A bathroom should be a place to wash away the worries of the day.
Adding another bathroom onto a house is no small chore; because of the importance of not just electric but water lines, plumbing and sewage, it's important to lock down your ideas before you even begin building your addition. A bathroom should be a sanctuary for everyone who uses it. Careful planning for your bathroom addition will allow you to build it to your exact specifications.
Separate Tub and Shower
Bring the jacuzzi indoors for a little pampering.
Installing a separate bathtub and shower into a previously existing bathroom can present a plumbing nightmare, but while plans are being drawn up for a new addition, it's the perfect time to consider this option.
Separating the tub and shower has a number of benefits. A shower on its own is utilitarian and well-suited for everyday use. It's easier to get in and out of, and it's also usually easier to clean just the shower rather than a bathtub that is hardly ever used for that purpose. The separate bathtub can become a place to relax rather than a place to simply get clean. You may want to install a jacuzzi tub, thus bringing the jets of an outdoor hot tub into the comfort of an indoor bathtub. When building an addition from scratch, it's also easier to add a raised platform for the tub and a backsplash/shelf that's perfect for an evening glass of wine or row of candles.
His and Hers
An addition can make sharing bathroom space easy.
For the couple who's always fighting for space in the bathroom, the design process is the perfect opportunity to create a "his and hers" . Place shared resources such as the shower and toilet in the center of the room.
Next, create two separate layouts on facing walls. (These layouts can even be separated further by a low dividing wall, excellent for containing storage space and for setting out plants, candles and other decorative touches.) Install separate vanities and sinks. You can even install individual lighting that is wired to switches on your and your spouse's respective sides of the room. Two storage cabinets can help keep toiletries and towels neat and tidy.
Outdoor Access
A bathroom accessible from outside can be a welcome addition.
Consider adding outdoor access to the bathroom. This can be particularly convenient if the house has a pool or jacuzzi area, allowing individuals to come and go into the house without getting carpet wet in other areas of the home. It's also beneficial when the jacuzzi is in use during the colder months of the year, cutting out the chilly run from the warm tub to the warm house.
Depending on how private the area is, consider high windows or frosted glass that will allow light into the bathroom but maintain your privacy. Stone floors will handle the outdoor traffic well, and include plenty of storage for pool towels and bathing suits.
Use Space Wisely
Hide storage in decorative, multipurpose areas.
Decide how much of the addition is going to be taken up by closet space and how much is going to be open. There are a number of different ways to hide the storage space that can give the bathroom a much different look than if it's taken up with a standard closet or cabinet nook.
Medicine cabinets come in varying depths; increasing the depths of these mirrored, over-the-sink cabinets can provide much-needed storage for smaller items such as extra soap, shampoos, toilet paper and shaving supplies. If you're installing a freestanding soaking tub, consider setting it on a platform that requires the bather to take several steps up into the tub. The space below these steps can easily be converted into storage space, much like the space beneath a bed.
Tags: storage space, bathroom should, bathroom space, rather than, separate bathtub