Expert: Mollie Ackner, AIA - 11/29/2011

Question
Hi!  My name is Kurtis Donnelly and I am hoping you might be able to help me.  My wife and I are purchasing a house (closing at the end of the year) and I really want to redo the bathroom for my wife.  I am a very experienced renovator and can handle all of the enhancements (save major plumbing work, I would have someone do that for me).  My problem is that I can't figure out how to lay out the bathroom to get the most out of it.  The house has only one bathroom so it needs to be great!  Is there any way you could give me any tips as to how best to layout the space?  I am attaching a diagram with dimensions of the current bathroom that may help.  A couple of the things that I would like to include:

I would like, if possible to have a separate shower and tub.  I am 6'4" so I would love a tub that is a little larger than a normal one.

The shower is super important.  I plan to put in a rain shower head and possibly one or two other heads. so a good sized shower would be great.

My wife really wants a dual sink vanity.  You will see in the diagram that there is a small closet (right now there is no door between, just an opening into the bathroom.  We don't necessarily need to use that as a closet.  One initial thought I had would be to move the toilet in there, but that would require a good bit of plumbing based on where the toilet is now.

Thank you soo much for any help you can throw my way.  This will be a wonderful Christmas surprise for my wife!

Thanks!

Answer
Hey Kurtis,
You might consider putting the shower in that closet -- I can't read the dimensions but it looks big enough.  Your space is a tough one, and is going to require some design cleverness - for best results you might consider hiring someone to actually design it for you, so that before you go to all the trouble to build it you know everything is in the best possible location.  You could hire someone locally, or I'd be glad to do it long distance for you.  Congratulations on your new house!
Mollie