HGTV musings

[tvguy]

Your "toilet room" is almost the same size as the only bathroom in my house.

Our master bath and guest bath, which are back to back are 5 x 9 which all the remodeling contractors called a "standard sized" bathroom. The half bath in our addition is 3 x 5, but it is just a toilet and a small sink.

 

[EMom]

Your "toilet room" is almost the same size as the only bathroom in my house.

It is probably about the same size as my bathroom in the house I grew up in. That had a toilet jammed up against a small sink, jammed up against a small shower. The room was maybe 2.5 feet wide by 6 feet long. That bathroom was actually SUPPOSED to be the master bathroom, as it was connected to a bedroom. But it was so small, my parents and siblings preferred the only other bathroom (in the hall) and they all used it. It wasn't huge, perhaps 6 x 8, but seemed massive by comparison.

The closet I had for most of my life growing up was smaller than my toilet room. More like a coat closet. As I have said, this is too much house for 3 people. But I wanted a BIG kitchen and for some reason, you cannot get a BIG kitchen in a 3 bedroom house here. To get a big kitchen, you have to jump to a 4 or 5 bedroom. I don't need all those bedrooms...I just want a nice kitchen. It's as if the builders think a small family doesn't want/deserve/need a nice kitchen.

We finally decided that a 4 bedroom does better here for resale anyway, and we wanted that kitchen, so we went ahead and bought it. I tell people all the time that we truly bought the house for the kitchen. If I could have gotten this kitchen in a smaller house, I would have done that.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I've seen homes with toilet closets as they are becoming more common in newly built homes in the city.
Personally I find it disgusting to use the toilet and touch the door knob without washing hands first. Absolutely disgusting. Will never ever buy a house like that.

 

[havaneselover]

I've seen homes with toilet closets as they are becoming more common in newly built homes in the city. Personally I find it disgusting to use the toilet and touch the door knob without washing hands first. Absolutely disgusting. Will never ever buy a house like that.

You must not use public restrooms where you unlock the stall then wash your hands.

You don't necessarily have to completely close the door. Just shows you that everyone's taste is different. One person's must have is disgusting to someone else.

 

[ekatiel]

Hold the phone: Toilets in separate "rooms" inside master bathrooms are a Texas thing?! I had NO idea. This is like the homecoming mum realization all over again *just ignore this sentence if you're not from Texas b/c you have no idea what a homecoming mum is*. I really thought it was that way most everywhere. The BATH room is for getting clean-- so it only makes sense that the toilet would be separated. Secondary baths here have everything together, but those are usually for kids. Adults here who live in any kind of decent house built since the 1980's, get to go potty in peace .

 

[sonnyjane]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned (didn't read all pages) but I used to live in a condo that had the toilet IN the master with no door separating them, just a tiny 3 foot wall divider with the toilet around the corner. I never used that toilet in the two years we lived there. I always went down the hall to the guest bathroom. I do NOT need that much openness.

 

[NewRVLady]

Hold the phone: Toilets in separate "rooms" inside master bathrooms are a Texas thing?! I had NO idea. This is like the homecoming mum realization all over again *just ignore this sentence if you're not from Texas b/c you have no idea what a homecoming mum is*


. I really thought it was that way most everywhere. The BATH room is for getting clean-- so it only makes sense that the toilet would be separated. Secondary baths here have everything together, but those are usually for kids. Adults here who live in any kind of decent house built since the 1980's, get to go potty in peace .

Really?? All DECENT houses in Texas have this?

Oh and I don't live in TEXAS but I sure DO know what a Homecoming MUM is

 

[Octoberbride03]

In my 41 years on this planet I have only seen toilets in their own private room within the bathroom when I toured a local "Homearama" thing that showed new built homes. I could not afford these homes and was amazed.

I have never had any problem getting privacy when i needed it. Even now my Dh & I just have 1 bathroom for the entire house and we don't have any problems with it.

I just don't see the need for a toilet room if you're immediate family.

 

[CdnCarrie]

You must not use public restrooms where you unlock the stall then wash your hands.

You don't necessarily have to completely close the door. Just shows you that everyone's taste is different. One person's must have is disgusting to someone else.

I try not to touch the door handles in public washrooms.

 

[EMom]

I've seen homes with toilet closets as they are becoming more common in newly built homes in the city.
Personally I find it disgusting to use the toilet and touch the door knob without washing hands first. Absolutely disgusting. Will never ever buy a house like that.

We have levered door handles. You can use an elbow or a wrist to open the door. No grabbing a doorknob. If I had regular doorknobs, I could just use a piece of toilet paper and use that to open the door.

Hold the phone: Toilets in separate "rooms" inside master bathrooms are a Texas thing?! I had NO idea. This is like the homecoming mum realization all over again *just ignore this sentence if you're not from Texas b/c you have no idea what a homecoming mum is*. I really thought it was that way most everywhere. The BATH room is for getting clean-- so it only makes sense that the toilet would be separated. Secondary baths here have everything together, but those are usually for kids. Adults here who live in any kind of decent house built since the 1980's, get to go potty in peace .

