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Help me resign a family bathroom!

33 replies

Moo2019 · 24/07/2023 13:41

Need some help regarding designing a family bathroom!

I’m moving into a new house and it only has a shower. As I have 2 toddlers, it won’t work for us so we want to get it redone (it’s probably in need of a refresh anyway to be honest!).

The bathroom measures 2.51m x 2.31m (8'3 x 7'7) and I’ve attached a picture of the floor plan to show where the door and window are.

My questions are:

  • do you think it’s possible to have a bath and a shower unit? Has anyone got any similar sized bathrooms they could share the layout of?
  • any good recs for places to get the bath, toilet etc?
  • any big errors to avoid from your experience?
  • any top tips?
  • any idea on how much it would cost? We are on the south coast

Any insight or wisdom would be soooo greatly appreciated!

Help me resign a family bathroom!
OP posts:
Geneticsbunny · 24/07/2023 13:51

Yes I think you can fit a separate shower and bath in. Start by working out where a shower cubicle would go, which I think is the bottom left, as otherwise it will be in the way of the window. Then if the 2.51 is the length of the wall with the window, the only place for a bath is under the window. Then you just need to work out where you want the loo and sink. One could be at one end of the bath on the same wall and the other clneeds to go on one of the side walls.

If you put the bath on a short wall then there won't be enough space for anything else on that wall.

Don't rule out moving the door to the left a bit if it gives you better space. It is a reasonably easy job for a builder.

Geneticsbunny · 24/07/2023 13:57

Bathstore is good for bits. Although I have found that once you have decided what you like, Google image search is a good way to find the cheapest supplier.

We had a similar sized bathroom done and it was £4500 labour plus the prices for all the bits but we are in Yorkshire.

Check the toilet before you get it installed. Lots of modern ones are really badly designed and have very small throats which get blocked up easily and end up covered in poo smears. We went for a super cheap twyforms one from plum world to get round the issue.

Mooserp · 24/07/2023 14:15

Where is the toilet situated at the moment?

Just looking at the plan, it looks like the door should be changed to open the other way (against the wall)?

NeverDropYourMooncup · 24/07/2023 14:31

You are often constricted by where the exit/soil stack has to go, so some of this might not be feasible.

Get a toilet that is completely smooth with no little details that trap dust (and worse) - if the walls allow for it, a hanging one so you just swoosh a mop underneath. And a self closing lid.

Dual fill flushes are rubbish. Really, really rubbish and invariably start initially trickling and then pissing out water constantly within a short time, which costs a fortune in water.

If you can afford it, get either a bidet style toilet or ensure you can connect a separate mini shower head to a thermostatic mixer for warm water for intimate washing.

Get as large a sink (again, if possible, a hanging rather than pedestal) as possible. One with an inbuilt vanity can be very convenient.

The other thing that really annoys me is when the only place for a mirror is on the windowsill directly behind the sink. A cabinet on another wall that includes light and power for toothbrushes and shavers (have more than one) works far better.

I'd say that the best heating is underfloor, as towel rails don't do the job well.

I'd have bath behind the door, toilet on the adjoining wall, sink under the window, then shower and decent mirror cabinet on the return towards the door again, depending upon how wide the window actually is.

Wet rooms are rubbish. Never have one unless you absolutely have to for medical reasons - a level, sealed, large cubicle is miles better than an entire floor swimming in water.

Oh, and floor to ceiling tiles make life so much easier.

CC4712 · 24/07/2023 14:38

I'd change it so the door opens outwards- into the hall. This allows more space inside the bathroom, but is also a safety feature if someone collapsed inside the bathroom against the door. You can still have a lock, but one where someone with a coin/screwdriver can open it if needed from outside.

We have recently renovated and put underfloor heating into the bathrooms. Its electric, and only put on in the winter to take the chill off the room and dry the floor. Are you having heated towel rails?

You can get some compact, corner showers as an option and baths too come in various lengths (before renovating I just assumed baths were all a standard size!)

If possible- get the shower knobs put to the side- so you can turn it on without a blast of water wetting your arm.

Get the shower plug with a little basket- so you can lift out and clean any hair/soap scum

We got toilet seats that are off the ground for ease of cleaning underneath. They are rimless inside, so also- less cleaning. We had them installed at comfort height- just slightly higher than a regular seat. Its much easier to get on/off the seat for anyone with hip/knee problems or if you have older relatives using that bathroom

Do you have a water softener? We are in a really high lime area and I don't like the taste of the softened water. We had a filtered water supply added to the upstairs bathroom to get fresh water at night.

We bought our bathroom bits from a local, independent supplier. Our sinks are RAK brand. 1 of the showers is aqualisa and completely digital. The others are grohe. So far so good, but only finished renovating a few months ago.

Sorry- this has turned into a essay! 😬

NeverDropYourMooncup · 24/07/2023 14:44

You can still have a lock, but one where someone with a coin/screwdriver can open it if needed from outside

But never the cheap ones. The next door neighbour has been trapped 3 times and DP needed rescuing once when the standard, cheap one failed. I don't ever lock the bathroom doors as a result.

Daftasabroom · 24/07/2023 14:51

Shower bottom left, toilet on outside wall to suite black water stack, bath on outside wall whichever side toilet isn't. Sink against remaining wall.

Get a walk in shower if you possibly can.

CC4712 · 24/07/2023 14:53

NeverDropYourMooncup · 24/07/2023 14:44

You can still have a lock, but one where someone with a coin/screwdriver can open it if needed from outside

But never the cheap ones. The next door neighbour has been trapped 3 times and DP needed rescuing once when the standard, cheap one failed. I don't ever lock the bathroom doors as a result.

