baths
Try to keep at least 15 inches room from the center of the toilet to the new shower glass. If your shower ends up being on the smaller side, you can skimp on this measurement a bit. Tip: Hold up a sheet of scrap drywall to act as a fake glass panel and sit on a 5-gallon bucket to mimic the toilet's location. This can help you decide how close you like the glass, and how big you'd like your shower. Stand in the place where your shower will be. A shower depth of 32 inches feels small to me, but might work for you. A depth of 34 to 36 inches tends to be ideal, but again, don't crowd the toilet. Make sure you check your local code for minimum distances, too.
Measure the bathroom exactly. Draw the finished wall measurements, right down to the 1/8 inch. Most tubs are 60 inches wide, and this is a great width for a shower. The depth is the kicker. Aim for at least 32 to 34 inches from the finished tile wall to the future glass shower door. You will also need to to have a finished ceiling height of 80 inches minimum and a shower that's at least 30 by 30 inches to comply with the National Kitchen & Bath Association's guidelines for bathrooms. If you decide to plan for a bench, make sure it doesn't crowd this space of 30 by 30 inches minimum.
Add to ideabook by Olive Juice Designs A mural. The mural in this popular small bathroom fools the eye at first glance. Poster-style murals are available at many online retailers — imagine taking a trip to Maui or the desert every time you open the bathroom door. Take a cue from this bathroom: Line the mural up with a vantage point that implies that the bathroom goes on and on for a playful, realistic touch.
Add to ideabook by Michael Abrams Limited 3 or 4: The maximum square-inch size of tile easily installed in the pan of a typical shower. Because the shower pan slopes to the drain (usually in the center) larger tiles can’t be installed to match the slope without being cut. Sometimes a cut installation can work, but it’s easier to install smaller tiles. A side benefit of the small tiles is that they have more traction because of the grout lines.
Add to ideabook by Change Your Bathroom, Inc. 1/16, 1/8 or 3/8: The width in inches of your grout lines. The possibilities are actually limitless, but it’s something to think through carefully while selecting tile. The grout line will determine not only how your tile looks, but how it lays out. If you have 5 feet of space to fill, don’t expect five 12- by 12-inch tiles to fit perfectly. Figure in grout lines to know whether you’ll have to cut some tiles, and where you want those cuts.
2.5: The maximum gallons per minute allowed to flow through showerheads. There are many lower-flow options that feel like they have a higher flow rate because they are under higher pressure or have a different head configuration. It’s great to visit a showroom where multiple showerheads are hooked up so that you can see how they spray before you buy.
80: The height of a showerhead in inches. This is another feature that can vary based on the height of those in the household. A nice compromise is a handheld shower on a sliding bar. That way it can be adjusted to the right height for anyone using it, and you get the added benefit of being able to easily wash your shower or tub by removing the showerhead from its cradle.
30: The height in inches of a typical bath vanity. This measurement can vary greatly by personal taste and the kind of sink you choose. If you select a vessel sink, you might actually like your counter lower so that the top of the sink is at 30 inches. You might also want to change the vanity height based on how tall you are to make sure it is comfortable.
Add to ideabook by Ogawa Fisher Architects 15: The minimum distance in inches from the center of your toilet to the adjacent walls. Fifteen inches might not seem like much, and it’s not. Many designers will allow more than this to avoid a squeezed-in feeling. Similarly, allow at least 24 inches of clear space in front of the toilet.
Take out the door if it's causing problems. Who says you need a door anyway? And look into heated floors if you decide not to have a shower door. Floor heat is very good at keeping the bathroom floor dry in addition to warm. Tip: If you plan to have a doorless shower, you'll need to be extra careful when using a handheld shower fixture. A fixed showerhead or rain head (such as the one in this photo) will keep the water inside the new shower.
Q