Bathroom - partially covering a window void for a shower - pictures?

[Chasingsquirrels]

Main bathroom refit.
Currently bath, basin & WC.
Want to include a shower.
Entrance is a door then corridor.

Options to follow...

I'll be going down a Pinterest rabbit hole later 🤣, it's not something I use so didn't think of it!

The suggestion by @plumtreebroke seems by far the most sensible - swapping the sink and toilet round in option 1. Then everything fits, you don't cover the window and you don't have pipework issues.

In every scheme there is a compromise. The only compromise with this one is the slightly arbitrary desire not to have the loo opposite the door. I can see where you're coming from in an ideal world, but you're going to have to compromise on something, and this is something that presents no practical issues, and doesn't affect anyone's use of the space. Just keep the door closed if you don't want people to see the loo!
Our loo is (a) under the window, and (b) almost opposite the door, and it's never occurred to me that either of those things is an issue. Practicality, ease of use, and best use of space need to be your priorities here.

On the other hand, I'd be tempted to just stick with a nice bath and really good shower over it. Do your teens REALLY need a separate shower? Would more space actually be more useful - it's going to be quite a squeeze whichever way when you put the extra shower in, and if your shower is only 700mm, they're not very nice to use anyway. If you have big strapping teenage boys, they'll be banging their elbows all the time, and if you have teen girls, shaving your legs in a 700mm shower is a nightmare.

Whilst I appreciate that I might be slightly OTT about the loo not being totally visible, I have lived here for 22 years and it has been a point of annoyance for all of that time.
If I am going to the expense of refitting the room then sorting out that issue is one of my only non-negotiables.
The upstairs landing is a small, narrow corridor with no external windows. Hence the bathroom door remaining open when not in use.

Have you thought about a lightpipe into your landing? We have no window on our landing, and the pipe floods the place with light. It was really easy to fit too.

Given the need for the loo not to be on the back wall, in that case I'd go for a nice wide bath on the LH wall as you go in, with a really good shower over it (see my points about 700mm showers). And have the loo and sink on the RH wall.
You could have a really lovely looking bathroom with plenty of space. Any of your other options is going to feel really cramped (irrespective of loo placement).

OR - why can't you have the bath along the window/back wall and the loo on the RH wall?

OR - if you're dead set on it, just go with option 1, but I wouldn't be happy having a loo with that many bends to navigate before the soil stack (and getting enough of a drop in the pipework).

You've shown a square shower, how about a curved one? Like a quarter of a circle shaped?

Option 1 is the best option.

Don't put the loo near the bath as when you are having a relaxing bath all you will be resting your head near it.

Why not just have a larger bath with a shower over? Where the shower is in option 1

Move loo and sink over to the bath wall?

Lots of things to think about - all very helpful 😊 (even when I appear to be saying no!). I do appreciate all the replies.

"Toilet near head when in bath" - it is now, although more of a gap. I'm envisaging the bath taps being at the window end, so head will be at opposite end of room to toilet.

I didn't think there was room for the bath under the window, I'll have another play.

The bath over shower option (which I have now) just seems less user friendly than a separate shower.
I totally take the point that maybe the room is just not quite big enough though.

My current ensuite shower is just under 700 (x 1200) and doesn't feel cramped at all. I find it quite spacious.
Current bath is around 670 width, so again the current shower over bath arrangement is tighter that a 700 shower tray would be (and I'd have the length, so not 700 square).

I've read quite a lot of negative things about quadrants and had dismissed that.

Don't underestimate the difference between 700x700 and 700x1200 (or 700xbath length). In a square enclosure there's nowhere to go and you feel pretty hemmed in. If you mark out 700 in your ensuite and try showering in that space, you'll see how it feels. Also if you have an overhead/rain shower in small space, there's nowhere to go to 'escape' the water - to put shampoo on your head, or to lather up your legs to shave, so I'd definitely put in a shower head with an angle if you do end up going small.

You can get baths which are 800 or 850 wide, which would be nicer to bathe in as well as showering.

Quadrant showers are great - but not in a 700 width, as you take even more space away! We have a 900mm one, but when you've got the extra width you can get away with taking the corner off.

Can’t you stick with option 1, but turn the toilet 90 degrees so it stays on the wall it’s already on which will be easier for the waste pipe? So when sat on the toilet you would be looking at the shower.

Or if it is possible to widen the wall on the right can you swop it so the bath is on your left going in and the shower is on the right with toilet moved across into the back right corner on the same wall it’s on now?

The shower will be minimum 1000 x "something", not even considering a 700x700 square.

Can’t you stick with option 1, but turn the toilet 90 degrees so it stays on the wall it’s already on which will be easier for the waste pipe? So when sat on the toilet you would be looking at the shower.
Having measured it out, I don't think there is enough space between the WC and the shower wall.

*ReviewingTheSituation · Yesterday 08:47
I don't get how you have the space for option 3?

In option 2 you have the shower on the left and the bath on the right, and the space between them isn't big enough for a loo and sink.
In option 3 you have the shower and bath in the same place (essentially, albeit butting up against a different wall) but you show the loo and sink in the space between them.*

Option 2 the shower would be 1000 wide from the side wall into the room x 800.
Option 3 the shower would be 700 or 750 wide from the side wall into the room x 1000 or 1200.

