bathroom reno help

[mum_of_5.5]

Hi all this is my first post here as I desperately want to redo my tiny bathroom.
Budget will be tight and I just want to basically get a bath in there and freshen it up, tiles have to go they are YUCK!
I could remove the wall which divides the bathroom from the toilet and linen clost, but that would mean alot more work but add an extra 1170W to the room.
I will be wanting to do most of the work myself if I can (I know the plumbing and any electrical will have to be done by tradies)
Currently the room is approx 1500W X 2070L and I will put in some links to picks also.
One idea is to leave shower where it is but to knock out the recess and put a bath tub there, the shower is a hand held, probably have to get rid of back wall length vanity too and put in smaller one, but wondering if I should change everything around but worried it will cost an arm and a leg to move too much (plumbing wise)
Any ideas would be great! Have seen what some of you have done and you did fantastic jobs!
Looking in from wall into shower recess

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v500/laneylin/DSCN2412.jpg

From doorway

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v500/laneylin/DSCN2410.jpg

From wall again

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v500/laneylin/DSCN2411.jpg
thanks again!

[mum_of_5.5]

O.K now for another idea, will have to take pic later cause i'm at work.
Anyway, just outside the toilet is the laundry, all tiled the same as bathroom and toilet, you actually get to toilet via laundry :rolleyes:
So what if both walls got knocked out making 1 big room then I either put a long vanity across where the washing machine/dryer goes and put them underneath it, cover the water heater with some sort of melamine or something and then have heaps of space for both a separate shower and bath. Would have to close of three doorways also (1 of the 2 leading into laundry, the linen closet door and the current bathroom door) could even replace the 1 door left with sliding door from toilet, or leave it with 2 entrances, 1 from sun room extension (kids room) and one from hallway.

Is this a feasible idea?

[juan]

Hi Mum.


Anyway, just outside the toilet is the laundry, all tiled the same as bathroom and toilet, you actually get to toilet via laundryI am a little unsure what layout you have and I think posting a floor plan of all the areas under consideration would assist in getting suggestions. Perhaps a realistic indication of how much you are prepared to spend would also help - "budget will be tight" is a little unclear.

You would obviously have looked at Jags small bathroom reno which I think is a great starting point for anyone.
http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=52100

[mum_of_5.5]

Yes, his bathroom looked great (as did yours :)). Budget is iffy, if I wait until after baby is born about 10K, before about 3.5K. I have realised I have a friend who is about to become a qualified plumber and another (well hubby of friend) who is a qualified builder by trade, so might be able to get some work done cheaper if we're lucky, actually now I realise I have a leco friend too :oo:
Here is a rough plan of the way things are now. Havn't measured laundry yet as that idea only came to me at work, but it really is a waste of space :(( and if I can get the hot water system moved to outside would be great too! The whole wall can be vanity/laundry leaving heaps more space for rest of bathroom. I think it would add loads of value to the house also.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v500/laneylin/layout.jpg

[jags]

Hi mum 5.5

thanks for the compliment .

Althought moving walls does sound good i think the reno will start to go south if you have to replace walls and ceilings and need to consult an engineer if any walls are supporting the roof .also i think having the toilet not inside the bathroom is a big bonus if it does not need to be .And i would not want my laundry in my bathroom either .

Do you have another bath room ? and do you really need a bath ? and have you got young kids ,the reason i ask is because one option that might be the simplist and cheapest while making the bathroom look a lot bigger would be to run a large single or double shower off the back and side wall with a two or even three part frameless shower screen and them on the opposite wall to which the door opens run a large mirror and wall hung vanity from about 10cm from the glass screen to the wall .i have seen similar and it good great .

i would image having a shower over a bath , like i have done would not be idea if you had kids .

regards
Rob

[mum_of_5.5]

Yes I have 5 kids and one on the way, youngest 4 are all under 7 years old, so no bath tub is really hard, specially for the youngest as the shower scares him (he's not quite 2).

[SilentButDeadly]

If thee were me.....I'd put a shower bath right along the wall where the shower is and shorten the vanity accordingly. Put a sheet a fixed glass between vanity and shower bath. Leave the rest much as is. Keep it simple. Seperate loo with so many bodies in the house is a boon so I'd look to keep it.

Besides with a big family how long do you really want to spend with the bathroom in uproar?

As for the laundry area.....move the HWS outside (and go solar boosted!), get a front loader and put a bench right across the wall where the washer and tub are now. Put a bench mounted tub in the middle of the bench (set it down a little perhaps so the littlies can use it after a loo visit), washer to one side and (if you must have one) dryer to the other (otherwise a set of drawers). Then you might have room for overhead cupboards...