I’m so, so, so excited about the projects we have lined up for this year. You probably know that we’re not ones for keeping secrets and there are going to be some big changes around here!
We have so many projects planned that my head is already spinning with ideas and excitement and I can’t wait to get stuck in!
The biggest project on our to-do list is sorting our bathroom situation.
Now, I’m sure you’re all confused as you’re thinking we only just gave our bathroom a makeover and you’d be right! But, we’re talking about our second bathroom, you know the one that doesn’t actually exist yet!
Yep, we’ll be adding a second bathroom to our apartment!
I’ve been trying to work out a solution to our bathroom or rather lack of bathroom issue ever since we moved in and I’ve finally come up with a solution that I think could give us the en-suite I’ve been dreaming of!
I’m ridiculously excited about our bathroom renovation plans but there’s a problem. I’m not sure if I’m a genius or if I’ve lost my mind which is why I’m sharing our plans here so that you can help me decide!
But, let’s start at the beginning….
Just after purchasing our home we shared some of the layout changes we’re considering which include moving the bathroom to the current kitchen (and moving the kitchen to the study), slightly enlarging the bathroom by knocking down the wall to the pantry or keeping it the same as it is and just updating it. After a lot of back and forth, I’ve finally come up with a solution that I think would give us everything we want.
So, what are the bathroom renovation plans?
We’ve decided to keep the bathroom where it is and not knock down the wall between it and the pantry. Yes, I know that sounds like we’re not going to make any changes but bear with me.
Instead of creating one slightly larger bathroom by knocking the two rooms together, we’re going to close off the existing door between our bedroom and bathroom and turn the pantry into a second bathroom by switching the position of the door from the kitchen side to the opposite bedroom side!
Obviously, the room would be way too small for a full bathroom which is why we’d only put a toilet and washbasin in there. This is where our plans start to get a bit more adventurous. Given the lack of space, we would then install a shower in our bedroom.
Yep, you heard right – we’d have a shower in our bedroom!
We would build a wall that’s roughly where the top end of our bed is now and then install a shower behind it. Because of our intricate plaster ceiling, the wall obviously won’t go all the way up to the top but it’ll be large enough to completely hide the shower behind it. On the other side of the wall, we’ll have space to place the bed.
This means that we can keep our existing bathroom pretty much as it is and have our own much more private and personal space. I’m also really excited about this solution as I hate showering over the bath and this option will give us the walk-in shower that’s at the top of my wish list!
I know that it can be hard to imagine exactly what I mean based on the drawings but try to think of it as a kind of luxury hotel room with a semi-integrated bathroom a bit like this image I found on Pinterest but with a solid wall instead of the glass partition.
As much as I love open-plan interiors, there is a limit and there are certain rooms that do require doors which is why I’ve kept the WC in a completely separate room (which used to be our pantry).
The riskier and possibly slightly mad bit of this design is the shower into our bedroom. We really don’t have any space to install one anywhere else and I think that this design gives us the best of both worlds – a bathroom for guests and an en-suite.
I personally think that the design of our bathroom and bedroom are going to be a vital part of making this work without it looking weird. We’ve seen similar integrated bedroom and bathroom concepts in lots of hotels we’ve stayed in but making it work in a normal home is going to be a challenge. The space definitely has to be special and luxurious to make up for the fact that it’s part of the bedroom.
We also know that we won’t be staying in this apartment forever, so something that is playing heavily on my mind is if people will find this too weird. Which is why we’re asking you lovely guys for your opinions!
Is our bathroom renovation design completely bonkers? Would you find having a shower that’s integrated in your bedroom weird? We’d really love to hear your thoughts on our design, so please take part in our survey and leave us a comment!
As you’ve probably guessed, this is not going to be a completely straightforward, easy or cheap project to complete either. There are pipes to lay, walls to knock down & rebuild, windows to replace, doors to be moved and floors to upgraded.
To keep costs down, we’ll be doing as much of the bathroom renovation work as possible ourselves but even then this is a total budget blowing project but as the pipework in our building is being replaced this year, it’s now or never!
So what do you think? Are we mad to even consider integrating a shower into our bedroom?
Eina says
Looking at the apartment floor plans again, and your plans, the work would damage the floors which are original, correct? It may be a bit harder to sell given that buyers can be rather conservative even in Berlin. But then again, the floors were in bad shape until you toiled and made them shine again.
