Yes the vanity and the toilet can change position. The shower probably not as still have same issue with window space but I def. do not want to see the toilet through the open door so can only be moved along the wall in place of the vanity on the East Wall. I want a large shower just for me but two shower heads would be wonderful, thinking of future proofing the house. I would have one fixed and one moveable to make rinsing after cleaning easier.

As it's not built yet would you consider reconfiguring to put all the plumbing on the internal wall, move the door over closer to the external wall and then you have the whole external wall to place windows. Could look great with a couple of windows higher up on the wall.

Hi - forgive my drawing Kidssiam....I am quite hopeless lol!

I too hate seeing toilets in the ensuite - what about this? Access through the WIR and close it off altogether? Then the open toilet wall becomes a solid wall that you could use for a dresser or some wall art in your bedroom?

This pathetic sketch is done in Microsoft Publisher as I have no other way of drawing my vision... bigger house plans translate better ;) so sorry you guys might have to squint to see it lol!

Thank you. An idea, that was considered previously but does not work with entry to WIR which has to have a door wherever placed. and really not keen on a toilet off it. Your plan is expandable, so no worries I can see what you meant.

If the toilet stays where it is as in my plan I do not think you can see it until you open the door and walk in but if moved to accommodate windows etc then maybe you can from doorway. I have looked up building regs as you suggested and nit being fully conversant with them cannot find what I seek so have emailed my council to ask them my question.

Just to clarify - entry through perhaps a cavity slider in lieu of a fixed door into WIR while ensuite itself is enclosed with toilet, vanity and shower in your original positions. It just means the only entry/exit to your ensuite is via your WIR so you won't see the toilet at all. The only thing you'll see when you enter that space is any clothes in your WIR. Sorry again for the small plan :). Happy to hear you have emailed council.... that will be good to get an answer from them so you can continue making plans.

acknowledging other opinions about plumbing, the minor cost of an extra few cms of water pipe is far less important than the extra long term comfort and convenience of plumbing to suit your choices...consider moving the bathroom door to the other wall, the wall facing the bedroom could have an extra 2M of BIW or other storage..placing the toilet and a bigger window in the center of the room gives more privacy for the toilet (without the need for any dividing walls) better light and ventilation to all fixtures and eastern sunshine should help minimise mould, the window should be sized to suit the view in and out but the bottom of a 900mm tall x 900mm wide window placed high up the wall should still be above chest height and allow space for a 1500mm wide mirrored door wall cabinet over a 1500mm wide vanity...standard space for most toilets should be about 80omm x 800mm (for elbow and knee room) so, allowing 900mm width for the shower, 900m width for the toilet and window there's space left for a 1500mm wide vanity

other options are dependent on available space so would love toe see the whole plan and how all the other rooms fir together

I think the layout is fine, you could easily include hi-light windows in the show in the form of an awning window for example 06 x 12 awing this will let light in and the steam out when having a shower. Or for even more light you could do a full height fixed glass in the shower with an awning induced in the window for example 21 x 18 fixed a window with 06 awing in the fixed glass

Thanks Rhad for your suggestion but I am afraid you have lost me with your last sentence. My knowledge of types of window is limited.

The shower will either have a glass screen as it will be a walk in or glass panels and centre door if an alcove cubicle. It will receive light from the room but currently the suggested layout has only a small window above the toilet. I do not think it is big enough. But if the vanity /mirror is on the same wall there is not enough space to put another window on that wall. However, I still think the shower will be dark. I have contacted the council at Nik Star's suggestion re building regs as a window in the shower may not be permitted in my area so much of the dilemma becomes academic

Hi I have hopefully thanked you all for your thoughts and I am very grateful for all your suggestions, but it seems that I cannot respond to each comment now that more have joined the thread. So I will respond to all here.

basilsmum.

Food for thought but door placement there affects layout of furniture in the bedroom so probably not feasible but will get out my little cardboard shapes and relook.

Me me

I don't believe the space for the window is large enough, to light the shower adequately but moving the toilet does bring the light closer to the shower but also makes the toilet more visible from the doorway perhaps?

Nik Star

Thank you again for your plans. Most grateful. I fully get your idea re entering through WIR but this idea is defintely not for me. It was suggested at the concept plan stage and I discounted it for numerous personal reasons.

your idea of switching the vanity from the wall is interesting but unless enter through the WIR there is minimum clearance and although a slightly bigger window can be installed, the vanity cant have a mirror can it?

