1894 upstairs bathroom

[NT]

I believe the small bath was one of Hitlers projects. I cant quite remember the name of it though. Definitely not Victorian though.

NT

 

[Anonymous]

We've been round to the house to re-measure the bathroom and it looked so much smaller than I remembered. It is 1.45m x 2.60m. I knew he had a corner bath in there but didn't realise that it was a miniature corner bath. I'm 5ft 11inches and my partner is 6ft, the current owner is about 5ft 7inches and can't even lie down in there. Think we're going to have to just wait until the 27th when we get the keys, instead of trying to do things when we haven't even moved in.

 

[plumbers mate]

When I was a bairn our bath used to be in the kitchen, not the scullery - it had a solid wooden lid which hinged back against the wall - a terrifying thought in these safety days. It was there because the set-pot hot water source was beside it and so it was easy(?) to scoop the water into the bath.

My house (1891) had an inside toilet as well as the netty in the yard.
Sadly when the house was modernised (in the 1950's and not much done since) the new low level one (therefore posh and modern) took up more space than the old one - consequently there was 25cms between front of pan and wall - Ok for standing at but not for sitting down on.
Most people were warned to shout that they were using the lav and then to st on it sideways with the door open. It saved scrapped knees or bumped heads - and there was no room for any books.
I moved the toilet into the bathroom because when they modernised they removed the victorian bath and the "new" one was smaller. The 1950's one will have to go too as it is a revolting cream colour and I'm not faffing about getting it re-enammelled, I can't afford it before you suggest it.
The avocado toilet and washbasin which were on special offer in 1980 because they were out of fashion will also be going.

Some houses in the street and the one backing onto mine had ash closets - you used to ba able to tell because there was a little low door or blocked doorway on the side of the netty in the yard. Mine didn't.

 

[thiambal]

Sarah - do not dispair. Our bathroom is only about 6 feet square and with a ceiling that slopes away to a height of about 5 foot 6 on one side.

When we moved in there was a bath (no shower) toilet, basin and radiator/towel rail. There was also a hideous and noisey sliding door to conserve space.

We now have a decent sized bath, seperate shower over the bath (which even I as six foot 4 can get under) the same toilet and basin and even a door opening into the room. It is small but there is enough space to do everything you need without everything else getting in the way.

I was really concerned when me moved in because, like you, I felt the room was just too small - but it is actually more than adequate (mind you parties, or extravagent romantic exploits - eh hem - may be out of the question).

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone. You've been great. The stress seems to have decreased greatly since we exchanged a few weeks ago and I've told the family that Christmas won't be happening at our house this year so I'm feeling a lot more relaxed about everything now and don't feel that we have to do everything the minute we complete and get the keys.

My boyfriend is still convinced that we can do without bedroom three and put the bathroom in there but I'm sure he'll change his mind or my parents will change it for him when they come down to help with the work next month.

 

[thiambal]

Personally, I would avoid doing away with the 3rd bedroom if you can manage with a small but beautiful bathroom.

Reducing your property from 3 to 2 bedrooms will take more off the value than the creation of a 'family bathroom' will add - and it will cost you a small fortune to do it!

IMHO I think the trend for a large bathrooms in small hosues is a bit of a fad - who needs a large space to take a cr*p and wash yourself in

 

[Anonymous]

thiambal - Totally agree!

 

[Rhian]

It would be much better to move in and see what you think when you've lived with it for a few weeks (or months if you can stand it!). Our bathroom is even smaller than yours - 1.45m by 1.55m and we have the same problem (or advantage!) of a window taking up one whole wall so we couldn't put a freestanding shower in - but we managed to find a freestanding roll top bath on ebay that was 1.45m long and fits perfectly but we did have to be a bit patient looking for it (and get it from nottingham to london!). The freestanding bath looks so much better than the old one as you can see more floor (ie illusion of more space).

We've also used a high cystern and a smaller glass sink (so that you can see through it - gives the illusion of space although not very victorian!) The other thing that we've found really important is lighting - sinking lights into the ceiling over the shower rail (the most expensive part of the bathroom actually!) accentuates the height so the whole room doesn't look as small.

