ORC Spring 2021:The Bathroom Layout

It is week 2 of the One Room Challenge. Last week, week 1, I shared the plan. This week I am sharing the layout. This bathroom is tricky because there is no other bathroom upstairs. All the bedrooms are upstairs and there is absolutely no room for a second bathroom… well that is not true. There IS room for two bathrooms but the master bathroom would be really really tiny. Actually, the plumber came and told us there would be no room for a shower. We could have a toilet and sink but no shower and we would have to rip up a lot downstairs to make it happen.

We discussed this plan for a bit here is what would have to happen to get two bathrooms:

We would need to install a new plumbing stack. The current stack (seen in the wall bumpout above) services the code allotted amount of existing fixtures in the current bathroom and one downstairs. A new plumbing stack would tear up walls in the basement and first floor. Totally a good idea in some homes but it would eat up a lot of the budget to do it.

Is it worth it? Maybe if we get a good sized full bath.

The answer ended up being no.

The toilet (based on the only place a new plumbing stack could go) would have to be in a very specific location taking up too much room to fit both a shower and a vanity. So, the master bathroom would be a toilet and vanity. This is also could be a good thing too but But its a lot of money and damage not to get a full bathroom out of it.

The homeowner lives by herself. She is a youthful grandmother and she is super active but she also wants to prepare for the future and not have to move. In short her biggest request was getting the laundry out the basement (two stories down).

In short, if we make these two spaces into one big space we can have the following:

• Really large walk in shower
• Tub
• Good size bathroom vanity
• Two entry access from the hall and the master
• Laundry Cabinet to hide the stackable washer and dryer.

Here is the layout…

The only way to fit a tub in the plan is to do a tub shower combo OR a tub in the shower. She wanted to plan for the future and not have to step into a tub. Yet, she knows a home like this needs a tub for resale. She has grandkids that need baths if they stay with her, so a tub was a must. A large walk-in shower with a tub inside is the fix!

Here is the other side. The hallway door is turning into a pocket door to feel less like a corridor of doors. I will talk more about the vanity and laundry cabinet in future posts. Stay tuned! What you see here is just a place holder for space planning.

Alright, there is lots to do. Stay tuned next week for all the details on the flooring. I know everyone is sad that the pink tile is gone but we picked a marble mosaic very characteristic to the home.

Follow the One Room Challenge

• Follow the featured designers week 2 post here.
• Follow my fellow guest participants week 2 posts here.
• You can follow my 8 week remodel: week 1
• Finally, want to see my former ORC spaces. Click here.