Oklouise

Yes the door could be moved as you suggest and as the toilet is moved along it is not visible through the door which is good but I dont it think it helps with increasing light as you mention only a 900mm square window. Do you mean for the room or for the shower area? If the former then it is a smaller area than that suggested already on my plan. So am I querying something that actually doesnt need changing? Will the shower be light enough when the window becomes closer to it as in your plan?

With respect to the whole house plan- the positioning and dimensions of any room cannot be changed now as it is with council seeking consenting to an oversize footprint. However I can change position and type of internal doors and move or change the shape of the windows providing I don't reduce the amount of total light entering the room or minimise ventilation.

the same sized window on the east and south wall do not satisfy the Basix regulations equally and changing the shape and which wall for the windows also changes the amount of light, windows on the south side inside the shower will be cold and you were concerned with access for cleaning... i'm suggesting one 900 wide window above the repositioned toilet for better spread of light and ventilation to the whole room, allows better position for the vanity and wall mirror, privacy for the toilet from the open door and a window as big as modesty allows and the builder can fit within the frame (guessing 900 x 900) if you want or need additional light in any room consider Solar Skylights (not Solar Tubes or ventilating skylights) check Illume and Ezylite brands for additional light without loss of heat or draughts

No problems at all :) The vanity would be able to have a mirror on the wall above it as the wall between vanity and toilet would be full height. Is that what you're asking? Even a slimline cabinet above the vanity for additional storage? But again - I think the distance between the vanity and WIR could be questionable - but if it's a layout you like, could be worth exploring with your builder? Here's another idea but not sure again if it's feasible for you - it's probably not very appealing on paper but it would allow a fair bit of natural light in whilst also keeping the toilet well and truly hidden - only thing is you may be looking at the vanity when the door is open. Either way, I hope you can work something out that you will love :)

If council (and building regs) permit a window in shower positioned across South wall then I will have one. Have emailed them to ask. Nik Star suggested that. I hadn't even thought of it.

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.

the Solar Skylights look light a flat light fitting on the ceiling and are excellent for adding extra natural daylight to any room...they do not affect the Basix rating and are not the skylights that your draughtsman is referring to... check the Illume website for a better understanding of how they function

Had a reply from the council. There is no issue of me putting a window in shower area as long as the ingress into timber frame is protected from splashing and no water can get down behind the top edge of the lining if I have one rather than tiles. Also if placed above 2000mm it needs to be safety glass. however I have yet to visit the sites you mentioned so may be swayed by the solar skylights.

glad to learn that you're researching real options with specific details..in the end the decision about the extra window will be better if you base the decision on your own knowledge not just others' opinions...so often people build without any care about these "small" issues that can make such a big difference to the ongoing comfort of their homes...consider tiles instead of the standard timber reveals around the windows)

Consider having a tiled half wall with glass above it between shower and toilet rather than full glass. So you have a ledge for shampoo bottles etc and don't have to put a niche for it in an outside wall and compromise insulation. We had that done and love it. Just make sure the builder allows for that and yes it will be just a bit thicker than just glass. Don't put a fan direct in the shower, seems logical but it tends to cause chilling draft across your wet body, best is just outside it. Don't put it in a corner either, doesn't work well. You can tile a south western window sill as well for extra ledge. So depends if you tile over waterproof tray or get ready made shower cubicle.

Oklouise

my windows in the rest of the house will be uPVC FRAMES. So I should contact them first to see if they can install such a window as required to meet regs.

Yes agree that I have to look into specifics. I think the draughtsman thinks I am worrying unecessarily by concerning myself with some of these things as he knows the code so makes sure it is met but like you say if it pleases me to have more light in the shower, that can only be a good thing.

I have that many catalogues I could start a library! Trying to compare similar function products made by different companies is so hard. Many don't have prices though and when you go online they say send us your plan!! Prices here appear to be much more expensive than Europe where all my other 'renovations' have been. This is my first new build though (and here I have noone to share decisions with ) I have to choose everything other than the concrete and the timber! Made all the harder as I currently live in North Island and the build is in the South island. For some companies it may well be another country!!!

Interesting about dairy_maid comment and fan placement . I have not experienced that, but then maybe the extractor fan here is not very efficient?

Thank you again for all your suggestions and advice.

Hi Kissaim

Cheers