Another one about toilet/bathroom split

Rachelle · Mar 10, 2008 11:21 am

Our house had something like this bathroom design as an optional extra. Initially we didn't go for it but I've done some reconfiguraiton upstairs and I've ended up with the toilet right opposite my daughter's door. To combat that I've been playing around with the bathroom design and then remembered this idea. It wasn't exactly like this, it had a normal bath, but we really want a big one for family baths.

What do you think of the idea? We have a powder room downstairs plus an ensuite so this will be the kids bathroom (one girl, one boy, currently only 2 and 4, but teenagers one day!). FYI daughters room directly opposite main door. Also had to take laundry chute position into consideration.

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Pros:
- Separate WC
- Basin available for handwashing even if someone showering
- Vanity available for make-up/shaving if someone using either WC or shower, or both
- Less "mud" on floor from high traffic in wet room (eg the shower/bath area would have the wet floor so the Vanity area wouldn't get muddy from constant walking on the wet floor - does this just happen to me?)
- Teenagers could easily be using bathroom at same time, eg one showering, one doing hair and make up

Cons:
- Smaller areas, pokey?
- Vanity not in shower/bath area if you want somethign from vanity you'd have to duck out through a door.
- Can't completely get ready in privacy, eg can't lock door and do everything at once, would have to go shower, put towel on, go into vanity area

This is the other configuration that I've come up with:

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Thanks!

Cabinfever · Mar 10, 2008 12:18 pm

I much prefer your second design. I think the "cons" you point out in design #1 are significant.

Reasons I don't like design #1: Usually after a shower people will want to immediately get dressed, or shave, apply cosmetics or other 'treatments' maybe brush their teeth etc etc. I think it's not so good that they need to do that "in public" in the open main area.

James · Mar 10, 2008 1:14 pm

2nd design definately.
We have a similar set for our main/kids bathroom. But ours has a toliet and washbasin then through a sliding door into bath, shower and another larger vanity. Area is 3metres x 3.7metres.

d@n · Mar 10, 2008 1:20 pm

The toilet in the first design reminds me of a public toilet setup.

stonecutter1309 · Mar 10, 2008 1:53 pm

Rachelle - why not put a small sink in the WC? That way you avoid teenagers screaming at each other when one is in the shower & the other wants to wash their hands!

As an idea:
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Rachelle · Mar 10, 2008 2:20 pm

Thanks everyone, I agree.

D@n, I totally agree about the public toilet!! It does! It looks like stalls! Ew

Stonecutter that's a great idea, I think we might do that. It looks good too.

My main motivation in moving things around was to get the toilet away from facing my daughter's bedroom. It used to be where the vanity is. It means not having a window in the toilet but I think that's better than her having to come out of her room and see the toilet all the time!

Thanks again!

Paula · Mar 10, 2008 2:27 pm

I think stonecutter has made a great sugestion and put a small vanity in the toilet - it will solve all your problems.

Rachelle · Mar 10, 2008 10:15 pm

Yep, I agree. I've actually changed it a bit more now!!

I'll paste my latest at the end.

Old:
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After first floor reconfiguration:
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Latest:
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Question

Do you think there's enough room between the vanity and the bath? I don't really love it but I'm a bit stuck because the broken blue line is the laundry below so need to get the chute into that area. Maybe I could have a slim vanity? Could I go to 35cm? It's 2 metres wide so there would still be lots of 'bench space'.

I do much prefer the way the bedrooms are now, they face each other, they're exactly the same size, and the wardrobes are more built in.

d@n · Mar 11, 2008 8:35 am

I can't help but think the seperate toilets are taking up valuable space as it all seems quite cramped.

Paula · Mar 11, 2008 9:07 am

I Think its fine now, great that you have more wardrobe space!!
Having the rumpus opposite your room is good for a bit of privacy for you.

I want a laundry chute!!!

great idea.

What size does it make the rooms now?

Rachelle · Mar 11, 2008 11:07 am

Hi,

Thanks D@n, it is a bit cramped, it's a tiny house on a tiny block but we're used to a two bedroom unit (with two kids) so it's going to feel like a mansion to us! I think it's definitely cramped at the bedroom/bathroom/WC/laundry end, but a lot better at the other end which is the living so I think we might be better to sacrifice some "hall" space for "living" space. I think the first drawing was more cramped and pokey and I can't believe I was ok with it a week ago!

