Bathrooms are difficult. I can relate to all you are going through! Your are very lucky to have the window. and putting the toilet behind a solid wall will most likely take away your light source. Sure you have thought about the alternatives: - Similarly to an idea - Lampert Dias Architects Inc. put forward . . . What about a frosted glass wall shielding the toilet from the view as you open the door? Completely frosted or glass with a band (e.g. 42") of sandblast through the lower area, even with a clear area the bottom few inches - to get max light. Or a semi solid wall, solid on the bottom half and frosted glass on the top area or wooden vertical slates or plantation shutters on the top half. (though this may look too heavy keep it simple, keep it light - this is what I like about the pic you posted) Unless you are able to make the wall quite long you may still risk the chance of still being able to see the toilet when you open the door - the ultimate test is what you see when you open the door. Putting your shower where the toilet is now is a good idea, then you can create a wall of glass, even frosted glass, you retain the light and shower in a beautiful space (like the pic you posted) - But is there an alternative place for the toilet? Hopefully you can place the toilet behind the door or similarly out of the way. Lampert Dias Architects Inc. idea of the french doors opening onto the garden from your shower is fantastic - we are hoping to do this in another bathroom which will contain a bath. But your situation may not allow this. Also, and this may not apply in your case, some people may argue the negative of your ideas . . e.g. some will say having the shower where you now prepose (in front of the window) risks see a naked body when you open the bathroom door but that's got to be preferable to an intrusion on ones privacy. (Sure Houzz has done a piece on this exact subject) - hey that's their opinion, all you can do is work out the best alternative for you and your situation and stick to it. Hmmm . . . We have been think about the layout of the interior, as you original discussion is all about water falling on window frames, but what of the view from the outside of the window? Is the window just a small one usually found next to or behind a toilet? If privacy is an issue Lampert Dias Architects Inc. sandblasted idea is a good one or a textured glass. Think it through, take your time even though you are keen to get it done. Patience may save you some money and get you what you want and need. G'luck with your project!

In all honesty, you are looking at a pretty expensive renovation so it is probably worthwhile getting some plans professionally done. The best alterations will be site specific, so will take into consideration the local climate, the path of the sun, where the best views are, anything blocking the sun anywhere, passive solar design, privacy from neighbours etc. It's just not possible to make a great design without all that information and it would be a real shame to spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars and not get the best result possible. Given that you haven't stated where you live, we don't even know whether North or South is the sunny side of the house, so it's impossible to suggest improvements! I'd strongly suggest taking your time figuring out exactly what you want to achieve and how much you are willing to spend to do so. Even with easy access under the house, shifting plumbing will not be cheap (from memory our plumber had the highest hourly rate of all our tradespeople when we renovated), so you want to be very certain that you're doing the right thing and will love the results. If you can possibly keep the same roofline, that will help reduce costs significantly. I'd also suggest using this as an opportunity to improve your house's performance, by insulating, improving the passive solar design, installing a heat recovery ventilation system, buying energy star appliances and LED lights etc. It's all the things that you won't see in the finished house that can have a major impact on how pleasant the house is to live in and how expensive it is to run, and they're easier to do when you're doing a major renovation anyway. Good luck!

Thanks once again oklouise for your comments. I have already been told by the draughtsman that I cannot put in skylights. No idea if this is true but he seemed quite sure and it was he who 'designed' the layout of said ensuite with what I consider a too small window because of ease of plumbing and drainage. He says that can be changed...............Supposedly only put like that to get the oversize plan in fir consent. This department is only interested in the outside view and the effect on the neighbours, which I actually dont have any. The positioning of the ensuite and WiR has changed too from the first plan as I had to come 'out' of my bedroom into a corridor past the WiR door and then into the ensuite. Technically they were both in my bedroom as had not entered the hallway but did not seem like it. So the wall you have now suggested for the door is a small lobby to the bedroom and I had planned to put furniture on it and a full length mirror. I will now look again at the whole space with three zones to see what can be done. I used the word solar tube as I thought that was the generic name for the 'tube' installed which reflected light into a room. Do they cause draughts? Have had no experience of them but will probably want to install one in my scullery (or Butler's kitchen) but am going to work in it a few months before deciding that. I am really quite a novice about function of installations and of building code.

Remove red shelves and build in a wall of fitted shelving on that left hand wall, extending right in along the side of the desk. I notice the filing cabinets are at either end of the desk - can they be moved to the right hand end so as not to be blocking the storage area you will have created. In fact once you have the extra shelves you may be able to get rid of one of the filing cabinets. Place the printer and extra equipment on the shelves where they cross the end of the desk, and you have all the rest of the wall for dedicated storage for books, files, rubbish bin, containers for EVERYTHING, appropriately labelled, this may help hubby to keep things tidier, eg a container for all the cords and connections, another for USBs, appropriately labeled, Lots of file boxes or other appropriate storage containers on the shelves. Install plenty of electrical sockets, or fit that power board UNDER the desk, out of the way. A charging station would be useful. Stack of fresh paper for the printer, bin for rubbish - having EASY access to EVERYTHING is the answer. And yes, hide all those cables! Wireless gadgets if possible! My desk has a half-depth shelf under it, in front of my knees, which has the printer and spare paper stacked on it. Works just fine, out of the way and accessible.