and by golly, I think I have a plan…
To understand the improvements I’d like to make to the layout of my master bathroom, first we have to take a look at the current layout of the room:
Above: The current layout of my retro bathroom.
As you can see, there is quite a lot going on in this layout. I can say for the first time in my life, that there is too much closet space in my bathroom. We can fit nearly everything we need in the small closet — the large closet is mostly empty. There are also doors banging against doors everywhere. The small closet door interferes with the shower door, and the large closet doors can only be fully opened when the main bathroom door is shut. Since I have so much extra closet space in this bathroom, I’ve decided to take out the small closet to expand the shower. That way, my tall, broad shouldered husband can have the larger shower space that he would like, and I don’t have to move the plumbing for the shower — which would add extra costs to the overall project. I’m also going to keep the toilet in the same place for the same reason. The only plumbing that will need to be moved will be the sink lines and sink drain.
Above: This is the plan for the new master bathroom layout.
The new layout removes a lot of the clunkiness of the original floor plan. Yes, there are fewer closets, and the vanity is smaller, but the space is so much more user friendly this way. The shower will not only be larger, but also will have a curtain (the squiggly blue line) instead of shower doors — oh how I will love not having to clean shower doors! Once you exit the shower, there will be ample room for one large bath mat. Two towel racks (one for each of us) or one large towel rack will be within easy reach, no reaching around a shower door to grab them. You’ll notice that the new plan still only has one sink. That’s because two sinks are twice the cost (extra plumbing, extra sink and extra faucet), and I like having plenty of counter space to use when I am getting ready in the morning. I offset the sink to maximize the counter space and also because of the style of vanity that I’ve chosen — but more on that later. The last new feature of this bathroom is consolidating the two closets into one small closet. I’m also toying with making some built in wall shelving like Pam made in her crazy crafty epic big fat retro office remodel.
So there you have it folks, after much deliberation and nearly two years, I feel sure that this is my new master bathroom layout. Of course, that is only part of the job. I’m still working on the fun part — how to blend retro and modern styles into one happy, perfect for us master bathroom. More on that next time!
The new plan looks SO much more user friendly!
-just a note: when redoing the shower, consider putting in framing that will allow you to put strong grab bars later. It’s simple and if you decide to age in place, there’s no remodeling required when you put them in.
Thanks Saundra A.!
Thanks for the tip on placing studs for grab bars, I would have never thought of that! Though hopefully needing grab bars is a loooooong way off for me!
Still, I’ll consider it since my husband and I don’t plan on moving again unless it is completely necessary.
hmmm, I need to check my list of 84 tips. I am pretty sure I have “will you put in grab bars”, but I can also add the “even if you don’t, put the support in the walls” (and keep a ‘map’ of where you put the support.) BTW we DID put the support in our tub/shower walls. If I had it to do over again — I’d just go ahead and put in the grab bars, too. Like others commenting, I’ve suffered the occasional back injury in the past 10 years and it would have been great to have them already…. Also, there are some pretty cool-looking ones out there these days…
My bathroom in my apartment came with the grab bars and I have used them many times and am glad they are there!! Sometimes a quick turn causes dizziness so it’s nice to have some strong to grab onto! Also, a lower one (for getting up in the tub) is a great height to help with….ahem…shaving the legs. I’m glad they are there!
There are stainless steel grab bars in front of my toilet and in my showers. They are sort of long and obtrusive. At first I hated them because they make the bathrooms look like a hospital in my opinion. Then I got in the habit of leaning on them and grabbing little snippets of cat naps. Now I’m not so sure I want them to go.
Be sure to stud for curtain rods, too! My grandfather told me about that one.
Good one!
Looks great! The lowercase t makes your towel bars appear to be bowel bars in the image.
oh dear! I certainly DON’T want ‘bowel bars’ in my bath remodel! hehehehehe
Kate, that looks very nice. I would second the advice about studs in the wall for a grab bar. I installed one just straight and not on the angle and it is a good hanging space for the tub mat. I like the Ginger brand for durable good looks. Also, you may want to put a plug down by the toilet in case you ever want something like a Toto Washlet. It is nice to have and very helpful if a handicapped person needs it. With the plug, it would be an easy add on. (not a retro look, of course) You also may want niches put in the shower wall for shampoo, etc. Since you are tearing up, a pocket door might be nice. It is just me, but I would prefer 2 vanities. I would probably eliminate the closet and put matching vanity on that wall. With the pocket door, that would be a good space.
