Designing Your Bathroom: Layout

A Gorgeous Bathroom

Bathrooms have come a long way over the last 100+ years.  The very informative article A Brief History of the Bathroom chronicles the long story of how people have been taking care of their bodies since ancient times.  This brings us to today, where we not only have indoor plumbing (thankfully), but bathrooms have become large and glamorous.

The three main components of a bathroom are a sink, a bath tub/shower, and a toilet.  Then, if you have the space, additional fixtures can be added for the opulence that additional fixtures are: separate tubs and showers, double sinks, and sometimes even bidets.

If you're remodeling, the most cost effective thing to do is to keep the same fixture layout.  Replacing all the fixtures (and finishes) will give you a new bathroom.

If you're designing from scratch, then the options are wide open.  The shape of the room will have a big impact on what fixtures will fit and where.  The trick is to find the layout that fits the space the best.

If you're having trouble figuring out a layout for your dream bathroom, Kohler has 101 Bathroom Floor Plan Options to help you get some ideas.  All of them are customizable because there are a million different ways to lay out a bathroom.  Here are a couple samples of Kohler's bathroom layouts.

Bathroom Plan 1 - Standard Layout

Bathroom Plan 1 is the most standard bathroom plan there is.  It's a compact 40 sf and has everything you need to take care of your body.

Bathroom Plan 39 - Jack & Jill Layout

Bathroom Plan 39 is what's called a Jack & Jill bathroom.  It is two bathrooms in one, where two separate sink rooms share a tub and a toilet. 

Bathroom Plan 44 - L Shaped with a Corner Tub

Sometimes an L-shaped bathroom fits best in a house plan.  With 200 sf, Bathroom Plan 44 is a good example of how to fit additional fixtures into a non-standard shape.  Two sinks, a corner tub, separate shower, and a toilet compartment round out the fixtures in this bathroom.

Bathroom Plan 59 - Large Shower

Bathroom Plan 59 includes a large, luxurious shower to provide a place for the multiple shower head experience.  The rest of the bathroom fixtures are pretty great, also, and include a corner tub, large vanity and toilet.

Bathroom Plan 74 - The Freestanding Feature Tub

At 318 sf, Bathroom Plan 74 is a large and glamorous retreat.  The freestanding tub in the middle of the room is the focal point of this spectacular bathroom.  There's also plenty of space for separate vanities, toilet compartment, and multiple storage cabinets.

Here are a few examples of our Cottages which successfully use four of these layouts:

Plan 1 Standard Layout: Most of our Cottages use this layout.

Plan 39 Jack & Jill:  Lookout Cottage.

Plan 44 L-Shape: Grand Gazebo Cottage.

Plan 59 Large Shower: Porches Cottage 2,395 sf.

Once you have a layout selected you can move toward personalizing your bathroom with materials and finishing touches.

Step Back in Time

The Grand Gazebo Cottage will take you back to an age where time slows down and relaxation is a way of life.

Grand Gazebo Cottage

This is a grand and sumptuous house with four exterior gazebos connected by wrap around porches. Spend your evenings relaxing on the porch with a lemonade in hand. Inside you will find spacious rooms perfect for comfortable and tranquil living.

The gazebos provide a lot of outdoor living space.

All of the Southern Cottages House Plans are designed by an architect to give you style with a comprehensive design at a price you can afford.
  
Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Modern Day Widow's Walk

A few months ago we posted an article about the origin of the popular architectural feature called a widow's walk.   Now we would like to highlight some of our home plans that feature a modern day widow's walk.

Some of our Widows Walk House Plan Designs incorporate a roof-top windowed cupola or "widows walk", which we refer to as an observation loft, accessed via spiral stair from the second story hallway. This observation loft is a great place to glimpse a distant view, to survey the landscape or to find a special place to read a book or to work on a project in your personal studio.

The Island Cottage

The Grand Island Cottage

The Mountain Cottage

The Grand Gazebo Cottage

Our other Widows Walk House Plan Designs feature a roof-top observation deck to provide a panoramic view and provide your own private sunbathing deck or gathering spot high above the crowd overlooking your neighbors roofline for a glimpse of the ocean or distant view.

The Lookout Cottage

The Porches Cottage

New Renderings - Check them out!

Keenen Altic, our graphics technician, has been very busy updating some of the renderings on our Southern Cottages House Plans website. Here are some of his most recent completed houses.

The Grand Gazebo Cottage is a contemporary adaptation of a grand southern mansion. The wrap-around porch is ideal for hot southern climates. The gazebo elements provide opportunity for entertaining and capturing that special view or sunset. The observation loft is the crowning glory of this exuberant structure enabling a spectacular view.

The Shingle Cottage balcony plan has many special features including skylights over the stair, baths and dressing area, an open central stair well, a laundry chute/hamper, vaulted ceilings in upstairs bedrooms, large walk-in closets at all bedrooms, interior columns at living room, built-in storage cabinets and TV/sound system cabinets in the family room, large "table" island in the kitchen, many full height windows with transom windows above and palladian windows at upstairs bedrooms with easy balcony access.

The Hip Cottage plan is compact, yet has all the features that make for comfortable living including a separate laundry room, large closets and kitchen opening into the living spaces. Front and rear porches extend the living space to the exterior. A special feature of this design is the clerestory light well above the kitchen and living areas. Light from the clerestory bathes the vaulted ceilings and rooms below to create a cheery mood. Large overhangs protect the interior from direct sunlight.

The Hip Cottage with wrap around porch plan is similar to the hip cottage above. This plan also includes a separate laundry room, large closets and kitchen opening into the living spaces. A major difference in this plan is the wrap around porches that also extend the living space to the exterior. This plan also features the clerestory light well above the kitchen and living areas. And don't forget the large overhangs that help protect the interior from direct sunlight.

Keenen did a great job on the renderings. Which one is your favorite?