We did not. We told the contractor the max budget, got references, and then went with it. The cabinet sub worked with us on the layout.
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Some stores have contractor discounts (which they may or may not pass onto the homeowner), so the prices might be higher for a non-contractor buyer.
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Our first contractors are a no go. I was promised an estimate by email within 2-3 days, and so far, ten days passes and… crickets. I find that communication is a deal maker or breaker with contractors, so such initial radio silence is a solid NO for us. 
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Gotcha. No basements here so not a problem I’ve considered.
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The one tile store he recommended we would get a discount at - 35% he said. I actually went and ordered a few samples but I wasn’t that impressed with the store - selection seemed sort of limited!
The store I have the appt at is his preferred store but he said no discount. I will actually ask this when I’m there.
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We hired a designer who made a blueprint for our bathroom and kitchen. She gave us a price for the cabinets and installation.
Our hang up is that we want one tile person to do the tile work. My husband needs to text her and see if she’s back from snowbirding.
Our remodeling experience is I’m sure different than others in that my husband spent his career as a project manager. He does everything time and materials. It’s what he prefers.
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We have a closet space off our master bedroom and next to the bathroom that we are going to put the W/D in. It won’t be in the BR but on the other side of a wall. As others have said it’s because our current W/D is in the basement.
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We just got our estimate from our contractor. Every separate category is listed- dumpster fee, demo, drywall, plumbing, electrical, tile labor, cabinet etc.
As for blueprints, he doesn’t do that but I have drawings from my sister who’s an interior designer and he’s working off those. If I didn’t and just explained what I wanted I don’t think he would draw up blueprints. I think he would just go off measurements.
Also he gave me an “allowance” for some items- the fixtures but not for the tile so I will have to add that on to the estimate.
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Our washer and dryer (not stackable) are in a closet in the big hallway area outside our upstairs bedroom. It has been super convenient for us.
Due to concerns about leaks when gone, we used to always turn off the washer water supply before vacation. Now we just turn off the main water valve (winter). Or in summer, the new shutoff we installed a few years ago that turns off house water but still enables water to sprinkler system.
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Wish we could do the turn off of water. But, we have baseboard water heating in the winter and evaporative cooler in the summer. It gets too cold to not heat the house (pipes) and too hot not to keep the refrigerator cool.
Our not stackable washer and dryer are also in the hallway closet outside our upstairs bedroom and two other former kids bedrooms. It has been very convenient. I figure if for some reason we use the main floor bedroom/bath, someone can come put a load in and clean the house. Or, get a laundry service. There is always a way I think.
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The condo we bought has a stacked W/D in hall closet. We’ve never lived there but it seems a standard placement. The entire condo is pretty compact (825 sq ft) so pretty easy to reach from anywhere in the unit.
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I always thought that was my job. I always supply contractors (or DH) with sketches and pictures of what I want. I just use graph paper or a spreadsheet grid to represent each measured wall of a room laid out where I want things and my hand drawings or magazine pics of what goes where. My measurements don’t have to be perfect, just a clear visual of the end product. I usually pick out the appliances/hardware/tile/flooring/faucets/cabinets/paint, etc. myself ahead of time. I don’t go to a contractor (or DH) until I know exactly what I’ll be asking them to do as I consider the contractor to be the last step in any reno process, the one who will execute what I’ve already decided. They have the trade skills, not necessarily the design skills.
So, if you don’t have a clear picture in your mind of the finished product, you should work with a designer first to get the room laid out and all components and finishes decided. The contractor should then be able to give you a detailed quote for all the work/time required to transform your design into reality.
For example, I posted on another thread that I used ChatGPT to produce the bunk beds I want for our cabin’s additional lower-level bedroom, and I gave DH the following approximations for the adjacent walls. He will use his CAD software to dimension these walls properly, but this is what I’d expect a GC to do if we were contracting.
(I used Google images to piece together the storage wall ^^^ from separate pictures. I’ll be painting that unit red, but the color doesn’t matter at this stage.)
ETA: Does it look like I might be anticipating grandchildren? I’m not really, but you never know. The bedroom will work just as well for adults as kids.
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Thanks for sharing your different experiences. I wasn’t looking for a fancy rendering just a sketch on a napkin showing the space and how it will be used and to make sure it’s used well! With plumbing and electrical unknowing me doesn’t know what can go where.
I guess I will be working towards the process now that I have a rough idea of what will go where of picking out some of the furniture/supplies beforehand.
I am someone who literally cannot visualize in my head placement of things without a visual. It’s like a skill I don’t have. Yet function and a pleasing arrangement and aesthetic are so important to me.
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When we finished our basement, our contractor wouldn’t quote anything until we had the renderings from an architect. The bathroom was easier because there weren’t that many options for space layout and the cabinet guy did a good job of maximizing storage and meeting our needs.
I know it’s been said upthread, but AI is really your friend here. Take pictures of your space as is and ask one of the AI tools to optimize the layout. The more specific you are about what you want the better output you’ll get. Then you can play around with the style.
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When we built our house, we had stock plans we purchased from a magazine (remember those?). But we didn’t like the kitchen or upstairs bathroom layouts at all, and there was a double door (why??) into the master bedroom. DH was the one who redrew all of these areas with the changes we wanted, and he gave them to our builder who did exactly what we wanted done.
Of course now years later, we are looking at redoing the bathrooms again. DH will again do the layout. We will give to a contractor to execute. We also will go to the plumbing supply places here, including Lowe’s and HD, and get some ideas of costs for some of the things.
We will have a decent cost idea, and will expect our designs and desires to be carried out within an estimate given by the contractor.
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When we called a contractor we were pretty sure we would use to do our bathroom and I asked him what he suggested, he said something like “Call this person and work with her. When you guys figure out what you want, I can give you a quote and do it.” He had no suggestions for me except “I can do that” when I mentioned a couple of ideas. In our case the designer worked with me to pick out the tile, cabinets, etc. and ordered it, and the contractor did the associated work. That was both good and bad though, because when I had an issue with the granite counter I wound up having to pay the contractor to come back a second time. The designer split that cost with me, and probably would have paid all of it if I pushed. So, another thing to consider is if you want one person to be responsible for all of it, or are OK with multiple. Now the designer offers to be project manager, which means she makes sure everything gets done well, etc., but that costs more.
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I have done ZERO with AI. Besides the google AI info that comes up in a search.
I’m not against it but I have no idea where to start - no idea. I’m sure I can learn….but I have to figure out where to start 
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Very old fashioned —-but after you have your sketches, whether by pen and napkin, designer, or AI, —-how about marking (outlining) things planned on the floor and walls with painters tape and also cutting newspaper or poster board for things like mirrors, light fixtures, shapes of things set on the floor?
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Or get yourself some old fashioned graph paper. To use Gemini, first take photos of your current bathroom. Then take photos of what you would like instead. For example, we want to take out a spa tub. I took a picture of that, and a picture of a nice glass walk in shower I found online. I uploaded both to Gemini and my request was “replace the spa tub with the glass shower”.
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Can you come over to my house and help me do this? 
The footprint of our bathroom is def going to change. I’ll give it a shot this weekend.
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