Thanks for the tips Lynda,
I am planning on putting in niches in the shower wall for shampoo, etc.
I can’t wait to see how it all turns out! Regarding the grab bar discussion above, the studs are a good idea. You may want them some day and then you’ll be ready for them with little fuss. We purchased our home from an estate and there are grab bars installed in our shower already. I seriously thought about having them removed at first but am glad we didn’t. They have come-in handy, especially when we’ve over-exerted ourselves and have aching muscles. I’m glad I have them now, even though we’re still (relatively) young. I have had to tell my children that they are not built-in ballet bars for the shower…
Hi Kate, I just love looking at floor plans, and “remodeling in my head”! I agree, your current bathroom is a bit like a dooraholic designed it.
Then you said this little gem – “after much deliberation and nearly two years, I feel sure that this is my new master bathroom layout.” Give it two more years – ha! I’ve said that same thing umpteen times in the last 4 years about my new kitchen layout. And guess what? I just paid my structural engineer another $1500 because I changed my mind (again). So – moral of that story, just get your remodeling done before you change your mind about something!
Your new layout is much better than the old, for sure. If it were me….I’d do a couple of things so I’ll throw them out for you to consider.
I would be super hard pressed to resist the urge to swap where your bathroom door is with the small closet location in your new plan. If that was done, then I wouldn’t even use the small closet for the bathroom, but make it part of the master bedroom closet space instead. Then I would either move the vanity back to the wall it was on, and get an art deco, or med century cool armoir for the end wall to use as a closet and for a focal point as you enter the room. Or, you could leave the vanity where it is, and put the armoir on the wall where your towel bars are. I’d just put hooks inside the armoir doors to hang towels on. Or it could be a mid century credenza style storage unit with some display space as an alternative to an armoir.
I’m in the two sink category two…..but given the choice I’d opt for single sink and more master closet space in the bedroom
Very nicely re-done layout regardless and oh-so-much better than the old one! Thanks for sharing.
Yep, looked at it again…I’d do two pedestal sinks on the side wall and an armoir or credenze/storage unit at the end. You’ll probably crazy as we all co-opt your floor plans!
One other note – I’d be extra concerned with your lighting at the sink, because of the window being right there at your face. Be sure to bring home fixtures and try them out during the strongest lighting part of the day so you can be sure you have even lighting for make up etc.
A couple of my first reactions:
- I think you need to reach too far into the shower to turn it on and off.
- Also, 34″ wide is still tight for a brawny husband.
- How is it that in Wisconsin there is shower plumbing on an outside wall?
- How about: Turn the shower sideways to run along the back wall — plumbing on an inside wall. Make the shower at least 36″ wide (check the size of those groovy Kohler enamel on cast iron shower pans, maybe they are just that wide?). Make the shower 60″ long.
- In the small space by the window, make a short dressing table with mirror above and storage below. Hmmm, this might be tight, a problem…
- Vanity on long wall across from toilet. Recognized concern: How much room in front the vanity would there really be?
- Are you getting a new toilet? Make sure it compact to allow max space between toilet and vanity.
- Change the swing direction of the door so that it opens and lays against where your mbr closet is.
- I also think that two sinks are way preferable. Kate, I think you are newly married. It is so cute that you think one will do. Hahahaha.
I realize that my idea is a trade-off to yours, Kate. Yours has lots of space in front of the vanity. Mine has less — maybe probably not enough…. and likely you are going to spend way more time at the bathroom sink than in the shower. These small bathrooms are always so tricky!
I am not a professional designer. What the heck do I know. I know you are really good with everything and have spent two years laboring over this layout. Don’t listen to what I say!!!
Wow – you are right Pam on the width of the shower. I have a 32″ shower now, and when my husband uses it, 34″ would not be enough, and even 36″ would be pushing it. 32″ is just horrible for him, it’s even pretty horrible for me. I’m going to a 48″ neo angle shower instead.
Guys are bigger, and then when you throw in the dreaded middle age spread, it gets worse.
I 100% agree with you, Pam, on all of it. I have a 34″ shower and it is a tight fit. The closet walls on either side (in Kate’s layout) might make the bathroom feel cramped and airless. Putting in a 54-60″ 2 sink vanity will provide plenty of storage space, no need for the big closet. And that way when you enter the room, you will see the whole space including the window, which will make it feel airy.
Thanks for all the input! I have been thinking about moving the shower plumbing to the opposite wall (Now is on the back wall of the bathroom) so that you won’t have to reach around the partial wall to turn it on, also will allow more elbow room with a curtain being there instead of a partial wall…
There isn’t shower plumbing on an outside wall…the current sink is the outside wall. The wall with the shower plumbing bumps up against our den. I want to move the sink to the back wall to get the plumbing off the outside wall completely.
Yes, Jim and I have only been married just under 3 years and we are ok with sharing a sink.
I know you think it is cute, but most of the time we aren’t at the sink at the same time. The only time we might be at the sink together is when brushing teeth in the evening before bed.
We don’t have any kids yet, and if the time comes that we do, we have another full bath off the hall that would be for the kiddos, so no worries of sharing a sink with kids!
I did try to find standard shower depths online and found that 30 inches is the minimum and 36 seems to be average. The problem my husband is having currently is with the angle of the door that cuts from 37 way down to 24.5. Our other bathroom with tub/shower combo is 34 inches wide with a curtain and seems like plenty of room.
Still, I’ll take all of this into consideration. Nothing is set in stone yet!
Kohler does make a cast iron shower pan that is 36″ x 48″. We just had one put into our master bath. However, it is made for a tiled wall on 3 sides. Not 3.5 the way your shower is shown here. I’m not sure if that would be a problem.
But you would still have room for a 48″ wide vanity. Speaking of the vanity … I see you are planning for a 18″ depth instead of the standard 21″. We did the same thing and recessed the medicine cabinets into the wall. If you surface mount them you run a risk of smacking your head on the cabinet when you lean over the sink
. Congratulations on starting the Reno, it’s so exciting!
I like the sound of that size shower. I am guessing that Kate was planning to add a third wall for her shower…?
oopsy, I see what you are saying about the 3.5 size.
Kate – sorry I keep chiming in here….in looking over your prior post, it doesn’t look like you are going to try and save your vanity (smelly hamper)?
I’m noticing if you are going to try and do this at all with stock items, your vanity width at 52″ is going to extremely difficult. Pretty much have to buy a 48″ unit and use fillers at each end, or go to custom made ($$$). Also, your vanity depth is not standard. Most vanities are 21″ deep. You can find stock 18″ vanities, but they are usually the teeny ones, only 24″ – 36″ wide. Again, you can get shallow depth, but it usually means a custom order, and more $$$.
Thanks for all the advice…I’m considering all the tips people are giving since nothing is set in stone quite yet. That’s part of why I chose to share my plans with all of you…that way I can have lots of input and think about it all before I decide for good!
About the vanity….I’m not using a stock vanity…the 52 inch measurement is because of something retro that I am going to try and turn into the vanity…it wasn’t expensive either (more on that later) and was found on Craigslist!
Stay tuned!
Oh, I like the sound of that Kate – keep revealing your secrets!
I also think grab-bars are the way to go…we also have them by the toilets in our house. I’d love to believe that I’m waaay too young to need them, but with a bad knee and hip and my husband’s bad ankle, I know they will be handy when injuries flare up!
On the subject of sinks…I always thought people were ridiculous when they made such a big deal about dual sinks. Now that we have them, I’m a HUGE fan! It really is a time-saver (and if you have children, it’s so nice not to have to look at the mess they make in their sink!)
That said, do what YOU want and enjoy! Can’t wait to see pictures when it’s done.
Yep, I, too, have a grab bar by the toilet. And it does come in handy when the old back is flaring up!! Or even if you are ill and feeling weak-you don’t have to be “old” for that-it’s a blessing for a little help! I am glad I have mine!!
Lots of good points above. It is always cheapest to use standardized sizes for vanities and showers. Code for the toilet space is 30″ width, and I think larger is better. You might look at these floor plans for some ideas. I think there are probably other sites that have them as well.
http://www.us.kohler.com/us/Floor-Plan-Options/content/CNT300260.htm
Also, I can’t remember if you have another bath in the house. If not, you may want to consider a tub/shower. I think it is easier to bathe children in a tub. If you have another bath with a tub, that is not an issue. Also, I sort of like the wall hung sinks with the chrome legs vs. pedestal sinks. I have decided that is is too hard to get to the trap and the pop up assembly with a pedestal sink if you have a plumbing clog. also, make sure you have some hooks around the shower so you can reach out and quickly grab a towel. You don’t want to have to reach across the room for a towel.
Ok, last post, I swear, LOL.
You actually have room to put in a neo angle shower, whether you buy a pre-fab pan like I did and just tile the walls, or you could have it custom done all in tile. Keep the shower where it is, move the plumbing to the master bedroom wall, and then move your vanity back over to the side wall.
