New house - thoughts on downstairs shower room and outside washing machine

[PicNicPapers]

I'm after thoughts and experiences if possible. We've just moved home into our first house and there are a few things that we'd like to get done so I'd appreciate any comments.

Firstly there is currently a downstairs utility room, complete with a toilet in the middle of it. Our current thoughts are to make it into a downstairs shower room as there isn't really the space for a walk in shower upstairs. Is that odd as I don't think so but other comments from relatives say it is?

Next to keep the washing machine and dryer out of the kitchen we were thinking of getting the garage plumbed in. It isn't attached to the house but is no more than a couple of steps away. It's large and seems to be dry. What does everyone think? I found another thread which thought it was ok but I'm a little worried about rain and winter.

Thanks in advance

I've had a combined washer / dryer before and although I never had problems I'd always prefer to keep them separate - partly because I think the dryer is a nice to have and I've got used to drying everything inside but also as now with the new house there is space outside to dry as well - not suitable for all seasons I know but I'd rather get a good washing machine and a cheaper dryer than half half (the washing machine arrives tomorrow) - a bargain as was the display model in the shop.

I'm guessing from the responses that no-one has an issue with shower over the bath. It's what I've always had before the last flat when I managed to get a large walk in shower as well as a bath - my definite preference if I can get it designed as I'm definitely a shower person.

Downstairs shower rooms are always very chilly in my experience. If you can avoid that and have a nice downstairs bathroom with a wc then it's a bonus, and dead handy to be able to shower off if you've been outside doing something dirty.
Guests will want to shower upstairs though so you'll end up putting in a shower there in time anyway.
If you have both a washing machine and a dryer in an outside building it's fine in my experience. No noisy rumbling and provided the space is adequately heated in winter to avoid pipe damage it will be fine.
It does make it tricky to just pop stuff in and out of the machine without sticking small kids in a playpen or something though.
And
you won't be able to undress in the kitchen and shove your clothes in the machine before doing an undressed dash upstairs. maybe that's just me obsessively getting the last load on before I go to bed

We have just gained both a downstairs shower room and a seperate utility by getting rid of the redundant dining room. If it was a choice between them I'd definitely go with the utility room. Going outside to do laundry is a pita. I find myself realising in the middle of the night that I forgot to put the school uniforms in the dryer. I'd end up going out in the cold in my dressing gown.

Long term, is there a possibility of linking the garage to the house (in some sort of architecturaly attractive way)?