If we had decided on the bathroom before we moved in I think we'd have ended up with something totally wrong but living with it for a while and being patient to work out the quirks has meant we're really pleased with the result. Good luck!

 

[Ed Holloway]

I think I'm still winning the competition for smallest bathroom, and having lived with it for a month have found it plenty big enough. It looks like you have to hunt around a bit to find the right bath, but from responses on this forum they certainly exist. Definitely not worth loosing a bedroom.

 

[Juju]

I couldn't resist contributing to this discussion too. My bathroom measures 1.7 x 1.7 and I have a 1.3m long roll top bath from Old Fashioned Bathrooms in Suffolk (I'm 5'7"). First time I got in it, I thought I'd made a huge mistake but now I find it so comfortable, I hate full length baths! I put a small sink and loo in, painted the walls and floorboards white, and put lilac shiny tiles as splashbacks. Am selling the house now and all the estate agents have said what a fantastic bathroom it is! I do have the benefit of a small downstairs shower room too but certainly despite the apparent trend for large bathrooms, sensible people buying old houses accept that you usually get a small bathroom but therefore retain good sized bedrooms.

 

[NT]

The one advantage of a small bathroom is you can finish it to a high standard. And t make them look ok, you need to.

NT

 

[Peter]

http://www.antiquebaths.com/products/details/index_356.html

 

[Penners]

The main theme of this whole thread is very interesting. The bottom line seems to be: "don't lose a bedroom for the sake of having a larger bathroom".

A couple of months ago, I started a thread asking people's views on converting a large bathroom into a smaller bathroom and a single bedroom. The overwhelming opinion expressed by respondents was: "don't do it. Stick with your big bathroom and fewer bedrooms".

Now come along team - where's the consistency there?!

 

[thiambal]

There is some consistency there....I think

. If you bought an original two bedroom house with a large bathroom then you paid for just that. You are unlikely to add much too the value by adding a tiny third bedroom and compromising the bathroom - you could of course do this for your own convienience regardless of the effect of the house value.

However, if you have bought an original three bed house with a small bathroom you will have no doubt paid a premium for it over a 2 bed house based on the number of bedrooms. You are likely to see a larger drop in value by making it 2 bedroom.

What is more the cost of moving a bathroom is probably higher than the cost of just making one smaller and this also has to be factored in.

Basically, the value of your house in any given area is based mostly on usable bedrooms. 3 usable bedrooms and small bathroom is going to worth more than 2 usable bedrooms, small additional bedroom, small bathroom.

So the obvious answer is........do away with the bathroom and kitchen and put bedrooms in there as well.

 

[Nemesis]

Too many bedrooms and only one bathroom causes problems... unless you devise a rota system. And have chamber pots under the beds.

 

[thiambal]

I opt for the chamber pot and chucking it out of the window - only washing once a month and then in local stream.

The neighbours think I am a bit strange. - not to mention the irritation of having jobbies thrown over their car each morning.

:wink:

 

[Penners]

If you bought an original two bedroom house with a large bathroom then you paid for just that. You are unlikely to add much too the value by adding a tiny third bedroom and compromising the bathroom.However, if you have bought an original three bed house with a small bathroom you will have no doubt paid a premium for it over a 2 bed house based on the number of bedrooms. You are likely to see a larger drop in value by making it 2 bedroom.

I'm having some trouble with your logic, Thiambal. My house is currently three bedroom, with a shower room and a large bathroom. Ultimately there will also be a small en-suite to the main bedroom (which answers Nemesis's point below yours).

If I convert the (un-necessarily) large bathroom into a smaller bathroom and a single bedroom, I will be creating a 4-bedroom house. OK - my primary aim is convenience (ie: grandchildren) but won't I also be adding value to the house? Surely a 4-bed house with a modest bathroom is going to be of higher value than a 3-bed house with a large bathroom?

 

[middi]

I can understand telling your neighbours to pi*s off if they thing you are strange, literally throwing it at them out of the window is the proper way to follow threats by action.

 

[Nemesis]

How are you going to form the en-suite? By splitting off part of the bedroom?

 

[arl]

any chance of pictures Rhian and JuJu? I was thinking of a roll top bath but wasnt sure they would work in a weeny bathroom. Id love to be convinced otherwise.