Thanks Paula. The bedrooms are 3.9 x 3.3, not including the wardrobes. With wardobes they both end up at 14.3 m2 (inc robes) which I think is about the size of the room they currently share! Yes a laundry chute was a must otherwise the whole top floor woudl have been strewn with dirty clothes!

Cabinfever · Mar 11, 2008 12:06 pm

Regarding the design marked "latest":

I think this design has a few problems. Where do you stand when you open the WC door ? There doesn't seem to be anywhere at all unless you straddle the toilet. A large, old, less mobile or somewhat overweight person probably couldn't even physically use that WC. One solution may be to use a sliding door, but this (in my opinion) gives a feeling of even less privacy. And the toilet up against the bedroom wall is not ideal either. I think the design above that was superior.

Also, I suspect that your doorway into the main bedroom is such a tight turn that you will have a very hard time getting any large piece of furniture in there. Not a problem if it's modular so you can disassemble it, but worth thinking about.

Perhaps you could consider moving the ensuite against the same wall as the main bathroom ? Probably be a bit cheaper plumbing-wise. It'd also mean that your doorway would not be so cramped, and the door would open instead with a direct view out the front window. If the doors were open that'd be a good extra light source upstairs and help give a feeling of space.

Downstairs am I seeing the plan correctly that you have to walk through another WC to get into the laundry ? Seems a bit odd.

Paula · Mar 11, 2008 12:17 pm

Cabinfever, is this what you do for your job??
You have a great ability to see things from a 3D point of view, while us mere mortals (well me anyway) look at a bunch of lines!!

You have given me some great advise already, maybe you should start charging for your opinion

I look forward with interest when reading your posts.

Talinsmum · Mar 11, 2008 12:31 pm

Personally I prefer the original format of the upstairs before you modified it...... to me there is a greater feeling of space around the bathrooms, plenty of privacy for the toilet etc but if I had to choose one of your modifications, I would also go for the first one you drew but with changes to the entry of the master bedroom - I think Cabinfevers suggestions about moving the bathroom in the master bedroom is a great one

Fiona

Rachelle · Mar 15, 2008 7:31 am

Hi guys, working on it your suggestions, have been focussing on the ground floor.

The walk through toilet to laundry didn't bother me before but now it does, yuck!! I don't want to walk through a toilet several times a day to wash.

I've been playing with that and the only thing I can come up with is a tiny skinny toilet. It's only 75cm wide.

What do you think, is this insane? We're really at our limit $ wise, so we can't afford to extend the house at all. Our living room is only just big enough as it is so we can't go that way. I wouldn't mind taking a bit from the study but I want the stairs to line up with the hall that goes to the laundry and I can't make the garage shallower as it's only 5.5 as it is.

The stairs are currently 1 metre wide, I guess I could reduce them by 10cm, but I think I'd prefer a small toilet since it will be used less than the stairs, or is 90cm plenty for the stairs?

We'd put a small hand basin in the corner, I'm looking at a couple between 20 and 30cm.

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PS we have decided to flp the house so that we get more daylight to the living areas during the day, and the western sun to our alfresco in the evening.

Rachelle · Mar 15, 2008 7:33 am

Actually there's somethign wrong with that plan, the study needs to be shortened slightly so that hallway to the laundry matches the stairs. But you get the idea!

Paula · Mar 15, 2008 8:28 am

Rachelle,
You have MVH and it looks like your a pro at it

Well done

I'm still not that good.

Need more time to fiddle I guess.

As for your problem, I cant see any other way.

Our toilet in this house is 85cm wide, and is fine. Not sure how another 10cm would make the space feel though.

good luck

Arc · Mar 17, 2008 10:11 am

With the ground floor I would not want the toilet against the living area wall. Even with brick wall construction here in WA you would be able to hear people going about their business when it's quiet :oops:

Paula · Mar 17, 2008 10:21 am

Quote:

With the ground floor I would not want the toilet against the living area wall. Even with brick wall construction here in WA you would be able to hear people going about their business when it's quiet

I Don't agree, the seating is not against that wall, I don't think you will have a problem.

Rachelle · Mar 17, 2008 1:20 pm

Thanks Paula!

Yeah I certainly got stuck into MVH, I was up until 2am that first night and then played with it whenever I got a spare minute!

Still undecided, I'm going to have anohter play. Might try skinnier stairs, the recommended width seems to be 800 - 900 according to internet searches so maybe 900 is fine then I can get WC to 850.

Thanks Arc, I hadn't thought of that. I'll look into that but I don't think I have many options! I think that toilet will mostly be for guest use and if we had guests we'd be sitting outside or there would be talking etc.