What should I do with my sunroom?

[mavgal]

We just bought a 2 story house with a sunroom, well, half of a sunroom. It runs the length of the south side of the house with windows on both ends and the south side. Well, the previous owners decided they needed another bathroom and doored off half of the sunroom and put in a built-in desk, with bathroom across from it. I think it's really strange to have a bathroom in that location. I want to restore the sunroom to it's original purpose. Our real estate agent says it would sell better with the extra bathroom. Well, it's only a half bath (sink and toilet), and there is already a half bath near the kitchen. Plus, the bath would need remodeling, looks like it was put in in the early 60's, sink is bad, floor is bad, toilet needs work.

I might post some pictures later, I don't have my pics handy.

So, do you think the real estate agent is full of it, I sorta do!

[cheapdiva]

I say "tear down that wall". Who wants to use a bathroom off the sunroom IF you already have a half bath close to the kitchen. Real estate agents offer guidelines - not gospel on what will work.

We are redoing both bathrooms in the next year and neither will have a bathtub - only big showers. This goes against what a realtor would tell you to do . . . always have a tub. BUT we live in a 3rd floor walk up and no one with small children would buy a unit on the 3rd floor. Everyone in our building is childless and I highly doubt anyone with kids would consider living in this building much less on the 3rd floor. We will configure one shower so if anyone ever wanted a tub, they could convert the shower stall.

Do what makes you happy - after all it is YOUR home.

[shabbychick]

Ooh, a sunroom! I want a sunroom! I say take down the wall and eliminate the half bath. Who needs two powder rooms? Since you'll have the water hook-up, though, maybe you could locate a little bar with a sink there, or put in a nice potting bench with running water. My personal and nonprofessional opinion is that a lovely sunroom will add more value than an extraneous bathroom. Who doesn't love a sunny room? Besides, you're going to be there awhile, I assume, so the room should be the way you want it, not the way your realtor wants it.

[Gigi]

I agree with everyone~ since it's your home do what fits you! I love the idea of a potty area with running water---perhaps the hook up could be outside-since you have the piping and running water already.

Looking forward to hearing more.

[Scrantonluna]

I like the potting room idea. You could get an old cast iron sink and use it in place of the vanity. For the toilet, there may be a way to remove it but cap off the waste line so it can be used in the future. Spanish tile or slate would probably look very nice.

You also have the option to create an indoor 'garden spa,' by making the entire sun porch a large bathroom, complete with a multi person jetted tub, and filled with plants of your choice. A steam room or sauna would be a good fit as well. You can get opaque plastic film, which goes on sort of like window tint, to cover your windows for added privacy. This will still allow all of the light to enter, but would be more condusive for a bathroom.

[chyna]

I like that last idea! :) Your realtor must have been talking to the previous owner of my house because they were attempting to put in numerous bathrooms in a house that really needed more living space. In my case those extra bathrooms cost the owner big time!

[mavgal]

Wow, thanks for the suggestions, I never thought of a potting bench, that would be cool, I need one anyway! We probably will need new flooring too, not sure what's under the indoor/outdoor carpet in the sunroom part or under the vinyl flooring in the bath. This will be the last room that we renovate, as we need to finish the rest of the house so it's livable before we move in!

I'm getting excited about the room now. Now to search for the perfect sink, to the Habitat for Humanity Restore I go!

Here are photos of the sunroom east windows, then the west where they closed it off, and the bathroom.

[oxide]

Don't listen to the realtor about the bathroom. If it was put in in the 60's, it's not really a selling point since it would all have to be replaced anyway. I second everyone else suggestions: take down the wall and cap off the toilet. I would lean toward a wet bar rather than a potting bench, depending on how the porch is attached to the house. I just wouldn't want to track dirt in from the room.

[mavgal]

Now that's a good idea too, thanks. I'll have to decide what to do now, either way, might as well make use of the water. Thanks!

[rubyslippers]

My little house only has one bathroom right now. It is a nice / updated / pretty bathroom, but I only have one. There is a little "pocket" area currently housing a pretty desk in the foyer. Around the corner (in the pocket) the cat's litterbox has a very attractive private home. With that said, we have thought about adding a 1/2 bath here. However, one must really ponder the dimesions, the space, etc. Adding a cramped 1/2 bath that is smooshed into a space might technically add value to the home, but if it is just going to eat this quirky space - - well, needless to say there are reasons to ponder both sides. I, however, would be hardpressed to give up ANY sunroom space for a bathroom. I started looking around out there trying to imagine (Hey, could a bathroom go here?) - - the answer is "Nope" ... it would ruin a great existing space. So, my question would be this.. How many bathrooms do you already have? If you have plenty, then make it whatever you want. I like the wetbar, sauna-esque large bathroom, AND potting bench ideas. Keep us posted. I love how creative everyone around here happens to be.

