If it's just to avoid seeing the toilet when the door is open, have you thought about hanging the hinged door the other way around? So that you have to fully close the door once in WC to get to the toilet. The sink might need moved (or replaced for a smaller one) to give the space for that. Another alternative is to move the toilet to the opposite wall of the WC room so that it is hidden from view, then the barn door can stay open and you'll see the washing machine instead.

Thanks CWD. I had thought of swapping toilet and washing machine, husband thinks that would be too much work 😅

I probably prefer re-hanging the door tbh - then the toilet is always hidden, either by the open door or the closed door. Just need to check you have enough space to get into the room and close the door behind you to access the loo.

Consider not having a wc and having a better kitchen

That looks very impressive Jonathan, it certainly gives me something to think about (like where downstairs can I squeeze in a toilet!) Thank you

Can you show us the whole downstairs layout? I just noticed you have another post about kitchen layout and was also wondering if the loo coud be moved somewhere else as it's really ruining the kitchen layout.

Ground floor plan.

Alternative if you consider space saving folding dining table and view to the back garden while dining

https://share.google/FIfjrSKygDNjz4nAx

https://share.google/Lni3XvZQRQEyPeguu

Thanks Devrya, we could possibly open the wc from the hall? I dont want to forfeit the door from kitchen to lounge though.

This isn't what you want to hear, but I'd consider moving the kitchen/dining to the left Lounge area. Close off the right Living to make it a separate room. Then the kitchen can become utility area and WC - including lots of bulk storage etc so that the new kitchen can be as minimal as possible but also really efficient. There's probably many reasons why you don't want to do that though!

You can keep the door between the kitchen and the lounge,

I was unsure about the exact measurement under the stairs area

if you want a door to hallway then prepare for little corner sink or lean sink that fit in this space,

Or Better purchase a toilet that comes with sink on it

https://share.google/5UkE1RpJ2x5Oc3AG7

I would recommend a bidet spray but many probably not used to clean with hand water spray or automated toilet if they never try it in asia

Thanks for that last suggestion CWD. We certainly hadn't considered that. I suppose the main issue would be plumbing and the fact that we just knocked down the wall between kitchen and living room!

Ha, sorry! Putting up a stud wall isn't a huge issue, but appreciate that you've just gone to the expense of knocking through - and it would probably be a new stud wall in a different position to original wall, so you'd still have a bigger living room than before.

I feel if you're willing to move the WC to under the stairs then moving the whole kitchen over to the Lounge isn't much more inconvenience though, especially since toilets need different soil stack, am not sure how that would work if toilet is in the middle of the house. But since husband doesn't want to move the toilet within it's own room, am thinking he's not gonna want to move it anywhere else either?

Maybe just accept you won't get a downstairs WC, but you could have an amazing kitchen/dining/living instead? The WC is really compromising the kitchen at the moment sadly. I wouldn't want a toilet in a cupboard off my kitchen.