Giving rhe extra space in Option 3 to fit the WC & basin between shower & bath.

I missed this yesterday, really interesting as that's what the bathroom guy said and I just couldn't imagine it being the case - the shower wall behind me is totally why after I've showered and wiping it down.

Any chance of a picture of yours??

I feel over-invested in this now... but your original question was about having the shower over the window (ie Option 3) BUT - that doesn't solve your major issue about having the toilet under the window/on the back wall, so not sure why option 3 is even on the table, given the loo position is the main thing you're keen to resolve?

🤣🤣 at over invested.
You made some really good points yesterday, I've just been re-reading.

I totally get what you are saying.
The only reason I'm even considering option 3 is a friend was talking about having her bathroom redone and we ended up measuring it and I sketched her out a plan which was the reverse of my option 3. For some reason, she thought it might be odd having all 4 items in a line - i thought thay would be fairly standard.
I'd never considered that option for mine but drew it to consider.

The toilet placement issue isn't "solved" with option 3 but it is "improved" as it would be offset in the framed space with a basin also visible.

Just found this example of a glassed in window.

And view from the landing.

Oh, and the units I want for my ensuite 😊

Option 1 keep toilet away from window any man piss is in the window

It's not a huge room - why not put a decent shower over the bath with a proper screen

This would then give you a lot more room to move the toilet and sink

@Chasingsquirrels

if the bathroom fitter/plumber has said it's not a problem, then 2 for me.

I'm 100% behind you not wanting the toilet where it is.

I'm also 100% behind wanting a stand alone shower.

i like space around the toilet, so I'd make sure to get that right, then have the longest shower base I could.

we used to have a window in our shower, ground floor in our garden, and I loved it. It was a beautiful wood frame which I despised having to dry at the end of my shower (I can't stand that kind of fussing) BUT I'd have it back if I could!!

Another house we had the bath under the window, I'm short & that drove me insane as I had to get into the bath to open/close the window. It doesn't sound like much of a deal, but I cursed the designer of that one!!

Idreamed about my new bathroom here, I drew eleventy million plans! Stupidly hadn't considered the floor being concrete (60's build) meant I could have a low line shower base, the step up had to be huge fir run off to soil stack. I hate a hugely high step up for the shower, I think they look so ugly, so I put the shower over the bath. I got an 800 bath, to create a bit more 'elbow room'.

Have you considered putting a skylight in the hallway?

i put one in and the bloke boxed it in for me (at an angle) as it had to go to quite a high point in the roof, via the loft. Best money I've spent on this place!! LOVE it.

good luck getting something you love!!

@PickledPurplePickle

my friend did that in the family bathroom, to save money more than gain space, lovely bath with lovely shower over it, but the teens far prefer the stand alone shower in her ensuite! That cost saving back fired!!!

You mean this one?

Okay so having had the option 3 thought, with the window partially glassed in / shower panel, I'm coming to the conclusion that isn't the best idea. Whilst it would fit the space, blocking the window it always going to make it look as though it has been crammed in.

Looking at option 2 (just posted, WC & basin together) I'm not sure there is room to get betweent the shower & the WC to the basin and shower entrance comfortably with a 1000 x 800 shower. And it leaves the WC smack where I don't want it.

Which brings me back to option 1 (attached again).
I'd need units or boxing in to enclose the waste pipes from both WC and basin to soil stack.
But leaves the distance & turns to the soil stack issues. I've had a couple of plumbers / fitters round. They aren't saying no, but they aren't overjoyed either.

I'm going to have a play with mirroring that onto the opposite walls. It isn't ideal as the shower would only be 750 coming out from the wall, so would have to be longer leaving less room next to it for the WC, but I'll see how the sizes work.

I'd mock up a plan with the bath along the back wall - a bath is c1750mm long, so you'd have the space. Then loo/basin on the RHS and shower on the left. It's got to be worth sketching out if nothing else?

It looks like you don't have top opening windows, so being able to open the window should be no problem.

It would mean you wouldn't put a shower over the bath (but if you're going to all the effort of a standalone shower, you won't need it), but as long as you've got a hairwashing/rinsing attachment on your tap, you don't need one anyway.

And I'd consider a quadrant shower too - just to make it feel like there are less hard edges. Having the shower in the corner where it is likely to end up is going to make the room feel a lot more enclosed. A curved edge would make a big difference. And then you can enter/exit the shower in the middle, making the flow of the room much easier.

I'll do that Reviewing. I'm just drawing up the reversal of my option 1 which I didn't think would work, but might.

The windows are 3 panes, left & right opening outwards. Satin glass finish. And newly replaced last autumn so they aren't changing!

Reversal of Option 1

Shower would have to be 700 or 760 x 1000, so very slightly smaller than the 800 x 1000 I was envisaging on the original.

Im considering full fixed wall next to the WC & just a screen across the 1000 length (or probably fixed pane + screen) rather than 2 glass walls. Although ds2 says no to that 😆.

Bath as it is now bit slightly wider @ 750 (current is 700).

WC on unit to enclose waste pipe which flows into the soil stack.
Basin centered on the window.Either on a run of units, or with low boxing to enclose the waste pipe into the soil stack.Umm, thinking this could work when I didn't think I had the width, and ticks my loo issues whilst not causing wast pipe issues (other than it will need fixing into the soil stack 90° to where it is now. Presumably this isn't an issue?