I have a very small bathroom, which is currently designed very poorly. I plan to rip it out, and possibly expand the bathroom into a nearby closet (and remove the closet of course).
I have attached a diagram (not to scale) with dimensions below. The area on the bottom right is currently a closet, but could become part of the bathroom.
Currently, there is a tub along the right wall. As soon as you enter the bathroom, there is a tiny vanity/sink on your left (you have to go around it to enter the room, it is so tight. After the sink, there is a radiator on the left wall. I plan to get rid of that and either put in a baseboard or radiant floor heating.
The toilet has it's back to the wall on top in the diagram, in the middle (in front of a window).
Where can I go to get a good design? I am no designer and I am having trouble finding a way to organize things. I do plan to remove the tub and install (or build/tile) a stall shower to save space.
This is the design I think I may use, which is almost identical to PTP's drawing. I plan to hire someone to do the custom shower and move the plumbing, and do the rest myself. The two things I don't like are:
-Space between toilet and sink is about 2' - is that too small?
-Toilet is highly visible, not much I can do about it
There is basically nowhere to get anything but inspiration, for free. Your plan isn't drawn with all the details necessary to make any real recommendations. For example, you said the toilet is in front of a window, but it's not drawn into the plan and there are no dimensions given, nor how high from the floor the sill is. I'm assuming that you are on a wooden floor as you have no qualms rearranging plumbing. I usually draw several elevations of a redesign using every possible configuration I can think of. I then get opinions from friends, family, colleagues, etc... on what they like/dislike about each, then I consider practical limitations on implementation.
I think if this is not the primary common bathroom for the whole house/apt I'd probably use the closet as a shower stall, eliminating the tub. I'd move the toilet into the right hand corner and install a pedestal or 18"d vanity under the window. That would get the area in front of the door clear and make the bathroom a little less cramped, though if you could move the left-side wall behind the existing sink back another 16" you could leave all the other plumbing in place and it would probably do the trick without cannibalizing the closet.
Thanks for the response. I meant to draw in the window - I edited my orignal post with it added in.
I can't move any of the other walls, unfortunately, since there are rooms on both sides of the bathroom that i do not want to modify. The main things I am trying to add to the bathroom by remodeling is more room to move and some counter space.
It looks like you could do a 36"w x 18"d under the window where the toilet is. I've seen tops with the sink pushed to 1 side to give you a nice counter area. I have 4 bathrooms in my(our) house, 3 original. The 3 original bathrooms all have 24" vanities , so no practical counterspace accounting for the basins. The 4th, new bathroom is getting a 48" vanity installed today by me. The original master bath here is smaller yet than the one your working with. I also installed electric radiant radiant flooring under the tile in this bathroom, I have yet to fire it up. I would recommend using the mats over loose wire if you can. I used loose wire over a concrete slab floor.
Good ideas... Also, if you built some cabinetry or shelving into that area, you might be able to deepen them an additional 3-1/2" inches or so using the wall cavity. You might have wiring in the way, but that's just a minor detail, eh? It would be less expensive, if that's a concern, to go with a wall-heater. There's one by Cadet that looks like a regular HVAC register that retails about $100.
Great ideas, thanks. My original thought was a toilet in the closet, shower in the right corner (to the right of the window). and a sink on the left wall, and leave under the window open (put a garbage can, scale, etc there)
If I put the sink under the window...wouldn't that be odd to not have a mirror over it? Is radiant floor heating overly expensive? is it something I can install myself (I am pretty familiar with electrical work).
I plan to do most of the work myself, other than moving plumbing and possibly installation of electric floor heating.
I am not sure why the top left portion of the picture has that weird corner protruding into the room - probably a pipe or something. I'll find out when I tear the wall of. There is no drywall in that room, it's old paneling right on the studs.
And don't forget the 30" wide space with toilet centered side to side and minimum 21" in front of seat, open space. Vanity 21" clear space in front also. Shower: 30" minimum diameter and 900 square inches minimum area.
Be safe, Gary
Always tough to decide WHAT TO DO.... I usually ask my wife.
I prefer bigger showers and my wife always likes a little bench or seat to shave legs. We have towel warmers & love them so I put one in on the left side of the door. In this type of design the toilet & possibly bath drain could stay in place, but you'd have to custom build the shower. I have done two custom showers, even one with body jets..... it's like a car wash LOL.
I usually start by drawing in an EXACT plan to scale with every current pipe, wire, drain, switch and vent on it. I draw it on graphing paper or on AutoCAD then make 20 copies and try different configurations to see what I like and what works. Good Luck!
I put the radiant heat they sell in Home Depot in my bathroom when I redid it as well as installing a longer section of basboard, I put in a cathedral ceiling as well which is why I opted for the extra heat. The radiant heat is a standard 120v line I put on a single GFI curuit run from the box as well as 2 other single lines I ran for hair dryers, curling Irons etc,, My point is the radiant electric was no problem to install electically,, even putting the pad under the tile was no big deal,, And your feet will love you for it
Cheers
Mark
keep in mind that tubs with water are heavy (especially cast iron claw foot tubs). usually one tries to place the tub so that it is perpendicular to the floor joists to help distribute the weight.
if that is not the case in your plan, then be sure to point this out and seek advice.
PTP plan look like it would give you a large looking bathroom. I would suggest turning the water closet 90 degree with the window not a cold feeling behind your rear.
Not bad of a design. I like it. Its' look quite pleasing and large. Be sure to do it with a comtemporary look. Keep it light in color and large glass mirror.
Tile the floor with a contrasting color with the wall. Keep the wall light and a contrasting floor but light color.
How about reframing the door at a 45* with the plan you just posted, it would make the bathroom feel a lot bigger, rid yourself of wasted space where the door is and take peoples attention away from the toilet when entering the room.
Yes, I mean the main door to your bathroom. I don't know the layout of your hallway, but it seems like the shared wall with the closet adjacent to the door would be wasted space. I guess if it encroaches into your hallway it wouldn't work out. Just a thought.
It might work out to angle it, I'd have to see. It's close. Definitely worth looking into.
I just got off the phone with a contractor who use CTI brand concrete to do custom showers. He uses a skim coat of polished concrete instead of tile, and he said it can be made to look just like any kind of tile you want, and it's cheaper and more durable.
Not sure how your hallway is from the doorway, as suggested by other to turn it 45Degree; may be a problem as far as coming out and providing a wide enought manuvering(assuming you will not need a wheelchair user).
Hiding the sight.
One way is to put up a half wall no higher than top of your toilet sink and no longer than the toilet it self.
Provide at least 18" from the half wall face to centerline of your toilet bowel. This will provide you enough space. One thing I do not like is where the toilet tissue holder is located. Try located further up closer to front of toilet bowl.
Look good. Don't paint anything dark or it make the space smaller. Leave it as bright as posssible will make the room a pleasant place. Give us a photo when finish.
Good Luck.:no:
Go to the tile installation forum.com and get a good reliable answer before you do that.
Are you on a raised floor? You may have a problem with stregnth and deflection if on floor if you don't beef up the area of work.
Can you give a little more floorplan of the surrounding area. I think if we look at it in a perspective view of this space, we might see another apporach or solution.
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