Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Bathroom design conventions

Hi,

we are planning a new master bathroom as part of a home addition. We have identified a 7' x18' space for it toward the front of the house.

Two questions regarding conventions for designing master bathrooms:

1. What kind of bathroom window should we use, given that it's 1st story out front, next to the entrance:

a.) Normal size window, obscured textured glass for privacy. This would solve privacy issues, but would it look weird? Could you put lights into the window to match the other facade windows?

b.) Normal size window, regular glass with some sort of shade/blinds? Would look best from outside, but would it come off as unusual and be a strike on the resale value?

c.) Small obscured glass window above eye level. This would be more like a regular bathroom, but it would pose a challenge in making our facade look good.

2. We currently haven't planned for a separate room for the toilet in the master bathroom, we have not regarded this as a priority for our personal tastes; we're not opposed to this, either. However, most new houses/remodels seem to have a separate toilet room in their master bathroom. Is this expected in a state-of-the art master bathroom? Again, I'm asking the question for maximizing resale value.

Thanks for your feedback!
Alex

Alex, welcome to the forums! I would opt for either an above-sight window or a full size window with 2" shades and occluded glass for privacy. Being on the front of the house next to the entrance will always be a problem, so no eye level window would be best. You wouldn't have to match the other windows on the same plane, so it may be helpful. It is a bathroom, not a fashion statement for the exterior. If you make a fashion statement, make it on the inside.
Making a separate room for the toilet is private, but may create problems in resale unless you make it spacious enough for invalid access, not necessarily ADA compliant, but just large enough to accommodate walkers, etc. If your space won't allow it to be big, then it could be a turn off. If it isn't an issue, now, I wouldn't worry about it. However, if it is one of those bathrooms without a means of closing it off from the bedroom, by all means, make a separate room for it.

Hi Alex,

This type of window is related with the style of the house and the position of the house related with the street and neightbors however, privacy is a "must be" condition
Many times, the bathrooms' windows look great from the exterior but feel bad from the interior.
So I'd suggest that you consider one of these options
1 - a side / alcove type window--> from the exterior, you can only see the alcove
2 - Above eye level windows
3 - normal windows with stained glass

Blinds are not the best option for a bathroom

Regarding the toilet / separated room, is really a matter of preferences and I don't think this will add value to the house

I don't know who started that trend of seperate toilet room, but they didn't think it through. Use the toilet, open the door, turn off the light. Go into next room and wash your hands............... It wasn't long after that germ killing wipes came on the market......

Be safe, G

GBR, I agree, but with the new artsy fartsy bedroom/masterbaths that are being built, now, there is no division. You look straight into the bath area with no doors separating. Whoever thought that up should be run out of town.