Future proofing the bathroom

I would keep a separate loo. You do need a separate loo if you are having a bath.
There is a style of loo which has a small washbasin in the top of the cistern which then drains down into the loo and saves water. GS has one of these. It is very neat and space saving

We revamped the main bathroom by removing the bath with shower and replacing it with a large walk in shower, much liked by visitors as well as me. DH refused to shower so we kept the bath in the en suite and he had a complicated bath lift whose only disadvantage was that the bath needed to be fairly full. It meant that bed times became hard work for me but we got a lot of laughs out of it too. Bath lift went to a local charity so we just have an ordinary bath, never used.

Certainly get rid of the bath.

I don't really understand your problem with the space in the separate toilet. Does the door open inwards? If so, could it be replaced by a sliding door, if you want to keep the separate toilet compartment? Sliding doors are also easier to manage if either of you should need a rollator or a wheelchair later on.

Before planning the bathroom, check with the local district nurse what the regulations are regarding space in and around a walk-in-shower if you need help taking a shower later on.

Also plan the shower so there is room and access for a wheel-chair, and have a bath stool fitted too.

Hand-basin and toilet should be the kind that can be raised or lowered if that is needed later. Taps at the basin should either turn on and off automatically, or have levers that are easy to manage if hands or wrists weaken.

Make sure the floor is non-slip.

There isn’t a problem with the door, other than that there are two of them and doors do take up space. I did wonder about getting a pocket door if I combine the two rooms, but I don’t know if it would get in the way of plumbing or wiring.

The reason I’d like to keep the bath is that I like having them . That’s as good a reason as any really, if I can also incorporate alternatives for if getting in and out becomes difficult. If not, then I will bite the bullet, but as I keep saying, at this stage I am thinking through the options before getting someone in, so if what I decide I’d like isn’t possible I have considered the alternatives.

You can have a walk in bath, I would never get rid of my bath. Prefer a soak any time to a shower. Showers are convenient when in a rush and of course cheaper but to me a bath is sheer bliss.

I slipped in the bath in my 40s. I have avoided them ever since and will only have a level entry shower. We do also have two (unused) baths should they appeal to a purchaser.

I have hovered about replacing my bath with a walk in shower as I can’t get out of my cast iron one, I can’t pull myself up. However my shower is over the bathI’ve no trouble stepping in or out. I have been looking for a place to move to, but didn’t 7 look at those with a wet room or shower only. I may move, if things got really bad for me. I like a separate loo. I wouldn’t use the loo if someone else was having a bath and wouldn’t like someone using it if I was showering, so it suits me.
I have spent years worrying about things that might happen.

I’ve removed a bath before and regretted it. I like baths, and will continue with them as long as I can. Since you have room for a shower as well, I think you should definitely have both. I’m not sure that re-enamelling works very well (but that’s based on research and my bathroom fitters’ opinions, not experience), but you can get new decent cast iron baths for reasonable prices if you shop around (I once bought one four months before my house purchase completed, as it was both lovely and affordable).

Storage wise - depending on what you want to store, of course - would having two almost adjacent sinks and storage underneath work anywhere? I’m surprised how convenient having two sinks is, and how often both are used simultaneously (by us for teeth cleaning when rushing, by grandkids to prevent bickering, for handwashing and rinsing, etc). As with kitchens, drawers are more use than cupboards for a lot of things, including towels if rolled and stood on end.

I like separate loos (not that I have one, sadly) but it’s surprising how much space taking a wall fully or partially down makes.

Can you mess about with an online planner and test some options?

My advice is not to get rid of your bath. If your house is a ‘family home’ , mothers always like to put the kids ( usually 2) in the bath with lots of bubbles, to play around, while she gets their pjs etc ready for bed. That’s what I used to do. A bath is a definite selling point.

I'd knock wall down and combine into one room
If you want to retain a bath they now come in all shapes and sizes. Last house we renovated we installed a juccuzi, they don't need to be massive.Loved it. Get some local kitchen/bathroom installers round, they will be familiar with style of house and what others have done. I believe families with young children still want a bath for children to play, have fun in though they probably don't fill it up quite as much as before the energy crisis.

