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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think it's fine to have 2 bathrooms & a downstairs loo in a 4 bed house?

146 replies

ilikeyoursleeves · 16/09/2010 22:57

We currently live in a 3 bedroom house that has one bathroom. We are in the process of extending the house & we will get a new ensuite bathroom plus a downstairs loo. So we will have 3 loos in total. I think it's normal to have an ensuite for a master bedroom and a downstairs loo seems the usual thing these days too, but my dh thinks otherwise & keeps saying why do we need 3 loos?! He thinks we should ditch the loo & ensuite & have bigger /more bedrooms instead.

Aibu?

OP posts:

HeadFairy · 16/09/2010 22:58

YANBU... it'll add far more value too to have an ensuite plus a downstairs loo. your dh is wrong.

tassisssss · 16/09/2010 22:59

I think 4 bedrooms tend to have a family bathroom, one (or even two) ensuites and a downstairs loo.

MillyR · 16/09/2010 23:00

I am envious.

Anyway, my parents have a small 4 bedroom house, and they have bathroom, ensuite and downstairs loo.

Rockbird · 16/09/2010 23:00

You cannot have too many loos. I covet a downstairs loo but due to lack of space it'd be out in the garden! En suite is good as well.

MrsMadWriggle · 16/09/2010 23:00

YANBU
If you are ever moving one, a five bed/one bathroom house would be really hard to sell. Four beds/2 bathrooms is more balanced . (The downstairs loo is just a bonus).

We have 4 beds, 1 bathroom and a downstairs loo. I long for a second bathroom now DD is hitting puberty (loft conversion here we come)

MrsMadWriggle · 16/09/2010 23:00

sorry - moving on

drfayray · 16/09/2010 23:01

I had a house in the UK which was deemed unusual because it had a huge main bathroom (Art Deco furnishings) and an ensuite shower and loo. It also had a cloakroom downstairs.

It was wonderful. Especially when the ILs came. Here in Australia, many houses have two bathrooms as standard. We also have laundry rooms which is great.

So YANBU.

AllGoodNamesGone · 16/09/2010 23:02

The more loos the better imho, especially as when the children get older and/or you have visitors.

Encourage you DH to adopt one of the other loos as his own and keep the ensuite to yourself

Scuttlebutter · 16/09/2010 23:02

A downstairs loo is a godsend if you are being visited by elderly/disabled friends or relatives who struggle with stairs.

Now that we've had one for the past five years, I wouldn't want to go back to not having one, if you see what I mean - so handy when I am busy.

Upstairs having two bathrooms is great. Takes the pressure off in the mornings and when we have guests.

edam · 16/09/2010 23:03

Thread title and OP are a bit confused but I think you are adding one bedroom + a bathroom + a downstairs loo? Is that right?

I think many people would be happy to buy a house with an ensuite, a family bathroom and a downstairs loo. But I'm probably on your dh's side in that personally I think it's a bit of a waste - how much actual living space are you gaining? If you'll end up with four decent double bedrooms and two bathrooms and a downstairs loo, fine. If you are compromising on bedroom space, then not so fine.

Other problem is who will end up cleaning all those loos? My bet is it's not dh. Or the kids...

dandydorset · 16/09/2010 23:04

very envious,think ur idea is spot on

ignore dh u will be the one cleaning it and if i was a buyer your idea is the one that would appeal to me

good luck id love an en-suite

TrillianAstra · 16/09/2010 23:06

You can't have more bedrooms with the space taken up by an ensuite bathroom - lots of tiny rooms is crap.

But asedam says, if you're going to have tiny rooms + ensuite you'd be better off with decent-sized rooms and one bathroom.

I can see no situation at all in which you would not put in the downstairs loo.

Kewcumber · 16/09/2010 23:06

Well I have two baths and a downstairs loo in a 3 bed house but both bath and ensuite shower room are minimum sized so just about the size of one big bathroom and great for moening rush hour or when you have guests.

ConnorTraceptive · 16/09/2010 23:07

I think if you are extending to a four bed then purely from a resale point of view an en suite and a downstairs loo are a must.

Your ensuite doesn't need to be that big so you won't necessarily be losing that much bedroom space.

helibee · 16/09/2010 23:08

we have a 4 bed detached with master en suite, family bathroom and downstairs loo. With kids the more loos the better i think when your kids are older and spending hours in the bathroom your dh will prob be grateful

Kewcumber · 16/09/2010 23:08

my previous ensuite was the width of a large shower (so a metre) and long enough for a small sink and a toilet as well. Probably 1x2 metres perfectly funnctional and didn;t take much of the size of the room.

Cleggy36 · 16/09/2010 23:09

Dh is wrong. When the house is full of guests all using the main bathroom you will be mighty relieved that you have an en-suite.

ConnorTraceptive · 16/09/2010 23:13

It's also good to allocate one loo for DH to poo in. Not downstairs in case of unexpected visitors and not in the ensuite because who wants a waft of poo in the bedroom!

Original poster

ilikeyoursleeves · 16/09/2010 23:14

Sorry I don't think I was being too clear, we are building a 2 storey side extension so the entire new bit upstairs will be our new master bedroom plus ensuite. The ensuite will be bigger than our current family bathroom (but that is tiny) so dh thinks we should turn it into a bedroom instead whereas I think it will be brill for an ensuite as we can have a big bath & separate shower in it.

so we could potentially have 5 tiny rooms and one bathroom or 1 fab master bedroom with ensuite plus 3 smallish bedrooms. Hmmm, its a no brainer imo...

OP posts:

TrillianAstra · 16/09/2010 23:14

Yeah Connor, becasue obviously poos done by you or by children don't stink...? How about a privy down the end of the garden, and everyone has to do their poos down there?

Kewcumber · 16/09/2010 23:15

and connor is certianly right around our way - to get a decent prce 4 bed house would be expected to have an ensuite to master and a downstairs toilet. Check with estate agent it might convince your DH

Anenome · 16/09/2010 23:15

Personally I find ensuites yucky...it's the proximity of the toilet to where you sleep that is gross to me. Why would anyone want a toilet so close is beyond me!

AncientStarlight · 16/09/2010 23:16

We've got 2 bathrooms and a downstairs loo and it's brilliant, as DD and I don't need to fight over bathrooms in the morning.

MrsMadWriggle · 16/09/2010 23:16

Total no brainer. 4 beds/two bathrooms. And you get a fab bedroom

Original poster

ilikeyoursleeves · 16/09/2010 23:18

Dh keeps saying that it doesn't matter re adding value as we have no plans to move hence doing the extension

OP posts:

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