To not want PIL's old bathroom?

[CosyKnits]

This is not a PIL bashing thread, I love them and they are not really involved, other than it's their old bathroom.

They are redoing it and have offered us the bath/a radiator. DH wants to accept (because it's free), I don't. It's good quality and in good condition, so probably unreasonable of me.

But we are due to redo our bathroom this year and I've been so looking forward to choosing everything, making it ours - we've lived in this house for over three years and have only decorated DD's room so far, the rest is a bit of a state (clean and tidy but stuff everywhere, not our taste etc).

I don't mind second hand, almost all my clothes are/prefer vintage furniture etc, so not that. I just want to choose it, that's all. A good chunk of our belongings (furniture, crockery, even towels!) are inherited from our parents. I just want stuff that's MINE.

DH thinks I'm unreasonable as it's free and good quality. Am I being a brat?

It’s lovely being able to choose everything from scratch rather than spending a lot of money whilst being constrained by having to match with what you’ve already got.

Stand your ground. Unless your dh can justify spending the saved money on something you’d both rather have.

@Wingedharpy

My issue would be, it may look like a white bath (or whatever colour it is) now, but, when fitted into a bathroom with a spanking new toilet and sink, it will probably look like an off white bath.

This too

Just say no thank you!

@Wingedharpy

My issue would be, it may look like a white bath (or whatever colour it is) now, but, when fitted into a bathroom with a spanking new toilet and sink, it will probably look like an off white bath.

Exactly! I'd be happy with a second hand suite, as long as I got to choose it and it all went well together.

Your house, your choice. You have to live with these for the next however many years. If the radiator is going to cause problems then say no.

My in laws do this a lot and it is really a lovely and kind gesture. But not always helpful. After accepting a large number of items that we ended up not using what I now do is say ‘that’s really kind: ping me the details/dimensions and I’ll check whether it will work for us: I don’t want you to go to the hassle of getting xx to us if it’s not going to work’. Then I check and regretfully discover that Hoover isn’t powerful enough; this work bag doesn’t fit my laptop etc. Dh would accept stuff for an easy life and then not use it/ have to find a way to dispose quietly so this works better. It has taken us over 20 years but now when FIL offers stuff, MIL will point out that their old stuff that works for the two of them might not work for a family, so it’s helped to get her on side!!

@CosyKnits

That's the thing, this is our second house and it's already full of hand-me-downs we brought with us from the first one.

Then you should definitely have new. Put your foot down!

I’m usually all for reuse/recycle but the bathroom is a prime room in your house when it comes to resale value. If PIL’s bath is just a bog standard bath you could be devaluing your home by fitting it, especially if you try to fit new WC, basin and tiles around it.
If you’re going to the expense and effort of refitting a bathroom buy the best you can afford and make sure it’s all installed perfectly.