What lay -out would you use for a downstairs loo in this space?

[LuluJakey1]

We are having a downstairs loo built in our utility room. There is a maximum space beyond which we can't go. 1500mm long. 1120 mm wide. There is an understairs space not tall enough to stand up in but we are recessing the vanity unit in there with downlighters above it in the recess to light the sink. Where would you put the loo and door to get maximum useage from the space? Could we get a tall storage cupboard in there- say for cleaning stuff and ironing board/hoover?
I have done a diagram. The door would have to go somewhere on the wall opposite the recess. Any ides gratefully received.

Drawing of space. Sorry, forgot to attach it.

Could we get away with using less space than this?

Will the door open inwards or outwards?

Whatever way we think is best.

I reckon if you put your door opposite the recess (sink) and your toilet at the other side (coming out from the 1120mm side), you could potentially build a tall unit behind your toilet? Maybe with two tall cupboards on either side.

Like this? Where would the cupboards be going? I am not very good at visualising things spatially.

This

Should have said also, loo cistern is 470mm wide and the loo is 480 mm deep from wall to end of seat.
It feels like there is no space for anything. Do you think if the door went in the middle and opened outward we might get a 500mm tall cupboard in the corner - marked it with a question mark. Or will it intrude too much into the space?

The vanity unit has cupbards underneath but what I am trying to do is remove a cupborad from the utility and put it in the loo.

Actually, DH has just reminded me there is a 500mm radiator/towel rail as well. Hmm.

Or maybe we remove 300mm from the length of the loo and add that back to the utility room - see picture. With radiator on wall next to sink and opposite loo. Is that big enough for a downstairs loo? 1120mm x1200mm?

where is the soil pipe?

Is the floor concrete?

Don't put shelves or cupboards on the wall over the basin or the WC because when a glass bottle or jar falls out it will smash or crack the porcelain.

I think the door will have to open outwards.

The width of the WC has to include not just your shoulders, but also roll holders etc on the wall. You can put cleaning materials, bin etc on the floor or on shelves lower than the top of the cistern.

If you intend to stay in the house until you are aged and infirm, or pregnant, or have a bad leg, fit grab rails of a style that resembles chrome towel rails.

You can have a mirror on the wall above basin and cistern.

1120 is a huge width for just a loo! You can get loo and sink vanity unit in that space - for example: https://aquabliss.co.uk/l-shaped-1100mm-gloss-white-vanity-unit-and-wc-combination-lh

looks ideal for people with no shoulders and one leg.

So, if we stick with the second picture 1120 mm wide, 1500mm long, vanity unit with sink and shelving in alcove, we would put the radiator opposite the loo next to the sink. That would leave us with space on either side of the loo for grab rails when we are old . Mirtor can go above sink or radiator. Big cupboard will have to stay in utility. I think it will work.

Thanks everyone.

Piglet - the main drain runs under the utility floor. Builder will have to dig into it.

concrete floor?

how old is the house?

Our downstairs loo usable area is 1200 x 1250 and this is what we have done. We built a cupboard into the understairs recess, toilet facing you as you walk in, small sink to the right next to the recess. We had to have a bifold door due to another door in the corridor. But there is plenty of room in there.

I would do the cupboard in the recess. The door opposite the recess. Then I'd put the loo where you said, but off centre, and put in one of those smaller handbasins vanity units on the wall the door is on, as near to the door as possible.

Piglet The house is 1920. The main drain is at the back and runs under the kitchen extension and utility (used to be part of garage) and down the drive.

so it's probably a concrete floor. The old pipe will probably be clay, they are often cracked or broken especially at the joints. Sometimes you have to dig up more than you were expecting until you reach an unbroken section.

If you are really really lucky it will have been replaced with plastic when the extension was built.

It has had a camera down it and it was ok. Do you think we should ask the builder to replace it with plastic?

IF it's a concrete floor, you would have to do a lot of digging to get it up.

If you've had a camera survey you will probably be OK.

Clay pipes fit into a socket on the end of the preceding one, and may be packed in with mortar, rope, pitch and rags depending on local practice at the time. If there is ground movement, they usually break at the socket.

I will speak to the builder. Thanks Piglet.

HTKS Thanks for those photos. That has made us think about things. I will show the builder and see what he thinks.

@HTKS love your room. Is the bifold door sort of solid enough to not let too much noise or light through? I haven't seen a modern one but I had one in an old bedroom and you could see everything through it! That could be a real solution for us!