I don't know that it is limited to Texas, but I did figure out from watching HGTV that some relatively high end homes in other regions with BIG master baths tended to have toilets out in the open, which was a surprise. I figure there are some other states with "toilet rooms" but I don't know what they are. Can anyone chime in with state and toilet status?

Oh lordy...the homecoming mums. Ours is taking up a good portion of the guestroom closet right now. My relatives who grew up outside Texas begged for photos and video from homecoming because they were amazed/aghast/transfixed/stunned by Texas homecoming mums. They are like a wreck you cannot look away from. There are probably women who have a Homecoming Mum Room. That would dwarf a toilet room. I talked to one mom who was making a mum for her son's girlfriend and that girl wanted EIGHT mums on it. What was she, an Amazon? The weight of it probably made her tump over. Anyway, my out of state relatives were greatly entertained by the pics/videos, especially the fact that the cheerleader mums were so massive that they had to be placed on easels. I am glad they weren't that way when I was in school. But I would have liked a toilet room, even then.

 

[barkley]

We have levered door handles. You can use an elbow or a wrist to open the door. No grabbing a doorknob. If I had regular doorknobs, I could just use a piece of toilet paper and use that to open the door.



I don't know that it is limited to Texas, but I did figure out from watching HGTV that some relatively high end homes in other regions with BIG master baths tended to have toilets out in the open, which was a surprise. I figure there are some other states with "toilet rooms" but I don't know what they are. Can anyone chime in with state and toilet status?

Oh lordy...the homecoming mums. Ours is taking up a good portion of the guestroom closet right now. My relatives who grew up outside Texas begged for photos and video from homecoming because they were amazed/aghast/transfixed/stunned by Texas homecoming mums. They are like a wreck you cannot look away from. There are probably women who have a Homecoming Mum Room. That would dwarf a toilet room. I talked to one mom who was making a mum for her son's girlfriend and that girl wanted EIGHT mums on it. What was she, an Amazon? The weight of it probably made her tump over. Anyway, my out of state relatives were greatly entertained by the pics/videos, especially the fact that the cheerleader mums were so massive that they had to be placed on easels. I am glad they weren't that way when I was in school. But I would have liked a toilet room, even then.

i'll add another wrinkle-new construction back in the very late 90's/early 2000's in California commonly had open concept master bedroom/bathrooms. there was generally an archway that went from the master bedroom into that bathroom where the shower/separate bath/vanity was. the toilet was housed in that area but it was in a small separate enclosed room of it's own. so....if you wanted privacy when you were bathing you had to make sure your master bedroom was locked off to the rest of the household. in the home we had with this set up the 2nd bathroom had the double sink area in one section, then you walked through a door to the room with the toilet and bathtub/shower combo. I rather liked this b/c if one kid was getting ready for school the other could still use the toilet-and the toilet itself served as a place to sit and supervise younger kiddos when they were taking a bath

 

[ekatiel]

i'll add another wrinkle-new construction back in the very late 90's/early 2000's in California commonly had open concept master bedroom/bathrooms. there was generally an archway that went from the master bedroom into that bathroom where the shower/separate bath/vanity was. the toilet was housed in that area but it was in a small separate enclosed room of it's own. so....if you wanted privacy when you were bathing you had to make sure your master bedroom was locked off to the rest of the household. in the home we had with this set up the 2nd bathroom had the double sink area in one section, then you walked through a door to the room with the toilet and bathtub/shower combo. I rather liked this b/c if one kid was getting ready for school the other could still use the toilet-and the toilet itself served as a place to sit and supervise younger kiddos when they were taking a bath

My parents' master bath (here in Texas) used to be like that. The house was built in the mid 80's. They remodeled the bathroom just a few months ago, and I was insistent that if they ever wanted to sell the house, they needed to install a door to the bathroom!! Luckily, they listened to me and installed the door!

 

[LBIJim]

Last night I saw a HGTV show for the first time, Tiny House Hunters. Couples looking for very small homes, like 800 sq.ft. or less. But this twit of a woman kept complaining everything was way too small. So why did she go on the show? I have a feeling she thought "tiny houses" meant no more than 3000 square feet.

Still, the places they showed were interesting.

 

[Bluestars]

In my 41 years on this planet I have only seen toilets in their own private room within the bathroom when I toured a local "Homearama" thing that showed new built homes. I could not afford these homes and was amazed.

I have never had any problem getting privacy when i needed it. Even now my Dh & I just have 1 bathroom for the entire house and we don't have any problems with it.

I just don't see the need for a toilet room if you're immediate family.

Once you have one, it's hard to imagine not having one. Our walk-in closets are in our bathroom, so it really does add a lot of privacy. The other person is able to use the sink, closet or shower. I would not want to use a toilet while my husband is in the same area getting dressed or using the shower. I really appreciate the separate toilet area.

As for touching the door handle of the toilet room, you would only be touching the inside door knob after using the toilet. Since you wash your hands afterward, I don't see it being a big deal. Just clean it when you clean your toilet.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Last night I saw a HGTV show for the first time, Tiny House Hunters. Couples looking for very small homes, like 800 sq.ft. or less. But this twit of a woman kept complaining everything was way too small. So why did she go on the show? I have a feeling she thought "tiny houses" meant no more than 3000 square feet.

