This photo might represent the ultimate in bathroom convenience for the multitasker -- or an attempt at European styling gone horribly wrong.
Diagnosis
If you've done any international travel in the last 30 years, chances are you've encountered a bathroom in which the shower is completely open, and the floor
is the shower pan. Overseas bathrooms with open shower designs, however, take proper drainage and venting into account.
The bathroom design in this photo, however, is nothing but a collection of moisture and functional problems waiting to happen. And a showerhead installed right above the toilet? There
is such a thing as too much multitasking! At best, this is a (very) poorly conceived attempt at making the most of a small space.
Rx
If you're facing the challenge of fitting a full bath into a super-small space, look to fixtures that exemplify Euro styling gone right. Among the many contemporary
space-saving bathroom solutions are petite
corner sinks, toilets with tightly tailored bowls and flat-top tanks, and curved quadrant shower units that save at least a square foot of space compared to traditional units. And accessorizing with
low-profile faucets not only keeps things in proper scale but opens up the visual space in your tiny toilette.
Also, remember that
proper venting is key to the comfort and structural integrity of a bathroom of any size; otherwise, mold and other moisture-related problems will have you tearing apart your mini remodel before you've had much of a chance to use it. For the best bathroom ventilation plan, purchase a vent fan that includes humidity sensing technology to keep it on until all the moisture is out. Broan-NuTone has two new ENERGY STAR qualified models that work particularly well: the
Ultra SilentTM Humidity Sensing Fans and the
Humidity Sensing Recessed Fan/Lights.
Can I Treat This Myself?
Unless you've earned a Ph.D. in DIY with an emphasis in plumbing and HVAC, stick to the fixture-selection part of the project and hire a qualified bath remodeler to help you plan and install space-saving elements.
Tom Kraeutler delivers home improvement tips and ideas each week as host of The Money Pit Home Improvement Show, a nationally syndicated radio program. He is also author of My Home, My Money Pit: Your Guide to Every Home Improvement Adventure. You can also subscribe to Tom's latest home improvement podcast or free home improvement newsletter.
Got a DIY disaster you'd like us to feature? Send a photo of the disaster to DIYDisasterDr@aol.com, and we just might publish it here on DIY Life. All submissions will remain anonymous.
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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)
That bathroom could work for guys that miss a lot. Easier to keep it clean. Clean it while taking a shower. Works for me!!!
ReplyThat looks like a real pisser!
I understand guys like to pee while taking a shower. Just imagine standing there letting the water cascade over your body and face, and then letting it leave you....in the proper recepticle...what a feeling of satisfaction. That must rank up there with being at a party and having so much beer that once imbibed immediately comes out the spigot onto the neighbor's porch.
ReplyThis looks exactly like the bathroom at the hotel in Florence, Italy where I lived for a year. The only difference is that the bathroom in Florence had no sink. The sinks were in the rooms, along with a bidet.
ReplyI sure would have liked to see an "after" photo to see how this small space could be handled in a better manner.....
ReplyThe whole concept of showering with the toilet make me rather queasy.