Four Bathroom Upgrades

When you finally decide to remodel and upgrade your bathroom it can help to talk with others that have already gone through this major undertaking. Here we have given some examples of how others went about their bathroom changes.

When we were children, we loved to play in the bathroom. We liked to pop soap bubbles and play with bath toys like squeaky rubber ducks and plastic boats. As we grew older, the bathroom became a functional area to visit quickly en route to school or work. A trip to the bathroom was worked into a hectic schedule and often turned into a battleground for dominance with other family members for shower time. The bathroom also got smaller as we grew larger.

Perhaps finally, you’ve decided to remodel your bathroom with a roomier layout and attractive fixtures. You’ve come to understand the value of relaxation and want to enjoy spending time in the bathroom. You want your trips to the bathroom to be pleasant, not just functional and hectic. If so, you might benefit from the experiences of others who have remodeled their bathrooms.

A Nice Rearrangement

Jane and David Smiths master bathroom was not only small, but it also had an awkward layout. The tub and toilet sat on a platform two steps up from the lavatory and two closets. The Smith's first decided to eliminate the closets and the platform and plan a more convenient layout.

Their interior designer literally cut corners by positioning the tub and shower into opposite corners of the bathroom. This left enough space for his-and-her vanities. The vanities, set on the walls in between the shower and tub, had one cabinet 2 inches higher so that David, who is 6 feet, 5 inches tall, could wash his face without bending over.

Ocean Retreat

A Maine vacation inspired Kristy and Frank Mayer when they remodeled their master bathroom in their San Francisco, California, home. “We stayed in this wonderful old hotel in Kennebunkport,” Kristy said. “The tub was set under the windows and you could just sit there and look out at the ocean.”

To bring the crisp, clean feeling of the ocean breeze to their bath, they expanded their bathroom above a downstairs addition. They installed a new tub of an old-fashioned design by the window and covered the walls with white bead-board paneling. A woven sea grass mat was spread out for wet feet. Now Kristy can look out the window across the San Francisco Bay. “I loved this bathtub because it was deep,” Kristy said. “Soaking there is so nurturing that it's part of my daily routine.”

Fitting It All In

Designer Brad Nelson designed a new layout to separate the shower and tub in his master bathroom. To do this, he sacrificed some square footage of an adjacent bedroom closet. After removing a tub and small closet, he installed a narrow vanity 18 inches deep with a lavatory that thrusts out. Cabinets were also installed above the toilet, stretching up from the vanity. The layout allowed enough room for a shower and tub on the opposite wall.

A Little Extra Space Makes a Difference

Karen and Mike Koriner of Los Angeles had a narrow, standard bathroom. As is true for many people, square footage was tight and they barely had enough room for drying off. “The basic layout of the bath was functional,” Karen said, “but the entrance between the vanity and the shower was really tight.”

The bathroom could not easily be expanded; the room surrounding it used all the essential space. However, by borrowing 12 inches from the den’s closet, they managed to expand the bathroom slightly. This slight expansion, however, greatly improved the elbow room.

The shower was recessed into the old closet to line up with the tub. The clear glass panels installed on two sides of the new shower made the room feel bright and airy.

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