Master bath design (PIP and LIPs) - feedback welcome!

[simpsongal]

Update: I should have known better than to plan on putting the shower in the exterior wall.  The plumber said it's really a bad idea, even if we build a double wall and insulate well there's no access and that could be a problem. I think I thought F' it when I drew it, but my mom had a leak last year, it definitely happens.  So the 42" wall next to the toilet is becoming a full wall w/all the shower controls and plumbing in it.  I was super bummed, but I worked this floor plan so many ways and there's just no other good approach.  Both the top and 'right' walls are exterior.  If need be, I can shift the door over to the left so there's no interrupted sight line.  I'm waiting to see the visual w/the wall framed and solid.  I need to change my tile plan too b/c that's more wall and tile than I planned.
  
Here's the sketch of the floor plan, it's about 10x10.  It's a dramatic change from our current floor plan (moving a wall 2 ft, closing an access door, removing the jack/jill separation, adding and moving to a larger window).

The best laid plans....well not really b/c I knew this might be an issue and ignored it.



We'll finalize measurements once we demo the space and get in there.
Fixtures will be polished nickel, though I may mix some orb in there (e.g., vanity hardware/chandelier?/mirrors).
We ended up going w/the soaker tub - thank you for the feedback!
I sprung for a fancy shower system 
72" vanity is from Costco
Doing a bluetooth vent fan
I need to wander around Floor and Decor and pick tile.
Doing a heated floor too
Planning on mirrors, not medicine cabinets but I've got a side recessed cabinet planned.

Things I'm deciding/questions -
Should I put a tall recessed cabinet behind the door instead of hooks/racks?
The shower - I have very little figured out so any feedback is appreciated.  niche (type/location), bench (where? size? built in?), controls locations?  Contractor and I have talked about putting the shower controls on the small 42" wall (inside? outside?) so they're easily accessible.  
Deck mount tub faucet or wall mount? Should I get a hand shower for the tub?
Should I put a towel rack on the wall above the tub (next to the vanity) - or perhaps a decorative shelf/niche?
Where would you put recessed lighting? Over the shower and a few other spots?
Should I put a fixture/chandelier over the tub?

I need to pick a lot more stuff! Delta/Brizo's polished nickel is hard to find right now...I'm hoping other brands "match" in polished nickel.

[aspentosh]

We love our thermostatic shower, so shout out to @dr.girlfriend for that recommendation. Ours is on the inside of our shower, but we can easily turn it on without getting in.

We opted to go with a simple vent fan and buy a waterproof bluetooth speaker instead. I didn't feel like I found any great options to purchase that had the longevity of a ~$30-40 speaker.

We didn't go with a niche in our shower and I am so pleased with how it turned out. We did a quartz shelf that ran the length of the FAR END of the shower (not along the back) and it holds a lot. We did do a shaving shelf niche on that same wall and it's been a great in-between. We ddi look at a bench but was so worried about taking up too much room in our shower.

Where are you going to hang towels for when you're using the shower?

We have recessed lights above each sink (well, really, right where you stand at the sink) and one near the toilet/shower. It feels like a good amount and not too much. So for you, I'd do similar, with maybe one in the shower and above the tub if you don't want to do chandelier. I think that'll be personal preference with how you want that area to look.

[dr.girlfriend]

We have our shower controls on the wall to the left-hand side of the showerhead and it's really nice. We have a thermostatic shower and the glass door can swing in or out, so we just swing open the door, flip the shower on, and then it's at the right temperature. We also have a tankless water heater.

The only thing that seems awkward to me is the placement of the toilet right when you walk in, but maybe it won't be so bad especially since it's kind of behind the door? Not sure about the HVAC you have sketched in ...is that in the ceiling or in the actual space?  And also the towel rack is pretty far away from the actual tub/shower.  I think you'll need some ideas for how to keep towels close enough to be useful.

Here's my layout if it helps.  It flows really well in person.  It's 8 feet wide, I can't quite find the length dimensions but I don't think it's too much bigger than yours if at all.

[simpsongal]

dr.girlfriend , I like your shower control location! Ours is thermostatic too. The HVAC are vertical ducts, so it's solid wall. I worked this floor plan so many ways, I think this was the best but I am hoping the toilet isn't too 'on display.' If I put a recessed cabinet behind the door it could make that HVAC wall a little deeper and thus put the toilet even more behind that wall.

My sketch is a little off - the door opening is 33" from the right side wall. So if the toilet is ~27-28" deep, it shouldn't feel like it's sticking out, esp if I make that HVAC bump out larger for a recessed cabinet.

aspentosh , you're making me want to return the $$ vent fan. DH wanted bluetooth (I've never even used it )

For towel....IDK, maybe hooks nearby? We could put a rack on the leftside wall above the tub at least.

I really wanted to do that hidden bench niche y'all were PIPing...but I don't think I have the square footage w/the swing of the shower door there.  Maybe though....I suppose it could be in the 42" wall near the toilet.

[TBM]

Polished nickel is gorgeous, but I will probably never buy it again. I am not sure which annoys me more...the water spots and fingerprints, or having to wipe the faucet after each use to get rid of water spots and fingerprints.

[Roc A Bee]

My soaking tub and shower are next to each other like that. Instead of a wall between, the shower glass wall is on top of the tiled bath surround. There is a 3 inch ledge that we use for all of our products.

[simpsongal]

Sept 13, 2021 12:35:14 GMT -5 TBM said:

Polished nickel is gorgeous, but I will probably never but it again. I am not sure which annoys me more...the water spots and fingerprints, or having to wipe the faucet after each use to get rid of water spots and fingerprints.

Noooo!  I might need to keep a shammy in the bathroom for this purpose, I love the finish so much I'm willing - our brushed brass (?) shower fixtures in the basement have so many water spots.  Ugh.

[themoneytree]

I like the design. I actually think the toilet is in a good spot - it’s not the first thing you see when you walk in.

I would put niches for shower products into the knee wall(s). Make sure they are large enough. We did two shelves which allow large size bottles and a much shallower shelf above for my razor and small items. It’s even more useful than I expected and I love not being able to see all the products from the rest of the bathroom.

We didn’t want a bench so did a marble ledge for shaving. Again it’s been even better than anticipated.
If you sit down in the shower a lot that’s different, but I don’t like a bench on the shower head side and your door would interfere with it on the other side, so a ledge could work for you.

I’ve redone 5 bathrooms in the past year so I’ve been thinking about all these issues a lot. LOL.

ETA: we did a wall mount faucet for our soaking tub. You need a pretty long reach spout. We found a waterfall one which was long enough and love it. I really can’t get excited by floor mount faucets and they are SO expensive…. for something we don’t even like much.

[simpsongal]

themoneytree, any chance you can link the bath faucet? I was thinking of doing a waterfall one
The tub deck will have ~7" on each short end (much less around the long sides of the tub).

Yes - good tip on concealing products in the knee walls! I *may* eliminate the wall between the tub & shower and just do glass down to the tub deck. There would be a little ledge in the shower, which could be good for shaving but that design would leave a lot less space for concealing products

dr.girlfriend, does your bath have glass tile? I *think* it is - if so, how was the install and maintenance? I'm considering a marble inset for our bathroom floor too, though I'm a little afraid of maintenance & sealing.

[ellipses84]

My only concerns were things you mentioned - where to put the shower controls (I’d rec the short wall at the short end near the door) and where to put a hook for a towel within reach range of the shower door and bath.