'Lootility'

[Twotinydictators]

Currently refurbishing, our old small kitchen is being turned into a utility room with a toilet at the end, obscured by a dwarf wall.

The builder is half way through, DH says he thinks this is an error and we should build a full height stud wall with separate door. I think it will be dingy and not the best use of space.

I've looked online and found a few examples of new builds designed with a 'lootility' and other properties listed on house purchase websites being advertised as having a one. I'd never heard this hybrid word before tonight, which makes me think it's not as an usual as DH believes. He says it'll put buyers off.

YABU - a lootility is a bad idea and will put buyers off
YANBU - it's a good use of space and becoming more common

Your husband is right.

Well this is not going well Did I mention it's going to cost more money to change it now?? [Clutches at straws]

Terrible idea. What’s the point of the dwarf wall? Either someone is in there with you or they’re not.

Yuck. I’ve seen these and YUCK.

Have I got the wrong end of the stick? You could come into the utility to collect laundry and someone could be on the toilet, in the same room, without a door between you and them?

Nope husband is right. Pay the extra and change it, it will certainly put off anyone thinking about the house.

You don't spend a lot of time kicking out in a utility room. A lootility room is a sensible use of the space, though I would make the whole room lockable.

Take the dwarf wall up to full height and add a sliding door. Stick in bright led downlights so it's not dark. Put shelves or a cabinet above the loo so that you sneak some extra storage space in.

I think lootility rooms are a good idea personally but can also understand that it will make a lot of people go (not envy!) so if you're thinking about resale value I'd steer clear.

Hung sliding doors like the one in the picture should be cheaper than built in.

Ooh no. I wouldn't like it.

Will you be able to lock utility door? And is there only one entrance? That is no Exterior door?

If so I could just about go for it as a large downstairs loo with room for utility section.

But really do think your DH is correct.

The idea of the dwarf wall was to keep the toilet sectioned off from the rest of the room and out of sight but still keeping the natural light from the window and making the room feel more spacious. And it costs less... We do want to sell in a couple of years though.

I have a tiny lootility. Toilet and a washing machine. I don't know how big yours is, but i would just completely leave out a wall, maybe just put a partition in the hight of the toilet and make the whole room lockable.

Other than the hideous name, this is what we have. A downstairs loo with basin, washer and dryer in it. It has a lockable main door, tbh only the person using the loo would fit! It’s not a public place. If using the loo you don’t take long, if sorting the washing out of the machine you don’t take long. Personally I have no issue as long as the door locks.

If the "lootility" has a lock, it's alright one way or the other though honestly, I think seeing a toilet in my utility room would take some getting used to... If I could afford it, I'd be inclined to give the toilet its own tiny closet-- room.

(Incidentally, one of our toilets is essentially in a closet, to separate it from the shower/sink/vanity. There is a small window, which helps keep it from feeling exactly like a closet, but it would be fine even without that.)

One lockable door, no one will be in there while I fold the washing!

Great ideas @YourOpinionIsNoted, thanks.

What kind of madness is this? Of course you need a door on the toilet!

Nobody will use it if they think there's a chance they'll be halfway through their business when somebody trots it to clean their football boots/ switch the boiler on / load the washing machine.

If it's window / daylight related, couldn't you add some high level windows?

Think you're missing a trick by not calling it a pootility. Snigger.

@absolutezero0k I'm afraid DH already beat you to it

It would definitely put me off buying a house. The thought of going in there to sort out nice, clean laundry and finding someone has just done a stinky poo - urgh.

Definitely no room for another window, we have a sloping ceiling in that corner due to the underside of the staircase.

Sorry, I meant could you put a internal high-level window into the partition wall separating the loo from the rest of the room? So you get some secondary daylight into the utility?

Please don't go with the dwarf wall idea, just imagine you're putting the washing on and up pops a friend of your dc or dh that you didn't know were in there. Best idea would be a stud wall and door (sliding door saves space), or depending on the size of the room, leave it all open plan.
I have a really tiny space with loo, sink, space for dog beds with washing machine above and tumble drier above that, i have to stand on the loo to load/unload the tumble drier, but the door is lockable and no one can surprise me in there.

Sorting clean laundry in a room someone just shat in is no worse than taking a shower in same.

Oh god no, just yuck. I wouldn't want my laundry around poo smells. You really need a proper wall.