On the surface this subject raises quaint images of flowering vine-adorned little granny flats and harmonious extended families 'taking tea' together on the patio surrounded by grandchildren and laughter, visiting care-givers helping the elderly live at home with family, receiving visits from Caregiver services...everyone smiling...but wait, there's more. At a certain stage along the planning process a percentage of us fall foul of the expectations, hopes and idealistic scenarios and maybe, for some, that is because of religious upbringings..."honour they father and thy mother" etc. adding guilt to the already difficult decisions. Housing our elderlies is not an easy topic to bring up for discussion in public because there is no "one way" to address and resolve this issue. I felt that HOUZZ, was a good place to have a discussion about an otherwise difficult and emotional subject that many would be reluctant to approach. On deciding to tell a bit of my own experience I felt that it would open up an opportunity for others battling with the complexities of this problem. So, congrats to all the Houzzers who've had a go at telling their stories here and making the rest of us feel that we are not alone having to deal with this life-situation. Taking care of our elderlies is about much more than building them a comfy granny flat or putting on extentions to our own homes and its not about applying a "One size fits most" solution...( Would that it were all that easy!) I found that my religious upbringing, coupled with unhappy experiences had with my parent made my final decision ever so much more difficult despite that certain 'rules' no longer applied in my own life....or I thought they did not! I discovered that the religious expectations put on me in my childhood coupled with those of friends and family members had reared their heads from the distant past to make my decisions more difficult. I discovered the power of guilt! Mum did not practise her faith but the rules about children and parents were convenient, those indisputable, fearsome rules to enforce compliance and obedience...or else.... I will never forget the day she quoted her favourite "honour thy father and thy mother" at me just once too often after she'd exacted very severe discipline: : I'd found my indignation at being treated unfairly and, through my bloodied handkerchief I screamed : -"What if thy father and thy mother are not honourable ?" There was no answer to that question, no hour long lecture to reinforce the point. Again I paid dearly for my retort. This example to illustrate that domineering parents can be very cruel when they call to bear witness to their demnds any rationale that they have inculcated in their children from a religious perspective and a socio/ cultural perspective So - pondering on wheher we would house our elderlies ( probably meant to call for accomodation suggestions and financial solutions here on HOUZZ) for me, and maybe for others. brought out a dilemma I did not know was there...Obligation irrespectively and Guilt.....they are your parents no matter what. Maybe today I would have guarded more jealously the life I'd won for myself.

Hi Natalie, we are doing a very similar layout but a little smaller (4000 x 2700) my biggest issue was dealing with the heights of the windows because the ones on the front are tall and narrow and the side one is wide and too high to put the vanity on it. also we couldnt swap them over because we cant move the plumbing over. but I think it is going to be a good resolution. Good luck with your reno. Regards Lynne

HU-624382943's comment about speaker placement is important. As far as quality listening goes (whether you like listening to music seriously or want to enjoy fantastic sound when watching movies, you want the speakers on the narrow wall (pointing towards the set of paned windows), not on a long wall. The challenge, of course, will be to get them sufficiently spaced, since you have the bookcase on the right and the cupboard (with or without doors) on the left, as well as the door to the room itself. (That door looks uncomfortably close to the cupboard doors, incidentally.) Unless you choose to suspend your directional speakers from the ceiling – which could be an option – you'll probably be limited to the width of that central section of wall, i.e. immediately to each side of the TV.

So with all the great suggestions and feedback regarding space surround the bath and vanity bench space, I’ve gone back to the drawing board and came up with this- see plan attached- although it’s a bit less interesting, I can use the view north and set the bath up on a platform with a large window with shutters to make it the feature of the room, also ensuring adequate vanity bench space- what do you all think?