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Original poster

Is a downstairs loo really that important

91 replies

PenguindreamsofDraco · 30/05/2018 09:09

...if it then eats up 4' of the kitchen?

We are trying to sort out the downstairs of our house. Tall 5 bed place with 2 bathrooms upstairs. The kitchen is currently about 21' long and once the chimney breast is removed, 10' wide.

We don't have a loo downstairs and we were wondering whether to install one, but the only way to do it would be to move the kitchen wall in by about 4' and squeeze it in there, so the new kitchen would be same width but about 17' long.

We were looking to have an eating and seating area at the far end, basically the last 7' or so. So that would mean the working space in the kitchen to include cabinets and all appliances, would be about 10' by 10'.

My husband is now convinced this will be far too small for a large house and we should drop the idea of a loo. I am worried that a tall house needs a loo downstairs and with clever use of the space with a lush Higham kitchen, all will be well.

Any kitchen buffs who have any views or who fancy redesigning my ground floor Wink? Thank you!

OP posts:
MismatchedPJs · 30/05/2018 18:42

A second loo is more or less essential in a 5 bed, but I'm not so sure about a 3rd. If it would be coming off the kitchen, I'd say no, keep the bigger kitchen. Kitchen size is so important these days.

I do wonder if there is a third way. I've seen Sarah Beeny suggest a really clever under stairs arrangement that preserved the doorway to the cellar. The cellar was accessed from within the cloakroom. Another option might be to take out a strip between the living room and dining room if either has space to spare. A difficult place to put one I'd have thought, but I've seen it done, more typically between main and second bedrooms upstairs. You wouldn't have to do either right now, it could be a plan B for later down the line if you find you miss one.

PebbleTissueScissors · 30/05/2018 19:09

We haven't missed one in the 4 years we've been in the house,

You wait til someone has a leg injury - which is not uncommon - and you will be cursing away. Crutches and repeated trips up the stairs are no joke

woder · 30/05/2018 19:29

I couldn't stand having to use the stairs every time I needed the loo, I'd wear the carpet out.

Lavatory off kitchen would be for non smelly use only, that would be a family rule surely.

DaisyArcher · 30/05/2018 19:37

Thanks for reply, BIWI

welshmist · 30/05/2018 19:40

I shouldn`t say this because we have an architect in the family, but I would call someone in and pick their brains. Costs nowt and may get the leetle grey cells whirling. And yes to a downstairs loo.

Angie169 · 30/05/2018 20:26

If you have a big enough garden I would consider having a loo fitted out side ,but as close to the back door as poss
( you do not want the bogie man to get you on a dark night )
Its great for when DCs are playing out / BBQs / Gardening / or when you are err a bit wiffy
A member of my family has one and its a god send when there is a house full during a BBQ / house party .
Bloody cold in the winter tho if no one has put the little heater on

minipie · 30/05/2018 22:13

I would put the loo in and please please put the kitchen in in a way that means the side return can be done without wrecking the kitchen! In other words not along the side return wall.

Any thoughts on suggestion of taking the loo space off the back reception rather than kitchen? I think this is increasingly popular

MrsEricBana · 30/05/2018 22:20

I think you need one too but just make sure it's big enough to be usable. My friend has had one put under the stairs and it has so little head room that visitors (including me, and I'm short) go upstairs anyway.

wowfudge · 30/05/2018 22:22

You don't need two doors between a loo and a kitchen anymore. A door off the hallway to the loo would be preferable though.

SimonBridges · 30/05/2018 22:46

I think the rules changed back and two doors are no longer needed.
We have a loo off the kitchen and it isn’t a problem. However it is upstairs only for serious use.

I like the idea that a downstairs loo is a must in case the window cleaner needs a wee. Why can’t window cleaners go upstairs?

Idgie · 30/05/2018 22:49

Post the floor plan. With a five bed London house I'd expect a downstairs loo but not in the kitchen! I'm hoping you mean it's in the hall really.

BackforGood · 30/05/2018 23:08

I'd be looking for a downstairs toilet in any house I bought (3 bed or more). Really valuable - far more so than the extra 4' on the kitchen. It doesn't leave it small, and you have a separate 'formal' dining space.
Surely the space is coming off the kitchen though, not the door - the door would come off your hall wouldn't it ?

Original poster
PenguindreamsofDraco · 31/05/2018 08:44

Idgie, as I said, the plan is/was to extend the hallway so although the loo would be in what is currently the kitchen, in the new improved ground floor it would be accessed from the hall.