This is the Lasco bathware unit I found on clearance for $100 (!!!), and the MSRP on it is about $800. I found it online for $421 also. You can use the specs as a guide if you had one custom built. I will be putting in alcoves for shampoo on the back wall, and LOVE the fact that it has a seat. Shaving is sooo risky when standing (not to get too personal here).
Picture of shower pan (specs are downloadable) here:
http://www.aquaticbath.com/Products/Everyday/Shower-Bases/4848SNEO.aspx
$421 company here:
http://www.ferguson.com/FergusonSearch/RecordDetails.action?R=PROD_2244524&search=true
Also, hallelujah on the shower curtain. You can actually get a 48″ neo angle shower curtain rod here, which is what I will put up for my shower (way cheaper than the $1700 shower door unit for my shower pan):
http://www.signaturehardware.com/product2371
Oh – one other bonus – with a shower 48″ wide on your toilet/Master bedroom wall, you could increase your toilet alcove width.
Love our new layout, Kate. I think the shower is generous enough — its occupant will undoubtedly stand with (broad -!) shoulders inline with the long dimension. And I second your choice of a curtain, which cuts out cleaning glass and also adds some spacial flexibility.
I have one idea you might consider — that is to make your planned 21x 28 closet wider and shallower, say 11 deep x 43 wide, so it allows more room as you walk through the entry door and ends about parallel with the toilet. That gives more floorspace and still provides lots of useful storage.
Correction to my closet suggestion, above: 11 deep x 53 wide — really just a shallower version of your existing large closet.
Great job Kate! I am too excited about seeing your finals results.
I’ve read that a wheelchair requires a 32″ opening with a straight-on approach, 36″ if turning into the bathroom from a hallway. An offset door hinge can give you a couple more inches. http://www.adaptiveaccess.com/offset_hinges.php
How fun! After doing our bath I have two points for you to consider:
1. Put the shampoo niche in an area that is not in the sight line of the shower when you are in the bath. Last thing you want to see in your sexy sleek shower is your collection of shampoo.
2. I know you are doing a shower curtain, but if you ever want to put in a nice frameless glass door, make sure that you have good anchors into which to mount it, and that the tiles on the sill slope INTO the shower. Ours does not and no matter what you do, water eventually leaks out onto the floor. Such a drag!
Another thought on grab bars-you can have grab bars installed instead of regular towel bars, and then use them as towel bars. That way, if you ever need a grab bar, you already have it in place, and you also don’t have to worry about the weight of wet towels (or small children!) pulling the towel bar out of the wall.
Such fun! I’m wondering, Kate, what’s under this bathroom? Specifically, where the main drain stack is in relation to the toilet? Also, where are you planning to tie in to the vent stack for the new sink? I’m assuming if the shower supply lines are currently on the back wall, that’s where the drain is too, so theoretically you’ve got a vent stack there. Also, in which direction do the floor joists run, side-to-side or front-to-back?
What I’d be most tempted to do (given that what’s below is amenable, which it probably isn’t
), is move the toilet to the back wall next to the window, install the shower on the back wall (although I’d put in a 4′ tub with shower for ease in cleaning). I’d run the shower plumbing in the new wall between the toilet and shower with an access panel on the toilet side for maintenance purposes. Why builders don’t automatically provide for maintenance, I don’t know.
I’d put the sink/s on the wall between the shower and the master bedroom closet. That outer wall from the toilet under the window to the bedroom wall would then be free. You could put in a half wall with translucent divider in front of the toilet for privacy if you wanted. I’d definitely have a girly vanity on the outside wall with a 50′s vanity stool, and there’d still be room for a bench/hamper and nice closet.
I think I’d do some type of corner-type closet so the door doesn’t open against the wall or bedroom door. A corner closet with narrow double louvered doors to decrease the swing footprint and increase the airflow in what could become a damp spot. Speaking of which, an exhaust fan with the highest cfm and lowest sone ratings is really worth the added expense.
That’s all I can think of on the fly. Thanks so much for letting us exercise our imaginations on your project! Imagination is cheap and doesn’t have to adhere to reality, lol. Cannot wait to see what colors you go with.
Oh, and extend the wall between the shower and tub a foot so you can have towel bars right there next to the shower. The other side of that wall extension can have the recessed storage like Pam’s, for extra toilet paper, and other personal amenities. If you don’t extend the wall, you can put towel rings on the wall end.