If there were plumbing access on the other side of the wardrobe room, could the bathtub go in there and turn the existing bathroom into a complete wetroom? This way the last bedroom would have close access, for airbnb, visitors, etc.and both would have ventilation and daylight. Just some thoughts with no idea of expense or practicality.
Christine says
There are lots of options but none of them are really ideal. We could possibly move the bath to the bedroom (where the bed currently is) and create two more or less equal-sized bathrooms with showers. I think that it’s something that people would maybe find less weird as you don’t have a bath as much as you shower and there would be less of an issue with moisture. Having said that, I can still see a lot of people finding it weird which is what I’m worried about in general.
Soooo many decisions ;)
Cx
Eina says
That plan is great and I’ve seen similar combinations using glass dividers and such that work very well! The loo being closed off, and a (underfloor heated) wet room behind a wall or screen is so practical. Will there be a way to get ventilation?
Otherwise, could the wetroom go where the other narrow room / closet is at the foot end of the bedroom? Didn’t you talk about that early on?
Eina says
Is this something like what you were thinking of doing? Mies van der Rohe building in Chicago with clever floating divider and shower sink combo by Vladimir Radutny architects:
https://www.radutny.com/index.php/work/view/unit-9c
(clearly I have to much time on my hands today, but trying to catch up is loads of fun. I’m sure you will make a great choice as you always do.)
Christine says
Haha, love that you have time to comment and really appreciate the feedback, Eina! Yes, that’s along the lines of what I was thinking! Ultimately, the quality and design will make a big difference to how this option would work for us. We have so much space in our apartment but just not in the right places to create a second bathroom. So annoying!
Cx
Christine says
I would love to move the wetroom into the other room (the one we’re using as a wardrobe) but the plumbing would make it pretty much impossible to do. It’s a shame as it would be the perfect space for it!
Cx
Eina says
A friend, who is an architect in Berlin, was able to create a bathroom for both of her Alltbau apartments (she also had to add central heating to one as tit still had coal on a 5th floor walkup).
I think the big issue wasn’t the water suppleyr as adding pipes is relatively easy, rather it was connecting the ‘Abfluß’ and I think it in the end it may have been connected to the neighbour’s through a shared wall. Since all the pipes are being replaced in your building, is there any way to talk to the architect and/or Installateur, or to get plans for the whole building or to have it go on the outside via an air shaft or courtyard if there is one, like in old London buildings?
Christine says
Yes, you’re right, Eina. I should have been clearer. Getting water across wouldn’t be a huge problem but there is nowhere for the water to go afterwards. We have already looked at plans for the whole building and the neighbours to the other side of the wardrobe only have a normal room there, too and the next downpipe is just too far away to be able to connect anything to it.
Running the pipe down the outside isn’t an option either as we’d be changing the appearance of the building and therefore 100% of people that own a share of it would have to agree to the change. Needless to say, that’s never going to happen ;(
I’m sure I’ll find a solution that works though!
Cx
Eina says
sorry, of course you would have considered all options! My wishful thinking, and thank you for explaining.
Well, that wardrobe room makes a fantastic walk-in, and perhaps you could put a tub in the bedroom instead of a shower…. or just leave it and extend the bathroom into the pantry and make that one luxurious, all-one-level, rainshower with tub ??? Even if you leave it as it is, what you have already done to your gorgeous flat and balcony is fantastic. I’m sure the realtors would be very happy.
By, the way, is the drainage also a problem if you put the kitchen in what is now the office?
Christine says
Haha, I’ve definitely not thought of everything otherwise I might have found the perfect solution already! ;)
Yes, drainage is a huge issue if we move the kitchen, it is possible though. It’s not easy (or ideal) but we could install a pump which will move the water from the kitchen (current office) up to the ceiling and through the hallway to the downpipe in the bathroom. As it’s only dirty water from the dishwasher and sink, I think it’s worth doing. It’s not something I’d consider for bathroom waste though as a lot of things can go wromg!
