Redesign teeny bathroom to shower-room, storage ideas please.

[sbplanet]

Finally got some money together to redo the bathroom. Our small bathroom is 1.69m x 1.85m. We want to swap out the bath (never used) for a shower. Can't afford to turn it into a wet-room so looking at putting in a shower where the bath is but wondered about 'boxing it in' somehow. Storage is totally lacking.

The picture shows a view through the doorway, wall with towel rad on lhs. The 1.69m measurement is the length of the bath. Thinking about when we use the shower the whole bath length isn't used so maybe a floor area of 1000mm (long) x 800mm (wide) for a shower tray? So is it possible to get some storage at one end and also a ledge to put feet onto?

Thanks.

Well not just storage ideas but redesign ideas - if there's a way to improve the layout?

I would have the toilet and sink in a vanity unit, keep the shower where it is but build a stud wall where it ends and then have a full height shelving unit in the gap you’re left with. You’ll lose 40mm or so for the new stud wall but if you have a 1000mm tray you will still have 600mm (the size of a standard single door kitchen sink cupboard) for storage. You’ll get a lot in that, especially if you have a vanity unit for spare shower gels etc.

Ps, in our old house our bathroom was 1200x2900 and we also chose to lose the bath and just have a shower, we had a really lovely rainfall one and didn’t regret it in the slightest!

Agree on the vanity - we store all the cleaning products, spare toiletries and toilet roll in ours.

Use the space as AGreatUsername describes, but maybe a pull out cupboard rather than open shelving - usually used in kitchens. So you'd close the bathroom door, pull the door handle and you'd see the shelving. Could put boxes in there for medicines, room for spare towels.

I would do what AGreatUserName suggests but with a difference. In the space at the end of the shower, instead of tall storage, I would put the basin/vanity unit there. That way you can have a mirror above the sink which you can’t currently, plus everything will be less squashed at the window end. And you’ve got space for a bigger vanity there.

I would also build a false wall behind the loo (across to where the shower starts) so you can have a concealed cistern/wall hung loo, and you can build a shallow cupboard into the bit of false wall to the right of the loo.

Thanks @AGreatUsername and @DropZoneOne.

I was thinking of getting the loo & basin into a vanity unit. I've got a (self-distancing) plumber coming around on Thursday and wanted an idea of suggestions as to layout and storage possibilities. I want to be sure that everything functions as it should - hate doing the 'oh if only we'd done it like that'.

Would a rainfall shower head be difficult to fit? Any good brands, ours is Grohe atm and it's fairly good value/decent quality.

Oooh @minipie that's an interesting thought. I'm going to try and visualise that...not sure atm how a basin in a 'box' would be. :)

I’ll see if I can find a picture

Ok so if you put a stud wall at the end of the shower it might look a bit like pic 1 (but in reverse ie vanity on the right, obv). Or you put glass at the end of the shower and it would look more like pic 2. Obviously you have to mentally alter the sizes, windows etc to be like your room!

Or this is a half wall half glass option which is nice, but requires bespoke glass

wall hang everything you can....loo, vanity, even toilet brush etc....it will make it feel a whole lot bigger

Thanks @areallthenamesusedup I'm a bit nervous about wall hung loos, I think they look great but what if... :D

Yours looks a similar shape and size to ours. We had ours done last year. We did keep the bath as DSD doesn't like showers, but we put a unit below a top mounted bowl sink (gives some worktop for the soap and makeup/putting in contact lenses). Then we hung a tall thin wall mounted cupboard between the door and the bath. It's quite deep so it fits toothbrushes and 4 lots of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel etc. I was worried about lack of storage but is suits us (family of 2 adults and 2 teens).
If you go for a shower I'd recommend the inset shelves for putting your toiletries - I hate having to keep bending over in a shower to pick up the soap etc!

This is ours

Similar size bathroom afromom, but we'll be taking out our bath and replace it with a shower.

Sorry missed your message above. Yeah we're struggling with how to get storage but keep things looking light.

So was I but they are built to take a weight of up to 30 stone or something mad like that so long as properly installed.......

The properly installed, is what we always hope for, but don't always get. :D

If you get one of the steel frames for wall hung loos that Grohe or Geberit make (sits inside the false wall) then there’s no chance it will fall off the wall.

Thanks minipie. I've just watched a Grohe YouTube video about fitting the frame and the loo! I must get out more...oh, well there's probably lots more bathroom fitting vids to watch!

If you're looking at frames for wall hanging then Roca are sometimes better value than grohe and gerberit but very good quality.
We never put the basin on a vanity, it's just wall hung with a chrome bottle trap. I really regret it as we have very little storage so I would recommend some sort of vanity storage.
Rainfall showers shouldn't be any more difficult to install (if you go for exposed) although you can get some which have recessed valves which will require more work. You will need decent water pressure to get the benefit.
Brands I'd recommend (in no particular order)
Taps/ showers
Bristan
Abode
Crosswater
Grohe
Roca

Sanitary ware
Ideal standard
Roca
Vilroy and boch
Duravit
Vitrq

Vanity furniture
Atlanta bathrooms
Calypso
Or for modular ideal standard & Roca

I used to sell bathrooms and this is what I would recommend to my customers.

Thanks @nyedry I think I might start another thread or maybe you can give an opinion. Our plumber (if we get a decent quote) uses City Plumbing. They & TP sell iFlo, what do you think of them quality/value wise?

If you box stuff in make sure you have removable panels. If yoù buy a non standard loo, make sure you can easily replace the seat.

@tilder yeah had the seat thing happen, bloody outrageous prices for an Ideal Standard Studio seat!

I used to work for city plumbing. Iflo is really good stuff. Most of it is made for them by bigger, known brands.
For example some of the iflo shower enclosures are made by merlyn who are an Irish company and good quality and some were made by kudos who are based in the Lake District and again good quality.
Personally I wouldn't pick some of their taps as they feel a bit flimsy but there are good ones in the range too.
Best to pop in and have a feel of them although the showrooms are closed at the moment due to lockdown.

They will have a showroom manager who will be able to help you with cad planning and advice if you're not in a rush. It's all free and generally they're well clued up. There's showrooms all over the country so you should have one nearby.