Accessibility vs Practicality - which should win?

last year

This upstairs bathroom is roughly 2.3m wide and 3m long. It has a bath (shower over bath), sink, toilet and is home to the gas boiler too. It has a slightly angled sheet metal roof, small horizontal side windows, and a curious feature of a back door that leads to the upper level of the garden (there's garden access downstairs too).

The previous owner used a stair-lift to get from the ground floor to the bathroom, then enjoyed step-free access to the garden. The stair-lift has gone, so should I remove the external door?

I like it's quirkiness, and guess it might prove to be handy at certain times, or might appeal to a wider audience if/when I sell up.

Removing it allows for a free-standing bath to go along the back wall, and potentially reveals enough space for a small shower cubicle. There might be scope to convert it to a wet-room, having an open shower next to the freestanding bath.

I'd also like to replace the roof with a pitched, insulated lightweight tiled alternative with a roof light and spots.

So, what would you do? Keep the door and design around it as a quirky feature, or remove it and rearrange the space?

At this stage I'm open to all ideas and don't have a fixed budget in mind. I'm after modern chic that suits me (bachelor) and my son. As it's likely a family that would buy this house after me, I think I should probably be looking at something that's equally as functional as it is stylish.

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Comments (13)

PRO
Pearl Interiors
last year
Hi Dave,

I think considering you already have access to the back garden i think removing the door would be best for the best "design" look and finish to your bathroom. Theres more than enough light in the space so you wouldnt be losing much from that point of view.

i think youre idea of placing a freestanding bath along the back wall where the door is and include a shower cubicle on opposing corner would look great and appeal to more people if you come to sell.

Happy to help if you need any advice with regards to overall look of the finished bathroom, tiles colour schemes etc

Good Luck!

Danielle

Pearl Interiors
Dave C
Original Author
last year
Thank you.
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User
last year
Yes, remove the back door. It doesn't say 'modern chic' to me 😀
Dave C
Original Author
last year
@Sarah L - even if I replaced it with a composite door, I think I'd struggle to term it chic 🙈

If it were you, would you replace the door with a window, or just block the whole lot up?
Jen
last year
I wonder… if it might be fabulous to replace the door with a pair of glazed french doors to the upper level of your garden, and place a freestanding bath in front of them? Depends of course on whether or not you are overlooked (🫣!) and how lovely the garden is.
[And even if your garden is private, I’d still suggest good blinds at the doors for nighttime, and perhaps separating off a corner of the room, with one of the windows, for the toilet]
Dave C
Original Author
last year
@Jen ooh, that sounds fab. Unfortunately, while it isn't overlooked in that direction, it backs onto a small concrete jungle with a polycarbonate shed at the back. If the view was onto a large grassy garden, or green space, that sounds lovely.

It's food for thought, though. If I can make something of the garden, this may well work, and to great effect.
CWD
last year
Would it be useful as a guest loo if you had friends over in the garden for drinks/bbq sort of thing? Rather than walking to the other part of the house? If not useful to you, then close it up.
User
last year
It seems to be popular in warmer climates, especially with a swimming pool outside, but not here in the UK. You have 2 windows in the room already, so I'd block up the door.
tamp75
last year
Block it up. Sorry but it just looks odd in the bathroom. It’s not central to the wall either so replacing it with a window wouldn’t look great.
Jonathan
last year
Consider if the garden access is desirable and then consider if the bathroom could go somewhere else and this could be a garden room or a living space, or office, or garden bar
Dave C
Original Author
last year
@CWD That's an interesting way to look at it 👍
Dave C
Original Author
last year
@tamp75 I think you're right. The fact it's not centrally located bugs me too 😂
Dave C
Original Author
last year
@Jonathan thanks. The garden is a small concrete jungle, so I don't think having access is as desirable as it would be if there were lush green gardens outside

Accessibility vs Practicality - which should win?

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Pearl Interiors

Dave C
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Accessibility vs Practicality - which should win?

Comments (13)

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Dave COriginal Author

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