I’m looking forward to the grand opening of this bathroom! Doodledog, I think you should choose one of the Gransnetters who you judge to have offered the most helpful advice and allow them to cut the ribbon - and then have a nice bubble bath as their prize.

I may well do that, Sue .

I had the wall that separated the loo and bathroom over and got rid of the bath. I now have a large walk in shower with a rainforest shower.It wonderful and the grandchildren love going in it. . I also have aquanoard ( I think that what it called) instead of tiles / easier to clean and looks beautiful. My eldest daughter said that having no bath would limit buyers … but that won’t be my problem. I’ve future proofed it for my needs, not the needs of a future someone.

We had waterproof panelling put in when we had our bathroom revamped. It's a matt marble effect. It doesn't show watermarks and there's no grout to discolour. 2 years of a quick wipe now and then and it looks as good as new.
Ease of cleaning is something else to take into account as you age.

I’ve had the kitchen done recently and replaced tiles with a copper splashback which I love - no grout and it just needs a wash and buff. I definitely won’t be getting tiles in a new bathroom.

Can I cut the ribbon please , Suedonim ?

I have stayed in several hotels with wet rooms and they seem so messy and clinical? We were hiking abroad last year and oh, how I longed for a bath to soak away my aches and pains each night but alas, there were only showers. I could never “reset” so I’d start the day with aching limbs!

When I have a bath after a lot of walking, it’s like magic, my pains disappear and I can walk easily next day. No shower / wet room would have that effect although I suppose being able sit under a shower is vaguely better.

My friend found it hard to get out of a deep bath with a shower over it so I do understand what you’re saying

Perhaps consider closing off the main door and having a big walk in shower in that area, all the way across. Children's portable and dog baths work well in a big shower as well - or do in the far unused end of the big shower in our home. Don't forget grab bars.

Reverse door on the loo, open against bedroom wall, install a sliding door over the 'new opening' into main bathroom (avoiding pocket door issues).

After my husband died i knew if i got stuck in the bath thst I was alone. I got rid of the bsth and have a large well equipped shower plus new toilet plus bidet with heated floor snd towel radiator, i got lots of storage and how i love that bathroom. I never thought of doing it until my husband died.

crazyH

Can I cut the ribbon please , Suedonim ?

You’ll have to plead your case with Doodledog.

Suedonim - since you suggested the ‘grand opening’, I was afraid Doodle would ask you to do the honours. 😂

No arguing, please . The more the merrier.

Thanks, Norah. That sounds like a great idea. I am going to leave logistics until I decide on what I want to keep/change/lose, then I’ll speak to companies and see what can be done.

It depends how long you expect to stay in this house Doodledog. If you don't think you will move I would take the bath out now and invest in a wet room as most of us need this eventually.

If you knock through from the loo the loo space can often make a good sized, easily accessible shower space and may free up the bath space for storage and hand basin. I would recommend opening doors (hinged) doors. Sliding doors are the devil to clean.

There us good reason for having the loo straight ahead of the door. I would also recommend a comfort height loo. They are higher and do away with the additional seat you may need later on when standing back up becomes difficult. This also helps the helper to aid standing.

If you expect to move again and, as you say this is your only bathroom, I would leave the bath and not spend as much. Perhaps just improve the shower.

Good luck. You will, I'm sure, get pleasure out of the finished bathroom.

3 weeks ago my DH slipped on the ice 😵‍💫. Broke his hip. We now absolutely need a walk in shower. Knock down the wall build a shower… & bath if poss (suspect you’ll have space) & if you don’t .. just have a shower. Baths are so last century 🤣 but seriously you’ll need it before you realise

We kept putting off the decision with our bathroom (which had a shower over the bath) for several years as it seemed like too much hassle. However, the decision was made for us as my husband fell in the bath both at home and on holiday where the bath was similarly set up. Eventually, after five years of his balance getting worse he was referred to the local council by his occupational therapist to have a "disabled" bathroom installed free of charge.
I have to say, this was the best thing we had done and the contractor who the council arranged for us was very experienced in that type of work; removing the bath & installing a walk-in shower, with toilet and basin also.
We did not miss the bath at all and the feeling of safety is priceless. Everyone says how nice it looks and even the grab rails do not really detract from its appearance.
It may not be everyone's cup of tea but for future proofing it's perfect.