1950's house - keep toilet separate or knock though into bathroom?

[hippipotamiHasLost92lbs]

We are in the process of buying a 1950's house. (Due to exchange by the end of this week, fingers crossed!) We will only be the 3rd owners of the house since it was built. The previous owners have been there 40 years so it all needs redecorating.
The toilet is currently separate from the bathroom. It is right next to it however.
So here is the question:

Do we knock the wall between the toilet and bathroom through or keep it separate?
Things to consider are that our dc are 7 and nearly 11 and this is the only toilet in the house until we can afford to build a cloakroom and utility off the kitchen which won't be for another 4 years at least.

Thanks in advance

I'd definitely keep them separate if you can add a sink to the loo.

Thanks all. I think we can play around in the existing space and add a sink. That way I can keep them separate. Think that is the most sensible option.

Definitely knock through. I've always thought it incredibly unhygienic to have a separate loo. Plus really horrid that everyone knows what you're doing if you're in there for a long time.

Also a bathroom can be a lovely thing. A room for just the toilet?? Yuk.

Why unhygienic? Surely it is more hygienic as it is contained in one room? My niece keeps telling me about poo particles contained in the flush of a toilet landing on the toilet brush....

We will only keep it sep if I cannot fit a sink next to the loo. There is no way I am having a loo without a handwashing facility.

As for people knowing what you are up to - so what? We all go to the loo, am not too worried about people knowing I am having a poo.

Does a bathroom need a loo to make it lovely?

A room just for the toilet is a cloakroom, like most people have downstairs - is that yuk too?

Please keep going fivecandles, you are doing a great job convincing me not to knock through

In our old house we would of had a seperate loo to the bathroom but the previous owners had taken out a door and knocked it through so it was all one room but the wall was still there between the loo and bath.
If you was in the bath and someone needed the loo you had privacy but if you were bathing the kids you ccould have a wee without leaving them.
HTHs

I know Debs, and that would have been a consideration but the dc are 7 and nearly 11. Am more thinking about the eldest needing privacy and about me being able to have a nice bath without dh disturbing me to do a poo!

If you're creating more space in the bathroom through knocking out the old airing cupboard I wonder if you'd have room to add a loo and keep the seperate loo/small handbasin as a bonus?

We are knocking through into the airing cupboard to allow us to have a bath/shower and double sink. I really want a double sink as we are struggeling to all get washed and teeth brushed in the mornings. Yet we never really queue for the loo. Second sink more important at the mo then second loo. Esp as we will be extending downstairs in 4 years and will create second loo then...

I totally agree with the idea of having a separate toilet whenever possible. I remember my teenage brother spending ages in the bathroom in the morning and it would have been dreadful without a separate toilet. Two toilets in a house are essential in my opinion and so is privacy in a toilet.

People always knock these through on Homes under the Hammer, and I wonder why it's seen as such a given benefit!

Our bath takes about 45m to fill, and my husband frequently ruins the whole damn wait by stinking the place out whilst it's running.

If it's the only loo, I'd keep it separate.
Less chance of anyone nearly wetting themselves while someone else is hogging the bathroom.

When I was a kid there were 6 of us with one (separate) loo and it could still be difficult. I have a vivid memory of my younger sister at about 3 desperately squirming and wriggling outside the locked loo door - 'It's cummin it's cummin it's cummin!'

I've always hated separate loo/bathrooms.

But have seen one recently really work - family house, only one loo until building work happens (sound familiar?). Children now 7/10 - separate loo saves a lot of arguments. Family gave lived there 3years. Extension just starting now.

They put a very narrow cloakroom basin in the loo to wash hands very early on after buying the house.

Bugger. Zombie thread.

If you're incorporating the airing cupboard, could you add a second loo in that space, and a tiny basin in the separate loo?