We have had architects involved, twice. There are only 3 places it could go - one side of what is currently the kitchen (with problems for waste disposal, we'd have to have had a macerator which I hate, and would have to raise the kitchen floor by about 8"); eating into the dining room; or the current plan.

My husband was adamant about not eating into the dining room, in part because the ceiling is really really high! A small downstairs loo 15' tall seems a little bizarre. But we have put that back on the agenda to discuss.

Unfortunately Minipie we can't do that - it has to go down that side. If anyone moving in in a decade plus wants to rip out a lovely kitchen and Crittall windows to do the side return, they're welcome to (and they'll probably encounter the same problems that eventually decided us against doing it, besides school fees).

I am probably coming around to saying, we as a family don't need one. If when we come to move the feedback is that one is needed, we'd be able to fit one into the dining room. And in the meantime the window cleaner can just use upstairs as he usually does Wink

Thank you everyone - most popular thread I think I've ever started Grin

OP posts:
madcatladyforever · 31/05/2018 08:49

A downstairs loo is so essential. First thing I did was have one put in in the kitchen even though it made the kitchen much smaller.
It was the best thing I ever did. I could never live anywhere without a downstairs claokroom now.

PlayingForKittens · 31/05/2018 09:13

We don't have one.
My parents do and it is hardly ever used.
We moved in here about a year ago after completely gutting and remodeling the place and like you a downstairs loo would have been tricky and eaten into other space so we have a good size utility/ boot room and big kitchen/ diner. Upstairs we've got 2 bathrooms and we also have a cellar with a shower room and toilet.

Furano · 31/05/2018 09:37

I think it would be a good opportunity to put in downstairs loo. Most people seem to want one and it future proofs your house a fair bit (you get old, or you sell to family).

I really REALLY don't like them off the kitchen though (yes I know you can but I don't like that) - much better to have off the hallway if you can.

Furano · 31/05/2018 09:38

Although TBF I do have a downstairs loo which I hardly ever use because the upstairs one is so much nicer!

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 31/05/2018 11:02

Two things I've thought about this thread - how often do people have tradesmen visiting their home, that their occasional need to use the toilet is actually a factor (and why can't they just go upstairs?!) and also how on earth do people introduce house guests to the 'no poo in the downstairs loo' rule?!
I get the incapacity/mobility issues thing, but if that is a real concern, then live in a bungalow.

gottaslowdown · 31/05/2018 11:18

I get the incapacity/mobility issues thing, but if that is a real concern, then live in a bungalow

Ah if only if we're that simple Sad I became disabled -overnight- at a young age & can't do stairs. I was so fit. Living without a downstairs loo was hell & bungalows around here are extortionate. (Much in demand sadly).

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 31/05/2018 11:31

Sorry gottaslowdown I was being flippant, not fair of me :-(
Hopefully you're feeling comfortable where you are, I guess I'm taking my situation for granted really.
Flowers

CantankerousCamel · 31/05/2018 11:38

I love my downstairs loo. If we have guests over at night they have absolutely no need to go upstairs where the children are sleeping... this is very important to me.

howabout · 31/05/2018 11:42

Since we're on the topic ... most downstairs loo conversions won't be accessible or big enough to accommodate serious mobility issues (unless they were originally designed with this in mind). My MIL used to live in a house with 7 bathrooms - 2 downstairs - none of them were accessible for my DH. People buying up all the bungalows and promptly converting them by putting stairs in weird places and chopping into all the downstairs rooms is a bugbear of mine also.

I don't have a window cleaner as I can't cope with the thought of him peering in my bedroom windows never mind using my loo. Shock

howabout · 31/05/2018 11:46

cantankerous how on earth do you keep the DC upstairs though? I spent many an evening peeking through the door when parents had guests and have never had much luck entertaining without the DC joining in.

CantankerousCamel · 31/05/2018 11:52

The DC’s joining in doesn’t bother me. Absolutely knowing that nobody is bothering them is what is imperative.

I don’t care if it’s my dad/brother/uncle/best mate in the world, they have no reason to be upstairs in my home, that is strictly for family members

LillianGish · 31/05/2018 11:58

It doesn't sound as if you want one for yourself and you are not planning to move imminently so if you can't comfortably fit one in then I wouldn't bother. A cramped, poorly located downstairs loo is worse than no loo imo (based on MIL's - even the kids didn't like to use it and preferred to go upstairs!). When you eventually come to sell not having one might put some people off, but so will the types of downstairs loo I have described and you'll also have compromised your kitchen design which might put people off further.