[adelaide11]

If you have good number of bathrooms than there is no need to have another half bathroom. I think you should remove that one and used that room for some better purpose.

If you believe in Feng Shui than you should consult some professional Feng Shui expert.

[mavgal]

I will definitely be removing that bathroom, just wish we had time to do it NOW, it will probably be 2 years down the road, we have so much more to do on the house before that can be done.

[shabbychick]

As I've been looking at various house plans for a "just right" design, I've been wondering why it is that almost everything being built today, even very small homes, has to have more than one bathroom? My parents raised four kids in a house with one bathroom, and we managed. It wasn't even a very big bathroom. It seems to me like it would be a real selling point, especially when catering to empty-nesters or those of us who are single homeowners, to design a house with one large, really beautiful, multi-windowed bathroom with lots of built-in storage. You could even design it so one sink and the toilet could be on one end of the room, separated by a curtain or pocket door from the rest of the room so that if you were to have dinner guests, you could create an instant powder room and not have to clean your shower and your tub (in my dream home, that's a whirlpool tub). It seems to me like if you had a door leading into the tub end of the bathroom from the master bedroom and a door leading into the toilet side from the public spaces in the house, one bathroom would be more than adequate in a reasonably-sized house. Or am I just being silly?

And wouldn't eliminating as second bathroom create room inside a smallish house for an actual laundry room?

[Lisa S]

Not at all! My husband and I have often debated if we should change out upstairs bathroom back into a bedroom. We manage pretty well using just the one bathroom, but there is an occasion or two when it's nice to have an extra potty.

[Gigi]

My older son actually once lived in a cottage that was so small that the sink was inside the shower! :eek:

[Lisa S]

Wow! That's a clever use of space.;)

[Lynzee]

There are only three of us and I find it incredibly difficult to live without a second bathroom. I honestly don't see how anyone does it, but I know a lot of people that do manage quite nicely with only one bathroom.

The thing that truly amazes me about this house only having one bathroom is the fact that the folks who originally had it built had six children! Of course, before they moved into this house they were living in a house with no indoor plumbing or electricity and their bathroom was an outhouse, so one bathroom probably seemed great to them!

[vintage girl]

My house only has one bathroom and their are three of us also. Luckily we all have basically different work and school shifts, so most of the time it works out. We were going to remodel a few years back, and add on a bathroom and laundryroom (ours is in the garage) and expand our master bedroom (barely holds a Queen size bed and two nightstands), but the price was just not worth it. Now with construction prices being so low, would be a great time, but on the flip side, the economy is so bad that we don't have the money:rolleyes: I have a very funny story about bathrooms. When my daughter was young we had a pool party for her birthday. No one RSVP'd and my daughter apparently gave invitations to the entire school. We had 45 kids!!!! Only 3 kids, (one was my daughter) used the bathroom the entire party:eek::eek: Hubs chlorinated that pool with an entire bottle of chlorine afterwards;)

[cheapdiva]

I hate sharing a bathroom . . . especially with the male sex. I wipe down the mirror and sink every day and I can tell you without a man in the house, the toilet would stay cleaner, longer!!!

This is one more reason we need to get the 2nd full bathroom done!!;)

[chyna]

I'm with Cheapdiva!! I only have one full bathroom and then I guess you could call it a powder room upstairs in my (ummm our:D) bedroom and it is mine all mine. The downstairs bathroom was done with my dh and dd's height in mind so it is all higher up than say normal and frankly it should be kept clean. yet sadly it is my bathroom that stays cleaner. Now what does that say about the rest of the household. :(

[mavgal]

Back when one bathroom was enough was in the days that Mom didn't have to work and kids only took a bath once or twice a week. So, it wasn't such a problem sharing a bathroom. Now everyone thinks they have to shower every single day and also everyone needs to get up in the morning and get ready to go to work, etc. That's why it 's so hard now to get by with only one full bath now.

[CohenCottage]

Our house had one bath and two bedrooms when we bought it, but we added a master bath. We share that bath but it is so nice to have the extra one for guests and when we need to get ready at the same time. I also have an extreme paranoia about both of us being sick at the same time, so I flat out refused to have just one bath!