That is why ideally, the door should open outwards!

Usernamenotavailabletryanother · 24/07/2023 14:56

Sliding pocket doors are good if you have room, which it looks like you do.

Second what a PP said about siting the shower controls away from the jet of the shower.

Daftasabroom · 24/07/2023 15:06

If the walls are stud rather than block work, a recessed shelf in the shower is simple and 100x better than those rickety shelf.

Moo2019 · 24/07/2023 15:16

I knew this would be helpful! Thanks so much for your comments.

The toilet is currently in the top right of the room, so sort of opposite the door. Listening to what’s been said, I think we can keep this here and make it work.

I hadn’t even considered changing the door to open the other way! That will really help. Or sliding pocket doors could be great!

Also hadn’t considered a corner/ curved shower.

Has anyone got any idea of cost?

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 24/07/2023 15:27

CC4712 · 24/07/2023 14:53

That is why ideally, the door should open outwards!

Got one of each. With the cheap locks, you're equally trapped either way - I've bounced off the door I tried barging (and weighed 19 stone at the time!),

I'd rather risk a moment's embarrassment of being walked in on.
😄

CC4712 · 24/07/2023 15:29

@NeverDropYourMooncup Apologies, I'd misunderstood that you meant that the actual lock function had broken! 😮

NeverDropYourMooncup · 24/07/2023 15:33

CC4712 · 24/07/2023 15:29

@NeverDropYourMooncup Apologies, I'd misunderstood that you meant that the actual lock function had broken! 😮

Oh, it had - but the way they are made, they seem to fail in a way that means you cannot unlock the doors at all from either side. I'd be fine if they failed and didn't lock at all, but they fail by trapping you and the external emergency release doesn't work either.

Note to self: A screwdriver storage area inside bathrooms (above the door?) might be useful.

NewLeafAgain · 24/07/2023 15:46

Try to make it really easy to clean

  • wall hanging loo, or one with closed to wall at the base.
  • wall hanging sink. Leaves space for stool underneath for kids and space for easy brush/mop. Drawers are really handy.
  • get a handheld shower in bath even if you have a seperate shower so easy to rinse.
  • multipanels (or similar) instead of tiles.
  • be really careful what shower enclosure you pick. I got a sliding door one and it's really really hard to clean it well. Our spare bathroom has just one panel of glass. It's so easy to clean.

Also we got a bathroom cabinet with built in electric socket for shavers or toothbrushes. V handy.

CC4712 · 24/07/2023 15:52

@NeverDropYourMooncup Note to self: A screwdriver storage area inside bathrooms (above the door?) might be useful.

Yes, I do this. I have a flat, blunt, butter knife sitting on the door frame outside each bathroom, so can gain access quickly- unless of course the entire thing brakes and jams! 😩

Daftasabroom · 24/07/2023 15:59

Be careful with doors opening onto landings and fire escape routes, there are building regulations that cover this.

somewhereovertherain · 24/07/2023 16:05

We've just spent 12k redoing a bedroom and bathroom (fittings including floor to celling tiles, towel rail, shower, etc £5k, fitting £4.5k) including plastering, plaster board, new doors, etc - other costs 3k which was for walls and other doors, electrics.

We also have a quote to re-do the family bathroom, reduce it in size and create two bedrooms from one with a bit of the bathroom total quote is £15k - bathroom - bath, shower, tiles, etc £7k, and fitting / walls/tiling, etc another £7k.

In a previous house, we had a similar size family bathroom with a shower and bath with no problems.

somewhereovertherain · 24/07/2023 16:07

Illuminated mirrors are really good - we've also gone for cupboards under the sink and a large cupboard next to the sink - storage is important.

SquashPenguin · 24/07/2023 16:18

Definitely shop around for the various items, we had a very specific look we wanted for our bathroom and got different bits from multiple websites. We had a few months before installation so could really shop around and arrange delivery to be more convenient. It helps if you have space to store stuff obviously. We wanted a very particular shower tray that took three months to arrive but was 100% worth it. I’d recommend shopping around online for tiles too, there’s so much choice out there and some real bargains to be had.

We considered moving our toilet but the cost of this was significant enough that we didn’t bother.

Daftasabroom · 24/07/2023 16:38

If you have a shower mixer for the bath you might want to consider a Grohe trigger shower head while they're still little. (As per hair dressers).

Daftasabroom · 24/07/2023 17:19

While you have a plumber in you might want to have a thermostatic mixing valve fitted close to your boiler. Ours is set to 48C and while that can make you jump it won't do any damage. It covers ever tap in the house not just the bathroom.

Hadjab · 24/07/2023 18:28

Moo2019 · 24/07/2023 15:16

I knew this would be helpful! Thanks so much for your comments.

The toilet is currently in the top right of the room, so sort of opposite the door. Listening to what’s been said, I think we can keep this here and make it work.

I hadn’t even considered changing the door to open the other way! That will really help. Or sliding pocket doors could be great!

Also hadn’t considered a corner/ curved shower.

Has anyone got any idea of cost?

My bathroom is being finished as we speak. It cost £6k to fit and £5k for all the bits, however we were knocking a separate toilet and bathroom into one room

Gilesmummy · 27/07/2023 12:12

Personally I would NEVER buy anything wall hanging...given my experience, if you need a plumber you have to dismantle the bathroom. We have a built in loo and washbasin and there was a leak. The whole section of wall had to be taken down to get to the pipework..I'd stick to ' normal ' ones

Moo2019 · 27/07/2023 15:19

@Gilesmummy thats such good advice thanks! We had something similar with a tiled in bath…never again!

OP posts: