Laundry into b/room and vice versa?

[Mike Novice]

hello everybody,

First post, and can I add that it's nice to see an area where people help each other with a common interest. Secondly, what does SWMOB mean? I know it's some better half, female reference I just can;t figure it.

Now the question!!!

I'm 6 months into my first house and am looking at renovating the bathroom. It is 1.7 by 2 metres (very small) with a SOB that we hate. We baically just want to renew everything with a corner shower stall, vanity and toilet with grouse tiles etc. Also install sliding door kit. The entire job may cost us $10-12 k.

To make things interesting, a friend said we should turn the laundry (3 x 2.8) into the bathroom and vice versa...

I love a big bathroom but the cost would be huge, and with what we intend to do with the bathroom, it'd be good for it's size, and love the space in the laundry for hanging clothes, bikes, woodworking on rainy days etc.

The resale cost is important but many years away... what do you think? I turn to you all for assistance!

Mike

PS. Any good websites for modern coffee table designs?

[Pulse]

She Who Must Be Obeyed...

Welcome to the forum, Mike.
The advantages of converting the laundry are that you will not be without a bathroom during the reno which is handy. If you really want good resale then have you considered an ensuite. If possible attach the old bathroom to the main bedroom with a new larger bathroom with bath for kids for the rest of the family.

Cheers
Pulse

[Mike Novice]

Thanks Pulse... she who must be obeyed.. he he... good one...

The bedrooms are separate and not do-able as far as a ensuite is concerned... what would you prefer Pulse? The large verstaile space of a laundry in the house, or a vast bathroom, which takes away about 80% of storage in the house... I'd say there's more action in the laundry than the bathroom.. .even from SWMBO!

Cheers mate,

Mike

[JDub]

Thanks Pulse... she who must be obeyed.. he he... good one...

The bedrooms are separate and not do-able as far as a ensuite is concerned... what would you prefer Pulse? The large verstaile space of a laundry in the house, or a vast bathroom, which takes away about 80% of storage in the house... I'd say there's more action in the laundry than the bathroom.. .even from SWMBO!

Cheers mate,

Mike

IMO a larger bathroom has better appeal to buyers and therefore better resale value. Not saying its practically better at all... just thinking of what people look for when shopping for homes, laundrys are often afterthoughts IME.

of course it all depends on how much extra it will cost to do the swap adn how long you will be in the house for. Me thinks you need to sit down with calculator

Good luck
Joel

[Pulse]

JDubs on the money... people like large bathrooms. What about a wardobe in the bathroom with the laundry stuff... it doesn't need to be very big

Cheers
Pulse

[floobyduster]

Without seeing the total house plan it's a bit of shooting in the dark - I assume the bathroom and laundry ar next to each other? Similar access? If so, can you rearrange both rooms to give a bathroom with shower, bath and vanity, a separate toilet with basin and still leave a reasonably sized laundry. When looking through houses one of our first requirements is STORAGE, storage, storage. Separating the toilet can use up a bit more space but can free up the use of the bathroom - depending on family size - and vise versa if you have a number of females in the household It's nice to have a larger bathroom but most of the time only one person is using it so living practicalities can become a greater reality - especially if you don't have an ensuite or second toilet etc elsewhere. Often the laundry is the only place for all the extra "stuff" that doesn't belong anywhere else to be stored, so cupboards, shelves and drawers come in real handy. eg wet weather gear (don't need that up here , school bags, hats, spare power cords, light bulbs, torches, cleaning gear, mops, buckets, brooms, drying racks, washing basket/trolley etc. etc. Check out some of your friends houses who have kids (if you haven'y got them yourself) to see what they have collected.

I agree with Pulse - even a narrow cupboard in the bathrrom for spare towels etc is agood idea.

Don't forget to post up your plans, photos etc of the work in progress.