Please help me improve our ensuite bathroom...

7 years ago

We inherited this ensuite from previous owners and have lived with it for 3yrs. It is roughly square (1.6m) and has a quadrant shower (75cm), sink & on the left a bidet which we never use. It has underfloor heating, and the floor is real pebbles set into cement, which is pretty but hard to clean. We now need at least to replace the shower enclosure (the sealant appears to be badly corroding the chrome somehow), and are trying to think how we could improve the layout to work for us. We have ruled out the expense of installing a toilet, so really just need a sink, shower, plenty of storage space and towel rail. I feel like if we got rid of the bidet we ought to be able to achieve our main aim of a larger shower, but I can't see a way to do it. Any ideas, please?

Also longing to get rid of the 'stainless-steel' effect boarding which covers two whole walls, so on the lookout for decor ideas to complement our 60s home, but prioritising layout for now!

Many thanks!

Featured Answer

tamp75

7 years ago

Not sure on depth from back wall to the window but if room, I'd put a shower along that back wall with basin on window wall.

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Comments (17)

Daisy England
7 years ago
The basin looks wide in the photo. Is it a wide basin or has the photo been stretched out of proportion?

Bidets are old fashioned in my opinion. I don't know anyone that uses one. Personally I'm not a lover of shaped shower enclosures as they seem to take up a lot of space. I'd just opt for one around a metre long if you have the space.

Regarding wall covering, tiles get really mucky grout which might be the reason panelling was applied. If you look on the Bushboard Nuance website there are some lovely up to date panels on there. Not cheap but you get what you pay for.
Daisy England
7 years ago
Forgot to say if you're getting rid of the bidet how above putting the basin on the long wall run.
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Carolina
7 years ago
I had the same thought as tamp, a shower along the back wall and a basin on the window wall
boundsgreener
7 years ago
Hi. Can you put the sink where the bidet is (I'm no plumber, but I think it's the same kind of drain and taps as a sink), then you can have a bigger shower and built in storage between the end of the shower and the wall (where the fan thingy is)? Towel rail under the window, perhaps?
Carolina
7 years ago
The other way around, like suggested above, could possibly be a better option. He's a visual of what I was thinking for the shower...
Marlborough place, St. John's Wood · More Info
whizzywig
7 years ago
Does the door open in- or out-wards to the ensuite, and where is it? Could you do a quick sketch of a plan? It would also be useful to know that distance between the wall (behind the sink) and the window as that would be the obvious place to put the shower. Are you sure there isn't plumbing for a wc hidden behind the units somewhere? I would find it odd that an ensuite might be built without the plumbing for a wc in place...
Becky Bowie
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you so much everyone for taking the time to comment. It's really tricky taking good photos as the space is so tight, but I will attach another photo and sketch to give a better idea of the space.

Daisy- the photo was stretched, I didn't realise my portrait photo would be converted to landscape. So the sink is just set into a 50cm wide unit.

I think the idea of moving the sink to the current bidet position is a good one, although as you'll see from the sketch there's very little wall on the left of the window so not much space for a mirror in front of the sink.

Carolina- I love that photo! The bit I can't quite get is how the shower door would work if the shower head remained on the right (all the shower controls/electrics are on the other side of the wall, taking up space in a wardrobe!!) and the sink was on the left.

whizzywig- the door opens out (my sketch should show it now) and the photo was taken from outside the door. I think the distance you asked for is 74cm. And yes, we queried the plumbing for a wc when we bought the house, but unfortunately it's not there - they said they didn't like the idea of a loo near their bed!!!
Becky Bowie
Original Author
7 years ago
Oh bother- another stretched photo, sorry! I'll try again...
tamp75
7 years ago
You have plenty of space along that back wall to fit a shower if the width of the room is 165cm. You'd need a 700 shower tray which isn't all that wide but would work. You could keep the shower head on the right. You could either have a glass panel with an opening on the left for a walk in shower or have a sliding shower door.
whizzywig
7 years ago
I'd try a 700x1000mm shower tray with a shower/wet room panel 1000mm., against the outer wall. A freestanding 700mm drawer basin unit should fit nicely between the shower and the towel rail (where the bidet is now) with a corner mirror unit tucked in to the left of the window. The HiB Minnesota illuminated mirror cabinet might just squeeze in there. Good luck!
Bow Sward
7 years ago
I dont know how many loos you have already but if it were my en suite, assuming you can't have a loo where the bidet is because there is no soil piper there, I would investigate installing a saniflow/macerater loo in place of the bidet. It will add value to the property to have a loo ensuite. The boxing in of all the cupboards looks very dated and there are lots of options for basins set into wall mounted cupboards or shelving for storage. And also various ways of doing the shower with a shower tray and glass screen.
V
7 years ago
Just out of interest - where is the toilet located in relation to the bedroom/en suite?
Carolina
7 years ago
For some weird reason, I thought that the bidet was on the right hand side when you enter the en suite :-)
Aleksandra Arhipova
7 years ago
Do you prefer a bath or a shower? You could have a compact-ish bath there that would still be enough to work for most people.
If you are having a shower, I agree with previous comments, install a big one on the rear wall and a fixed glass screen to separate it. Then have the sink where the bidet is and a mirror cabinet on top, they are excellent for storage.
Aleksandra Arhipova
7 years ago
Also, depends on the style you want I guess you could have a fancy remote-controlled rainforest shower. Or if you want a no-electrics option hansgrohe does lovely modern valves with buttons instead of knobs. Or if your budget is bigger than that then a black matt taps would look amazing. Or if you'd rather a more traditional style then there are plenty of options there too.
Becky Bowie
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks again everyone. The ensuite is on the opposite side of the house to the soil pipe, and we don't like the idea of a saniflow so have ruled out a toilet in there, although I do understand it could add value. I think I have a good idea of the best layout now, so need to investigate how expensive it would be to move the shower unit to the outer wall. Also need to work out mirror options if I put a wall hung vanity unit in front of the window, and convince myself I'll have enough storage!

Please help me improve our ensuite bathroom...

tamp75

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Daisy England

Daisy England

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