2 bathroom dilemma

8 years ago

Hi, we are trying to get a family bathroom and an ensuite in space of 2.93 m wide and 4.8 m deep, we wanted en suite to have 1.2 m shower, toilet and sink and bathroom to have shower, bath, toilet and sink. But ideally both to have a window on the width dimension but think we would have to forego that. We just can't work out how to plan it. We don't like our current plan as it has this long corridor and no shower in family bathroom. Any ideas greatly appreciated. We are completely stuck in a rut!

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Style Within Limited

8 years ago

Hello - I agree that one should go for best use of space, so I've just quickly put together a simple alternative below to show that you can still get the sense of a window in the second room by incorporating a high level one in the partition itself. In this way, you also borrow light from the adjacent room. Being a bathroom you may care to have it frosted - we generally apply a window film for privacy which you can get in many opaque patterns including bubbles which you might consider appropriate for a bathroom. In the en-suite, you could turn the shower round (I've drawn it 1200x900) and shuffle the wall up to create a larger bathroom, but smaller partition window.

It is a good idea to keep the soil pipes in line with each other if possible.

In the image above, I have assumed a small bath 1500mm, but a freestanding one we fitted recently had almost the same usable length as a normal 1700mm (because it is made of thinner section), and was slightly wider so actually had more volume than a standard bath. To save space, you've mentioned looking at baths with showers and here is one that may be of interest in which we created a semi-wet room incorporating a hinged shower panel to protect most of the room.

Wet Room Installation · More Info

You might also consider whether you could open the en-suite door outwards to give more usable space in the en-suite itself. You could also opt for a smaller, 2'3" door.

Regarding storage, there is plenty of space above the WCs (see example below where we extended the boxing upwards to create a cupboard) as well as space above the basins for a mirrored cabinet.

small bathroom renovation · More Info

Hope this helps in some way.

Nick

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Comments (22)

Julia Williams
Original Author
8 years ago
We could have a potential to add another 0.7 m in width if we took the fireplace space in bedroom on right and took double story across further. But don't want to lose too much more from either bedroom.
Julia Williams
Original Author
8 years ago
Or take another 0.7 m from one of the bedrooms.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Hey it may be a tight squeeze but the door I made so that it opens the other way rather than inwards unless you needed it going into the this room? the windows however please ignore the big one at the back, I was unsure how big the windows were but the layout is to give you more of an idea mainly! you could add also a shower rod and curtain there too and storage are both top and bottom, under sink for loo rolls or some space around shelving of mirror. colours could be changed if you wish but was to give you an idea of what it would look like within a 2x2m bathroom :) hope this helps!
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Kerry Donnelly
8 years ago
I would put the door for the ensuite where the bath is the now, and carry the wall across, giving you the ensuite of 1697 x 2928, and then a main at 2912 x 2928, know you wouldn't have a window in the main, but you can add some LEDs or a nice mirror feature.
Julia Williams
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Kerry, yes that is the dilemma, it is better use of space so do we accept main bathroom or en suite with no window?!
minnie101
8 years ago

Hi Julia. Is this a new build or were you looking to share the window between rooms? Maybe consider a shower/ bath arrangement like this to save space. In your 1st option maybe take 3ft off thecupboards and have a long vanity unit so you lose the corridor effect with an L shaped bathroom.
Kerry Donnelly
8 years ago
For the best lay out, I would say the main with no window, ensuite to the back with the window, then the main can gain access from the hallway, like bathrooms back to back.
Julia Williams
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Minnie, good suggestions, I had seen a couple similar bath/ shower configuration too.
I like the idea of vanity unit to lower the line and make that area seem wider.
Julia Williams
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Nick, some great suggestions.
Really like the window between en suite and family bathroom to still get the light.
We are now thinking we will extend out over garage so we can get another 1.5 m overall on second floor - so take another 900cm width overall for bathrooms and have them both side by side.
Julia Williams
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi,
Are there free apps or software to create these bathroom plans easily?
Thanks
Rob
8 years ago
Agree with everyone who thinks that the main bathroom and en-suite need to be swapped to avoid the corridor into the bathroom with the window. Its the optimal layout for sure.