CX
PS. After your last comments, I had thought about moving the bath into the bedroom and creating two smaller bathrooms with showers out of the bathroom and pantry… too many options! ;)
Tamara says
My husband and I are all about making our space our own. But we have no plans to move, so if we put high end items or lots of labor into our small duplex we don’t mind. But if we were planning on moving I would make different choices. You need to appeal to the masses. And a shower in the bedroom, I think, would confuse people and draw attention to the small bathroom. And it would look like a renovated space, not a graceful update. Personally, I like your plan to move the kitchen to the office space. That creates great flow, an updated, large kitchen, and gives you the space for nice bathrooms and laundry. Plus, you could do it in stages….build the new kitchen while you still have the old one. I think that would really merge your beautiful space with our modern amenities. But I realize the cost may not make this feasible.
Christine says
I completely understand what you’re saying, Tamara! We always aim for a high-quality finish but at the end of the day, it’s always about choosing what’s right for your home and for you! When we bought our home, we thought we’d stay here for a really long time but we now know that we won’t stay here forever which is why I’m thinking more about how other people will like any improvements we make and I can totally understand why some people wouldn’t like the bathroom/bedroom design.
I’d love to move the kitchen but it is a complicated thing to do. Part of my reason for justifying the expense is exactly because of the reason you described though! We could take our time and install a new kitchen while keeping the old one!
Cx
Hannah says
Hey!
I am not a home renovation expert by any means but i can say – i dont think its weird having a shower in the bedroom is a bad idea on the face of it –
pros:
– no cold dash from the bathroom to the bedroom
– make your master bedroom feel special – almost a boutique hotel feel – especially as you already have that beautiful look about it
– nice and out the way… it works for you now. i cant see somebody NOT buying somewhere because they found something like that annoying (but that is very much my opinion and it would depend on the kind of people looking at your apartment to buy etc)
– its a really really cool quirk
cons:
– how is ventilation going to work? a hot steamy shower in a bedroom…
– for me – my husband gets up at 4am and i dont get up for another 2 hours. he showers, changes & gets ready in the bathroom – your other bathroom is stunning and im sure they could use that one right?
– i literally cannot think of any cons. it sounds ACE.
Meike B. says
I don’t like the idea much although it’s good with the plumbing.
First: The room temperature: When sleeping I like it not too warm, when I’m naked and showering I want it warm. In the morning you would have to heat up the room with that high ceiling in a short time.
Second: The humudity. Sleeping causes much humidity plus two people showering…you have to be careful to not induce mould. If you install vents and shower in the evening you will hear them a long while gently roaring until you fall asleep.
(My experience is from the 70ies when hotel rooms were upgraded by shower cabins).
Well I’m very good in criticism but alas not with ideas though.
Cx Meike B.
Christine says
I completely agree with everything you’ve said, Meike! All of those things are part of the reason I’m not sure what to do. We personally don’t heat the bathroom more than the bedroom so it isn’t something that would bother us but everyone is different and I can understand that some people wouldn’t like it. I’m not overly concerned about the moisture though. In our current bathroom, there’s never any condensation (even the mirror is always completely clear) even if we shower for a really long time. I think it’s down to our really high ceilings and a lot of air volume.
It’s difficult to know what to do as it’s really the only place we can install a shower – totally understand your concerns, though!
Thanks for the feedback!
Cx
Gerry says
Also, could you make the new toilet door open into the bedroom? It looks like that would leave enough space in the ‘pantry’ for the toilet/basin to go on the other wall, back-to-back with the existing toilet. This way the plumbing can go straight through the wall into the boxing in the bathroom, meaning no need for boxing in the ‘pantry’, maximising space.
Christine says
I had originally drawn exactly what you described, Gerry! Not sure why I changed it but you’re completely right – anything that makes the plumbing easier has got to be a good thing!
Cx
Gerry says
Have you considered making the pantry into a sort of wetroom, with basin, toilet, and a showerhead directly overhead? That would give you the second shower you want with a lot less work. The pantry is small so it would be very manageable to make an excellent job of tanking and waterproofing it. Obviously ventilation is absolutely key where wet rooms are concerned, so you could add a decent extractor fan through the outside wall or as part of the window, and add a large vent or perforated screen above the new wetroom door.
Christine says
Thanks for the feedback, Gerry! That was my initial thought, too but the room is so small that the shower area would be so small that I’m not sure it would be comfortable to use anymore (I even tried moving the wall between the bathroom and pantry to make the new wetroom a tiny bit larger). I’ll definitely have another look, though! (It probably would have been helpful if I’d included measurements in the drawing!)
Cx