I enjoyed reading about and seeing all of the kitchen remodels! Our kitchen is ok (not as nice as many of yours!), but we are starting a master bathroom remodel in the near future. Anyone have any advice/pictures for that?
We do not have a large master bath. It is about 5.5’ x 13’. Currently it is divided into two rooms with vanity in one and the toilet and shower in the other. Although it can be convenient to have the two rooms, I think I’m leaning toward removing the wall to make it more open. For the shower, I’m not sure I want to do a glass wall because it would have to slide to open.
We created a primary bath in our old house that didn’t exist. We were constraint by the location of the windows and radiator so I wasn’t able to get the layout that I really wanted (a wet room with a free standing tub and separate shower).
It’s long and narrow but L shaped. We have a linen closet, double vanity, toilet and then the shower is in the short part of the L.
I like the aesthetics but it’s not my dream bathroom.
Consider Universal Design issues. (walk-in shower if possible, blocking in the walls for future grab bars, or grab bars that don’t look institutional, space adjacent to the toilet, doors that open OUT of the bathroom (many people fall against a closed door which is then very difficult to access by help without removing, ETC. )
There are many resources with checklists and examples. Most people don’t like to think about aging, but if you intend to be there long enough, it is worth the investment. Actually, I had a young adult at my home that needed more universal design due to a torn ACL. It is not just for “old” residents (hence the name “universal”).
We have a small master bathroom that we remodeled. We were able to expand the shower a bit by making the built in closet next to it smaller. The layout would have required a split shower door that opened out. We chose not to have a door - we figured we could always add it later if we wanted. I custom ordered a linen shower curtain on Etsy, and I love it. I can just toss it in the washer.
When we worked with the designer at the tile store, we stressed that we wanted durability and ease of cleaning. She suggested tile that fit our needs … and the grout is awesome (TEC Power Grout - resists stains). The remodel is more than 10 years old now & still looks like new.
If I were to re-do my bathrooms, I would have them look like Four Seasons bathrooms. They tend to be tannish (neutral)color, marble/stone, glass, simple.
Yes!!! I would LOVE a shower/tub combo like that! I enjoy the ocasional soak but then like to actually shower - so as much as I dislike shower tub combos, I prefer to separate set up. Only thing is i’d have full glass door. I think the partial one gets chilly.
All tiles are porcelain, and all are shades of greige (gray/tan). The shower floor is a 2x2 mottled, textured tile that is darker than the walls. The walls are 12x24 tiles. The bathroom floor is 2x24 plank tile in a weathered gray with tan. For the floors we used TEC #939 Mist Power Grout, and for the walls we used TEC #909 Sterling Power Grout. We added a “waterfall” of really pretty glass 1x4 colored tiles in the middle of one wall. It has honestly been a breeze to keep clean.
Thanks for starting this thread! Our primary bathroom is large but odd. Is from late 70s, and while every thing is working it is in desperate need of updating. The toilet is in it’s own little room (which we like). While the footprint is pretty large, it is square with the primary closets opening into it. There’s a 70s soaker tub to be updated, a phone booth size shower that needs to be larger, two sinks and decent storage. Problem: the footprint is square. I can’t figure out how to utilize the open space in the middle. The toilet is at the far end. Husband is of a certain age… can’t block the path at night. I’m stuck on fixing the layout!
This sounds a little like our master bath we hope to renovate in a year or so. GIANT soaking tub with fake marble tile around it. BRASS up the wazoo. Even some under counter lighting that screams disco, lol. My wish list includes getting rid of the tub completely, walk in accessible shower, HEATED FLOORS, and making a space for stackable washer/dryer - there is room and that would make us able to live all on one floor if needed. I have a couple of pics from a house we considered buying that will be my inspiration in terms of colors - sort of light and airy, lakehouse feel/colors.
Not sure where you live, but I highly recommend radiant floor heating, since you’re doing major renovations. Heated tile floor is so warm and fantastic!
I’ve been reading conflicting info on glass doors for a walk in shower…cleaning issues and leaking issues - would love to hear comments from others who have recently done - is it possible NOT to have glass doors with a “curbless” shower???
The short answer is “it depends”… If the whole room is designed with proper drainage, flooring, and wall tile, it’s certainly possible to go without a door. Personally I love that look but we’ve had some challenges with the one bathroom that doesn’t have an enclosure:
Steam escapes all over the room and we have to run our exhaust fan otherwise condensation collects on all of the painted surfaces (and the TP can get soggy if the toilet isn’t in a separate room).
The temperature of the water needs to be higher because it feels chillier
The exhaust fan sucks some of the heat out of the room so it feels colder getting out (although a heated floor would help that immensely).
FWIW, we have glass shower enclosures in two of the other bathrooms and have had no issues with leaks. Some of the new glass door designs are very snazzy.
I like the look of the glass doors - just don’t want issues! And I would NOT want a doorless shower…but I have to imagine there are not many alternatives that work well - unless as you say, the shower is huge.
I’ll add in that one feature we would like to keep for our bathroom and is a good thing to consider if you want to conserve space IN the room, is a pocket door - either for entry or within the bathroom say for a toilet area.
I don’t think you’ll have issues with glass doors. There may be a little bit of water that seeps out but the shower floor should be slightly angled towards the drain and it will be minimal. The daily shower door cleaners work really well to keep the glass clean as well. Just spray at the end of the shower and leave it.
We have a pocket door from the bathroom to the closet. Love it! The contractors just need to know to plan for it in advance so they don’t put any of the mechanicals in the wall where the door needs to slide. (Also pricier than a standard door).
I would love to have a pocket door in my master bathroom … but I don’t have room in the walls. It’s really important to have a professional review your plans to make sure that they are possible within the reality of your footprint.
Regarding the closets that open to the bathroom… if they are adjacent to a bedroom wall you and seal up the bathroom entrance and move the closet door access to the bedroom thus freeing up a bathroom wall.
Re: glass shower doors. I use a squeegee after every shower, then also wipe it with a towel. It looks great, and that only take a minute or so.
We re did our primary house bathroom in NoVA about 5 years before we moved. I still miss that bathroom. We had a shower and freestanding tub (I like a soak), a small “toilet closet” and a large walk in shower. The new vanity was custom made which allowed us to configure drawers the way we wanted. And the heated floor!
