To think husband is wrong about extension? Combined utility and downstairs toilet?

[chihsro]

So we are finally having our plans drawn up to extend downstairs (it’s taken years). We are extending the kitchen to have a seating area too that overlooks the garden and we also wanted a separate utility and pantry.

Now DH thinks we should sack off the pantry and have a bigger combined utility room with a toilet.

(We currently have a very small downstairs toilet but he wants to turn this into a storage cupboard)

I don’t like the idea of washing my clothes next to poo particles (even if I cleaned it twice a day!)

Would you mind sharing your layout? We want to convert our downstairs shower room to incorporate washing machine etc. We're struggling to work out how to do it!

Here to say I dream about pantries!

Most of what’s in your fridge actually wants to be in a nice cool dry room. Store large pots of rice, pasta etc. Tins, cakes, wine, loads of stuff. Veg, potatoes, fruit etc

if you have a north facing wall and can do that it would be brilliant. You can ventilate it naturally with a rodent-proof vent at the bottom and top of the room to the outside
(heat rises so cool air will come in at the bottom)

Am I the only one that never poos in the downstairs toilet?

I'd go for the pantry, I'd love a pantry

I saw this for the first time ever on rightmove this week. I have bad dreams about toilets in odd areas and it was like seeing my dream come to life. Toilet just plonked beside a washing machine.

Pootility room is an excellent name but I remain a fan of walls around a loo.

When we extended our kitchen I really really wanted a utility with downstairs loo and shower, but DP and the architect had other plans and we have a smaller loo where the pantry used to be and the washing machine / dryer in the main kitchen extension.
Maybe you could section off the loo and basin part with a glass tile wall or panel?

We had one in our old house - for us it was actually the main family bathroom which we ended up adding the washer and dryer to. We actually loved it; the bathroom was big but the layout meant you couldn't really have carved off the laundry part. Machines were built into cupboards under the sink, and all our bedrooms (so 95% of the laundry source) was upstairs so it made total sense.

This was however in a small city centre mews which was low on floorspace and where nobody was going to be tramping in through an external door in muddy dog walking boots or similar!

I have a lootility, very little clothes drying fits in it though (too small, we have a small dehumidifier in there). I love having the washing machine out of the kitchen.

I'd still keep a party and a small downstairs loo.

Why don't you keep your current WC and then you can have your pantry/utility? Is it something to do with layout? It's expensive to move soil pipes etc. so there would really need to be a good reason in my experience to get rid of one and build another.

I desperately want a pantry so yanbu.

I have seen some utility rooms where the toilet looks a bit lost in there, I think I would prefer it boxed off somehow? But this is what we’ve just done in our downstairs bathroom.
the washing machine is on the right and tumble dryer on the left.
Mind you we ripped the bath out for this which I know is very marmite on here, but eventually (if we can afford it!) it will give us more options in the kitchen/diner.

i think a lot of people have a no solids rule in the downstairs loo so problem solved

@OrwellianTimes

You’ve not seen studies then? It’s a thing
Yes but why worry about poo particles in your laundry when there are poo particles in your bathroom. Where your towels and toothbrushes are .

It's probably all theoretical anyway- toilets need a 110 mm soil pipe, if there's not one near your utility room your husband will just have to suck it up. Not literally.

Who does the most of the washing and pantry filing? I’d say, they get the biggest say.

I have a loo (and shower) in my utility room. The washing machine and tumble dryer are behind cupboard doors, so is that ok? 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

@Malbecmoron I'm not sure if I can! I've not tried to draw a diagram on anything other than a proper PC - I may try to give it a go later on.

Our shower room/etc. is in a tiny extension on the front of the house. It's about 3m long by 2.3m wide - ish. Door on a short side, window on the right long side.
On the left as you go in is a tall cupboard with the tumble dryer and washing machine stacked inside, electrics, plumbing, drainage etc also in the cupboard. Shelf above the appliances to put the laundry baskets etc. on. Long cupboard door opens up to the appliances. Lift up cupboard door to the top shelf.
Beyond the cupboard is a large basin (big enough to wash your smalls in necessary) on a cupboard, with a big light up mirrored cupboard above.
Next to that is a 900mm shower cubicle. So - all that on the left wall.
On the right wall there is a very big window (had to have that for planning permission). Narrow cupboards all along that wall under the window up to the loo, cistern enclosed in a matching unit.
Loo is nearly right at the end of the room, facing the shower cubicle, but there is one narrow cupboard between the loo and the wall to give elbow room etc.
The end wall has a tall narrow heated towel rail. It's a small room and every single inch of space is accounted for, but it has masses of storage and doesn't feel cramped.
I designed it myself and I'm pleased with it.

Sorry it's such as long-winded explanation!

Toilet must have its own space. With a door. And walls.

Yes, so being stressed about it is stupid.

Maybe ask your builder / architect what they would advise

Is a toilet off of a utility trendy? We had ours built 15yrs ago. PIL had theirs built in the 80s. 😂 definitely not a modern idea.

My DPs lived in a 1980s council house. It had a massive downstairs lav that had plumbing for a washing machine, and it never occurred to them (or me) to give it a second thought.

They had a shower cubicle put in there as well.

YANBU to feel this way if there is literally no separation between the toilet and laundry facilities.

YABU to begin your sentence with, “So”.

Ooo interesting!!!

Do you still close the lid to flush though? Pet peeve how few people do but maybe ibu as it doesn't make much difference over all!

I think I would leave the toilet where it is and have the storage in the utility

I wouldn’t be fussed about having the loo in the utility but I would be fussed about losing the pantry. My pantry, which we put in during quite an extensive house renovation, is my favourite part of my house, it’s just so handy. It also meant we needed less kitchen cupboards, which we liked as it made things a bit more streamlined.