Have you considered a sun-pipe for the main bathroom or a velux and a cathedral ceiling if its a redevelopment? You won't need a window then for the main family bathroom but will still have natural light and without any issues of having a window between the two rooms.
Julia Williams
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi,
Thanks all.
We are moving towards adding an extra 0.9 m width for the bathroom space by extending over the garage, such that we would have both side by side - family bathroom as 2.5 m wide, 4.7 m long then En suite as 1.3 m wide and 4.7 m long.
How would that look? I think we could then fit bath under window plus separate shower in family room.

Both rooms would then have a window- probably two windows from inside but looking like one single window from the outside.
Thoughts appreciated?
Jonathan
8 years ago
Is this the main bedrooms' ensuite? If so I would have a superb ensuite and dressing room here and find room for a modest family bathroom elsewhere.
Julia Williams
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi,
Yes, this is the main bedroom ensuite but we will have wardrobes or walk in at end of the bedroom as longer than is wide.
There is no space for family bathroom elsewhere, hence the dilemma.
Kerry Donnelly
8 years ago
If you did that with the window, you would have a window right at the edge of the dividing wall, it would look like a bad renovation, not wanting to put you off but just what I would think. Can you not just add another window during construction? Our last home had no window in the main,, we had a cut out made into the wall and added a mirror the length of the room and colour changing spotlights, the lower part of the recess held a cd holder with door from ikea, (you know the ones I mean?) and that was our hidden storage for shampoo , shaver outlet and things, it also gave us a shelf from the top part. Hope I've explained this well lol, but I'm just meaning you don't need a window, you can come up with quirky ideas to create something different, don't let it be the be all and end all in your planning, unless you want to .
Julia Williams
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Kerry, yes will have to carry on working out how this will all look etc.
Kerry Donnelly
8 years ago
Your idea of making it bigger will be great, just don't get to hung up on the window thing unless it's a must in your eyes. Who's doing your plans for you? Do they have any ideas? Have a look at main bathrooms with / without having windows on images to get a feel for what you want and what can be compromised. Have you looked at showers over the bath for in the main since you will have an en suite with shower anyway? Whenever I planning anything I always start with an idea, then I search every scenario on google images, then I try tweak everything I like into making something that I love, then I mess around with it some more. When do you have to make your mind up for?
Kerry Donnelly
8 years ago
I followed you there thinking I could send you a message with the picture of my bathroom in my last house but don't know how to do it , won't let me upload it on here because I'm on my phone.
minnie101
8 years ago
I agree with Kerry. Lots of bathrooms don't have windows and can look fantastic. I haven't drawn this on paper (so rough measurements are in my head!) but what about swapping the bathroom and ensuite keeping the 1st dimensions and losing the corridor to the new main Bathroom. Have this layout for the ensuite and the pic I posted previously for the the bathroom. The loo in the bathroom would need to go on the left with the door in the middle. I hope that makes sense. If you wanted natural light then follow Style Withins suggestion. If I have time tomorrow I'll draw it out properly to see if it actually works! You would also need to move the new en suite window. I don't know if that is an issue from the exterior aesthetically?
niclips
8 years ago
Hi, I would swap the 2 bathrooms around as you are wasting so much of an already tight space for 2 bathrooms on a corridor. I would enter the ensuite where the bath is, put the bath over the other side, the toilet in front of window and sink on opposite wall so you can also have cupboards/shelving. The ensuite would therefore have the window. That way you also gain a lot more room in the family bathroom by ditching the corridor. It means you won't have a window but with clever lighting it won't be a dark poky hole.
Julia Williams
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks niclips
As you see from discussion if we keep same size, I think that is favoured approach but I am now thinking if we extend over our garage as well it gives us another 0.9 m or more for both en suite and family bathroom so we can have them both side by side without the corridor effect and still get a window in both.
It is a renovation and we have not yet submitted plans.
niclips
8 years ago
Yeah, sure, that would work and you would have 2 fabulous bathrooms. You need to weigh up the additional cost of extending further over the garage vs. how much value is added to your property. I say this because adding extra rooms does of course add significant value to your property but bathrooms don't add quite as much as other rooms in the house and to extend over the garage may be significant cost because it's not just adjusting internal walls, adding windows etc. but adding a whole new structure and that may involve underpining the garage etc depending on what foundations are already there. Personally I don't think it's so bad to have a bathroom without a window these days as many houses have to go down that route. With the great effects you can have with lighting and internal air circulation as long as an internal bathroom has the WOW factor it really won't be a problem. BUT saying that, 2 big fab bathrooms would definitely have the WOW factor. Good luck with whatever you decide.

2 bathroom dilemma

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