Still, the places they showed were interesting.

To relate it got the current topic--watched an episode where a woman bought a YURT! and she wanted the bathroom out of it. And the kitchen. I was wondering what the heck she was going to do. But she out it on land that had an outdoor bathroom. And an outdoor shelter where she would eventually put a small kitchen. No visible means to shower. She said she doesn't cook much.

Weird!

 

[EMom]

Maybe it is a "Texans and space" thing. Heck, I don't even like people standing too close to me.

I have seen the secondary bathrooms where they separate the toilet & tub/shower from the sink area, which only makes sense to me. That is how our Jack & Jill bathrooms function. We only have one child, but most people have more than one and that way, one can be at the sink getting ready while the other uses the toilet or bathes. Very practical.

We rented a ski condo once in which the entire bottom floor was the master suite, but it was all open. I mean, the bathroom WAS in the bedroom. The big old spa tub was visible from the bed. Very odd. I cannot remember where the toilet was, but I think that did get its own space.

Out of curiosity, since someone mentioned that master baths are often bigger than the master bedroom these days, I measured. The bathroom is not bigger than our bedroom, if you do not count the closets. If you just count the actual "bathroom stuff" like the sinks, shower, toilet, etc., the bedroom is about 80 SF bigger. It really didn't seem like it was, though.

One thing I insisted on was a single door to the bathroom. It was designed to have double doors, but we had that in our last house and hated it. Every time I'd go to the bathroom during the night, those doors would make a racket times two. So we said if they couldn't substitute a single door, it was a deal breaker. We hated the double doors that much.

One thing I hate to hear on HGTV is "price point." Just say "price" or "budget." I also hate "space" when you're talking about a 10 x 12 room. "I don't care for this space." Ummm....You mean this ROOM?

 

[tzolkin]

In the NY area, most toilets are open to the rest of the bathroom. HOWEVER, all the closet, storage, etc. is OUTSIDE the bathroom and a part of the master bedroom area. My in laws moved to TX, and I know exactly what the PP is referring to. Most of the master "suite" is IN the master bath.

I think this might be the key. We just moved to NC a few months ago and looked at many houses.

Now that I really think about it, all the houses that had the toilet "out in the open" had closets that were accessed from the bedroom. All of the houses with a separate "toilet room" (a few just had a half wall blocking it from view) you had to go through the bathroom to access the walk-in closet(s).

Our closet is connected to the bathroom, so we have an enclosed toilet ("poop closet"). I like it. I usually leave the door open, but if DH comes in to use the shower, get to his clothes, etc I can push the door closed if I need privacy.

 

[tvguy]

Once you have one, it's hard to imagine not having one. Our walk-in closets are in our bathroom, so it really does add a lot of privacy. The other person is able to use the sink, closet or shower. I would not want to use a toilet while my husband is in the same area getting dressed or using the shower. I really appreciate the separate toilet area.
.

I think I'd be worried about my clothing mildewing if my closet were in the bathroom. Before we remodeled this year, we always had issues in the winter with mildew on the bathroom ceiling. Once a month I would have to wipe down the walls and ceiling with bleach. We put in the largest volume vent fan when we remodeled, so far, no mildew issues. I just would think the bathroom would be just too damp a place to keep my clothing in.

 

[EMom]

I think this might be the key. We just moved to NC a few months ago and looked at many houses.

Now that I really think about it, all the houses that had the toilet "out in the open" had closets that were accessed from the bedroom. All of the houses with a separate "toilet room" (a few just had a half wall blocking it from view) you had to go through the bathroom to access the walk-in closet(s).

Our closet is connected to the bathroom, so we have an enclosed toilet ("poop closet"). I like it. I usually leave the door open, but if DH comes in to use the shower, get to his clothes, etc I can push the door closed if I need privacy.

Mystery solved...maybe. Closet in bedroom, you get a free range toilet out in the open in the bathroom. Closet as part of the master bathroom, you get a toilet room.

I think I'd be worried about my clothing mildewing if my closet were in the bathroom. Before we remodeled this year, we always had issues in the winter with mildew on the bathroom ceiling. Once a month I would have to wipe down the walls and ceiling with bleach. We put in the largest volume vent fan when we remodeled, so far, no mildew issues. I just would think the bathroom would be just too damp a place to keep my clothing in.

You would think that, but we've had them this way for 25 years and so far, no mildew. And believe me, it is humid in Texas. Maybe builders here put in killer ventilation systems... I know the toilet room has its own vent fan. We've just never had a problem with mildew or dampness.

 

[tvguy]

Mystery solved...maybe. Closet in bedroom, you get a free range toilet out in the open in the bathroom. Closet as part of the master bathroom, you get a toilet room.



You would think that, but we've had them this way for 25 years and so far, no mildew. And believe me, it is humid in Texas. Maybe builders here put in killer ventilation systems... I know the toilet room has its own vent fan. We've just never had a problem with mildew or dampness.

My FIL lived in Texas, you MUST have awesome venting because even after they put in dual pane windows, they were constantly fighting mildew there on the windows in winter.