All suggestions to our master bath please

L
by L
Moved into our home 2 months ago. We would like to change the oak, to a cherry tone color, as that is the furniture we have in the bedroom. There is no door going into the small walkin closet. Would like to take down the large mirror, and put up two smaller ones, with lights near each one. As seen on other inspiration baths on this site already finished. Home built 7 years ago. Walls are light peanut butter shade currently. Will be installing new faucets, etc. to update the look better.
I am not a fan of sliding shower doors,replace with clear glass door put in. The room is decent sized, but poorly designed.
Double vanity. Would like to take down large mirror, and replace with two decorative mirrors with lights. Restain cabinets and trim to cherry.
Suggestions to what to do with this empty space, which seems like where the toilet should of been placed. Normally there is not a small foot stool in here. There is no bathtub in this room.
Our toilet area is at least 5 feet back behind the bathrm door. Too dark, narrow. How to put up some lighting here? Using mirror to reflect some light there currently.
Our walk-in closet has no door, and is located inside the bathroom. What type of door would you suggest? Door would need to slide, or open towards bathroom.
  16 answers
  • L L on Mar 16, 2014
    below is a sample of the coloring of cabinets we like.
    • Pat Dollar Pat Dollar on Mar 17, 2014
      @L Minwax PolyShades is a Polyurethane with stain. It is easily applied and has a similar dark cherry color that I think you will like.
  • L L on Mar 16, 2014
    Like this style of shower door
  • L L on Mar 16, 2014
    Replacing the large mirror into 2 with lighting for each side. This all is on a shoe string budget. So all suggestions are welcome from anyone.
  • Tina Tina on Mar 16, 2014
    Is a pocket door a possibility? Also, if you feel you need storage in the "WC" you can move the cabinet outside of the closet door. You can put toilet tissue and personal items inside. It can also be chalk painted (make your own in any color, recipe is on Hometalk!). A heated towel bar outside of the shower (where the chair is sitting) would be really nice! I love all of the ideas you have posted! I'm sure it will be Beautiful!
  • L L on Mar 16, 2014
    I like the idea of a pocket door for the walkin closet. We tend to be DIYers, (or try at least), and we have no idea how to install one. Was thinking of a frosted glass door for the closet, but would need to be a special ordered size. Wish they had put in a closet in the first place. I think we could still do a glass slider pocket door. Have you ever seen, where the closet is a slider, but has the look of a barn sliding door? That would require us to take down the cabinet, which is no big deal to me. Love the idea of towel warmer. I told my husband I would like him to put in a laundry shoot in the empty space. It would lterally land then clothes into the laundry room. Thanks for the suggestion Tina. My husband is from KY also.
    • Pat Dollar Pat Dollar on Mar 17, 2014
      @L I was going to suggest a pocket door for the closet too. Probably the best choice and least expensive. Was wondering if you could move the towel bar to the opposite wall by the shower and put in a vanity or additional cabinet in the empty space. You could pick up something in unfinished cabinetry from a hardware store like Home Depot and stain it in the cherry finish as well.
  • Z Z on Mar 16, 2014
    I was going to suggest a pocket door also. We have one to our half bath and had I known at the time of construction that there were locks for them I'd have had as many of them as possible in our home. They are wonderful! Never in the way. Another idea for a mirror make over that would work especially nice if you do a barn door and would have to remove the cabinet on the wall. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/bathroom/mirrors/i-used-this-idea-and-revamped-my-large-bathroom-mirror-this-weekend-here-are-my-130713
  • L L on Mar 16, 2014
    Becky, that is exacttly what we plan on doing on the counter area. Perfect example you sent to me. Thank you.
    • See 2 previous
    • Z Z on Mar 17, 2014
      @L, I think we all have those days. I'm all for saving time and money when doing projects around the house. I want to use the money saved for travel and other fun things that make my life more enriched. Age does that too ya. Ha!
  • Higgins const. Higgins const. on Mar 17, 2014
    use shims to remove mirror, tap in from top, may take 5or6 go slow and will pop off. bi fold doors
  • Betty819 Betty819 on Mar 17, 2014
    Why not leave the large mirror there and frame it lwith molding? Is that bathroom adjoining a master bedroom? If so, why not make the door to the closet come out in the bedroom instead of bathroom? It seems the clothes might get dampness or moisture from the shower like it is now? You could close that closet entrance and build one coming from the bedroom area.
    • L L on Mar 17, 2014
      @Betty819 Unfortunately no. It is adjoining the master bedroom, but there is another bath on the other side wall. (Hall bath) That was one of my concerns was the dampness from the steamy showers. That is why, I am surprised that no one previously had put up a door. But we will for sure be putting a door in soon.
  • Elaine Simmons Elaine Simmons on Mar 17, 2014
    We framed outs with molding that you don't have to miter. We put up a "divider" on our large mirror and like the results.
  • DR HANDY DR HANDY on Mar 17, 2014
    Instead of a cherry stain, look into a Minwax Red Oak Stain which tends to work better with the grain of oak. Getting rid of the big plate glass window will help (an easy way is to add molding). In terms of bathrooms, nothing will give you a bigger bang for your buck than a stone countertop with undercount sink and stainless faucet. A seamless shower will also update the room.
  • Betty819 Betty819 on Mar 18, 2014
    Maybe that closet was meant to be used as a linen closet, for bath towels,etc. storage of over the counter medications, toilet paper, cleaning supplies,etc. I take that you are a new owner?
  • Betty819 Betty819 on Mar 18, 2014
    That appears to be a good size bathroom but one would assume the toilet would be located between vanity and shower stall. In the 2 bedroom unit here in these houses, the builder put the vanity in area across from two large closets with the toilet and shower in a small area sort of like where your toilet is laid out. We live in a 3 bedroom unit so our master bathroom is laid out like it should be.. We have a rental house across the street where the homeowner is getting ready to move back in and he's already made arrangements to remodel a lot of areas in the house when the tenant's lease is up in a few months. I saw his plans ; it will be nice and more efficient. Best of all they will not have any stairs to climb which is a plus for them.
  • Darcelle O'Connor Darcelle O'Connor on Mar 18, 2014
    Heres some pics of before and after of our master bathroom, hope this gives you some ideas. and you should put in a pocket door at the closet. (sorry i put them after and before)
  • Julie Julie on Mar 18, 2014
    Here's what I did on a shoestring budget in our bathroom. General Finishes gel stain, new hardware, and unfinished baseboard trim made into a frame for the existing mirror. Also a new light fixture. All for about $75 or so.
  • Paulette Herrman Paulette Herrman on Feb 08, 2015
    Remove 1/2 of everything on walls and floor (maybe more) To many towels. Remove shower doors ; replace with white shower curtain. Small bathrooms need to be functional with "pretty" at a minimum. NO plastic plants.....germ catcher. No chair. This will be a really nice space!