Help me get excited - bathroom remodel

[Wallflower]

I had a leaky drain pan in my shower stall in my upstairs bathroom - water dripping in the kitchen below, tiles loose on the floor from water - and now I need some significant repairs. Overall, that bathroom has been on my list to redo, in part because I hate that little shower stall (2.5x2.5, I think?). It was not, however, first on my list but now it is.

I'm trying to get excited about a redo and all the hassle that goes with it - I know I want to move to a full-sized shower. I had the idea this week to put in heated floors. 

What things would you want to consider in a bathroom remodel?

[mrsukyankee]

Wet room or shower stall, shower and/or bath, what type of shower head? shower type (electric/digital/etc)? How do you want to heat things? Do you want to update other bits of the bathroom? Storage needs.

We did two bathroom renovations this summer so I went through all of it, including ripping out and starting anew in one of them (including putting in a window).

[Wallflower]

mrsukyankee, I followed your remodel, so I remember (and loved your end results)!!

[simpsongal]

Some things we did and really enjoy:

- Yes to a heated floor
-put an outlet near the toilet so you can use a heated or bidet seat
- outlet in a medicine cabinet for electric toothbrushes
- outlet in vanity for styling tools (we don't really use it, but I guess it's nice to have)
- I like our Costco vanity ok - wish it had more drawers.
- DH loves the shower jets and stuff, so a shower system maybe?
- insulated acrylic tub, holds heat well and the quartz tub deck is easy to clean and holds all the bath stuff
- we really like the bluetooth shower fans, fun for playing music

Good luck!

[Wallflower]

Oh, outlets! I hadn't thought about new outlets, and I get very frustrated with what I have. Thanks, simpsongal !

For reference, I'm working ~8x8.5. I'll get rid of the closet in the bathroom and almost certainly keep the linen closet accessed from the hall. Getting rid of all that storage space sends a chill down my spine. lol

But I do want to noodle about moving everything around to see if there are other configurations that could work better.

[deadwing]

If I was going to renovate my bathroom, I think I'd want one of those towel warmers. Not particularly for warming, but because my towels never seem to dry unless I either have the heat or AC on. During the "window weather" time of year I have so many gross, damp towels.

[Wallflower]

deadwing, oh, I like that! I'm in the northeast and my towel never gets dry in the summer if I hang it on the actual towel bar.

[EvieEthelGarland]

Put the shower controls opposite the shower head (like in dove's remodel thread).

If you want a handheld shower instead of a fixed shower head, place the plumbing lower so the hose drapes rather than doubles up on itself. Again, like dove's remodel.

Have a bench or ledge in the shower for shaving legs, scrubbing feet without bending all the way over.

Place lights on dimmers. Have the light over the shower on a separate switch from the other lighting.

Make the niche big enough for the toiletries you use regularly. Don't think you're going to downsize your routine.

Be consistent in the undertones of your colors,

[simpsongal]

Wallflower, that's a tight space - there may big limits where things can move depending on which way your joists run (toilets require a 3" drain).

I think the main swap consideration would be to make a larger shower/bath and lose the closet. I don't have a linen closet in my bathroom and I don't mind it. But you'd want to make sure you have adequate storage for your needs. e.g., I'd do a medicine cabinet, a side medicine cabinet (the kind in the wall to the right of the vanity), and maybe even a small cabinet over the toilet cabinet.

The benefit of losing the bathroom closet could be big - you're going to gain a lot of visual space if you have a glass shower enclosure too. I've seen some cool design where they build a narrow cubby-like wall where you can keep rolled towels and baskets w/stuff. So you could get a larger shower and still keep some chic storage.

[Wallflower]

simpsongal, I'm absolutely getting rid of the closet that is in the bathroom. I'm sure that originally, this space was a tub/shower. The prior owners renovated and made a teeny-tiny shower stall and a closet. I'll use that space for a full-sized shower stall. Less likely is that I'll get rid of the linen closet accessed from the hallway, though I am thinking through options.

I'm also thinking out as I age and want to make as little curb as possible going in and out of the shower, possibly no curb at all. That's more critical when I re-do my downstairs bathroom, but something I want to consider upstairs as well.

[simpsongal]

Wallflower , nice! Glad that's an easy call. I'd keep the other closet - I think the space behind an opening door is sort of 'meh' for access and utility. You could potentially put a between-the-studs cabinet there if you need more storage. Make sure you get a contractor that has experience w/building those types of curbless/low curb showers. Incidentally, I'm still so-so on my contractor's work on our shower.

ETA: on further thought- that behind the door space is probably ideal for hooks or towel bars.  Your call though (that's what I have behind mine b/c I have an HVAC bump out behind my bathroom door much like your closet bump out.