Moving the toilet would be tricky and very $$$. The main stack is in the wall directly behind the toilet AND we have another bathroom (hall bath) that backs up to our master so the toilet from that bath shares the stack with our current toilet. For that reason, I’m leaving the toilet in position. Luckily our basement is unfinished, so I can see how all the pipes connect from underneath! Plus, I have the original plans for the house! I’ll have to share those on my blog sometime so you can all get a better idea of the floor plan.
Kate, you’ve done a great job with re-imagining the space! Everyone’s got great ideas. Because a picture is worth a thousand words, I sketched up my brainstorm here.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1pVd73eYM6Hd2JNS2VqaElmLUE
OMG Keith – I did the same exact (EXACT!) layout/floor plan this morning for Kate and emailed it to her, LOL.
The only difference in mine was I kept a swinging door into the bathroom (reversed the swing though), and designated a vintage accordian door on the linen storage so there would be no door conflict, haha.
Keith – I guess this means we could remodel a house together and get along fine, haha!
Tami and Keith-Thanks for taking the EXTRA TIME!!! to draw up some sketches for my master bath! All of your suggestions are really helpful and I will definitely take them all into consideration before I come to my final conclusions.
I really appreciate all the advice that you two and all the other commenters are giving me! Things I never would have thought of are now spinning through my head. Thanks so much everyone!
You’re welcome Kate! And I’m truly thankful you weren’t offended by our re-do’s or your re-do
I don’t even open my own house plans anymore very often because it is almost like an addiction to think of different ways to lay something out. Like I said in my email, just when you think you have landed, some new idea pops into your head!
No matter what you do, it will turn out wonderful, I have no doubt.
No offense taken at all Tami!
I was just amazed that everyone gave my plans so much thought and effort! I like feedback…it will make me feel more sure of what my final decision will be because I have considered many other suggestions!
I know I have had my quota of comments. However, I made this mistake in our master bath–so I am passing on this tip. When you design the niches, make sure they are tall enough to accommodate whatever size shampoo bottles you like to use. I didn’t make my niches tall enough. Also, if there is an outside wall in the shower, you could install privacy glass or acrylic glass blocks for a window. We have that in our shower and I like it.
my 2 cents… I really like having towels (towel bars) reachable when I am still standing (dripping) inside the shower (i.e. not so far away that I have to step out and stand on the bath mat to reach the towels).
We had this issue with our master bath — is it new construction we added on the house, but because of the layout, there wasn’t room for towel bars right next to the shower. We put a hook on either side of the shower door, and we just move our towels to a hook before we get in the shower. Then, after we dry off, we hang the towels on the bars to dry.
this is exactly the suggestion i was going to make! hooks right next to shower are very important. that doesn’t have to be where they dry out, but i hate having to put my towel in some weird spot or on the floor so that it’s reachable from inside the shower. even if you only did half walls on the shower (glass on top), you could put a hook on that at the entry.
i’ve just gutted my main bath and am looking forward to enjoying my new bath next month! marble floors (with heat), white subway wainscot and bath surround, boomerang laminate on vanity. sooooo excited. i luckily didn’t have to move anything, but i did have to have a custom vanity made, though i saved by reusing my sinks, toilet and bathtub.
Just a few comments from someone old(er). I don’t see why everyone thinks the shower size is an issue; just turn sideways for more elbow room. The planned shower is 50″ long!!! I love the idea of your repurposing an item for the vanity
I don’t think you need 2 sinks. You could use the money saved for something else. In my 31 years of marriage I have never even had a “master” bath, let alone double sinks. I am like you; I would rather have more counter space.You do have another bath if there is an urgent need to brush teeth STAT. I think grab bars are a good idea and would install them now instead of having to do it later at an unplanned time. One of you may need them sooner than you think. I do agree you need an hook for a towel outside the shower door. If you don’t plan to move/sell anytime soon then do what YOU want. You have lived there long enough to know your needs, wants and how to best utilize your space. I am looking forward to watching your progress!
Thanks Sherree!
I agree, two sinks is not necessary. My husband and I have been sharing one sink for 6 years (3 of which were married years) and we have yet to have an issue. Both my parents and his parents have always shared one sink as well. I know it is a personal preference thing, but for us, two sinks just doesn’t make sense.
If you shave your legs in the shower, make sure it includes a low shelf or bench so you can prop your leg up. That way, you’re not bending double, blocking the light, and having all your shaving lotion washed off by the water cascading down your body. We put one in our shower when we added a master bath and I am happy about it every time I shave.