At work, I share a bathroom with one male coworker, and I'm the one that usually cleans it. There are NEVER splatters anywhere, and I've always wondered how he was so clean and my hubs was so messy. This past week, I figured out his trick (it came up in conversation about cleaning the bathroom)...He sits down to pee!!!!

[vintage girl]

Oh my gosh that is too funny! My mom taught my Dad that years ago. I have tried with my hubs, but he told me he is not "whipped" like my dad:rolleyes: Little does he know that he actually is, just can't get him to do the "girl" sit-down:D

[CohenCottage]

Well, hubs had protested in the past and had refused to sit down, but I was fussing at him the last time I cleaned the bathroom, and he pulled out the line that all men do that, and I shot back that I shared a bathroom with the coworker and HE didn't pee everywhere, and ever since then...no. more. pee. I think I hurt his feelers!

[chyna]

Awww poor baby. :rolleyes: I asked my dh if he had some sort of problem with hitting the toilet and his response was no why and I informed him that he pees all over the floor. I sure did enjoy that look of embarrassment on his face. Honestly I don't use that bathroom except to ocassionally wash my hands (generally use the kitchen sink) and to shower. Otherwise I use my bathroom.:mad:

[LindaLK]

Hi Ladies, :)

I LOL! about what Vintage Girl had said. All men want to stand up, and why.... I don`t know? It must trace back to their Neanderthal days. They had to stand for safety reasons. If a Saber Tooth Tiger were to come by, they could just stop what they were doing and run. :D

None of them will ever admit that their wives have trained them in the proper etiquette of peeing in that very large porcelain bowl, without making a mess. So when confronted, they will claim they are not whipped. Of course not. If they say so. ;)

When our son was just learning, I would have him aim for cheerios that I had put in the toilet. Every time he hit one that was in the middle, I would jump up and down an praise him. The things we moms do.

I am the bathroom police. If hubby and the kids make a mess, I follow up and hand them a wash rag or toilet brush. No messes now! They`ve all learned it is better to clean up than to deal with my rant and long lecture that follows. LOL!

When we first purchased this house, having two bathrooms was a plus. At the time, we only had one child, and one on the way. Then that changed to four. I am so happy for the two full baths. Have you ever had to deal with 3~teenage girls getting ready to go anywhere? I swear.... most of their lives were spent growing up in the bathrooms.

Only here can we ladies talk about such a subject. I love it. Have a great day!




Hugs,
Linda :)

[Lisa S]

We did the Cheerio thing with our sons too. Amazing how much of a cheerleader we moms are!

[oxide]

Hi Ladies, :)

I swear.... most of their lives were spent growing up in the bathrooms.

:)

No wonder there are so many people who need a huge bathroom, as big as the bedroom, and fill it with thousands of dollars Roman tile and soaking tubs and granite vanity and what-have-you. I never did understand that. My philosophy is that if you spend enough time in the bathroom that you really need to gussie it up, then you either have too much makeup or not enough fiber.

[88dblifestyle]

We just bought a 2 story house with a sunroom, well, half of a sunroom. It runs the length of the south side of the house with windows on both ends and the south side. Well, the previous owners decided they needed another bathroom and doored off half of the sunroom and put in a built-in desk, with bathroom across from it. I think it's really strange to have a bathroom in that location. I want to restore the sunroom to it's original purpose. Our real estate agent says it would sell better with the extra bathroom. Well, it's only a half bath (sink and toilet), and there is already a half bath near the kitchen. Plus, the bath would need remodeling, looks like it was put in in the early 60's, sink is bad, floor is bad, toilet needs work.

I might post some pictures later, I don't have my pics handy.

So, do you think the real estate agent is full of it, I sorta do!

:D Can you post here some pictures of your sunroom?..
I just wanna see it.. Think it's cool..

[lisaray]

I think you should take advise of a professional contractor. It will be best suited for you.

[farmgal67357]

My older son actually once lived in a cottage that was so small that the sink was inside the shower! :eek:

I've seen apartments in Europe where the whole bathroom is the shower! Can you imagine going in to use the toliet just after someone has had a shower? Time to wipe down the potty!

[G Howard]

I love the creativity around here! I say, if the house has enough bathrooms, so be it. Use the space for something more fun and creative! Just make sure the room has nice furniture in it, as this really contributes to the ambiance in the room.