Planning a Bathroom Remodel

Bathroom Design That Lasts

If a bathroom update is in your future, take the long view. Not just what you might need now, but also in the future. Three features will always be useful to you or to new owners; a curbless shower, 36 inch high vanities, and sturdy towel bars (heated is nice!).
You will also thank yourself by choosing easy to clean surfaces with few crevices to gather dust or shmutz. Especially faucets. Ask me how I know. Planning a Bathroom Remodel
Choose a shower curtain if you have young children, want the option to change the look often or have a shortage of open space for the door to swing into.
Choose a wet room if you like the look of open space AND don’t mind stepping out of a hot shower into chillier bathroom air. That is what the entire shower will feel like.A semi-wet room is a bathtub and shower enclosure combination. It can take up less space than a separate tub and shower, depending on the designbathroom remodel wetroom.

Choose a glass door if you want the warmth of a shower enclosure but the look of an open bathroom design.

Plan early for electricians!  If you want sconces they need to know early in the remodel. How about an outlet near a toilet for a bidet device? An outlet under the sink or in a drawer? Hardwired heated towel bar? Heated floors?  It all needs to be planned ahead.

To help you start your plan on paper, here is some bathroom math courtesy of Architectural Digest.

  • 30×60 minimum floor space needed to add a powder room (36×66 is recommended)
  • 30×30 minimum floor space for stand up shower (36×36 recommended)
  • 30×60 minimum floor space for separate toilet room (36×66 recommended)
  • 36×36 minimum for stacked laundry
  • 80 inches minimum ceiling height
  • 60 inch minimum ceiling height over non traveled space like over a sink
  • 21 inches minimum floor space in front of sink or toilet (30 inches is recommended)
  • 30 inches minimum distance between centerpoints of two vanities
  • 15 inches minimum distance from centerpoint to sidewall (20 inches is recommend)
  • 50 cfm minimum size of a bathroom exhaust fan that must be ducted to the outside
Finally, before you shop for fixtures talk to your plumber. Ask what brands they repair the most. Now you know what to avoid!