Bathroom Remodel Layout Help

[Nikko Mason]

Hi,

I'm getting ready to remodel my first floor garage space to include another bed and bath. Weirdly the garage is the first floor and is as big as the second floor living area so there's definitely room but I need help deciding on a layout for the bed/bath area!

I've taken all of the dimensions (SHOWN IN INCHES) I think I need and have drawn the layout using AutoCAD. A link to the PDF is here (https://drive.google.com/open?...). The PDF shows the bedroom space and the bathroom space but does not include the garage space west of the bed/bath or the laundry room east of bed/bath. 

For the space I would like to include a closet for additional storage and of course for hanging clothes. The closet location from what I see has two options which dictate the size of the bathroom.  

Option #1: My preferred option, however, my contractor thinks that the space will be too small from the shower to the vanity area. 

• Bathroom shares the north wall with a closet and needs to be at least 7' in length to accommodate all bathroom necessities. 
• The bathroom layout includes dimensions for a 54" or 60" vanity. This can be reduced too, not a hard need. 
• The shower would be walk-in with glass door and panels and has a small built-in bench.
• The closet would be used for hanging clothes on the east wall, would need to shimmy in to do this but would also include storage towards the back. 
• Do you think this option leaves enough space? Would it seem too small?

Option #2:

• The bathroom shrinks in length to 6' but expands to take up the entire north wall. 
  • The bathroom layout can also be designed to option #3 bathroom layout
• The closet moves to the south wall
  • Closet seems a bit wide and also not sure will be able to store as many things such as luggage, storage bins, etc.
• The bedroom shrinks by 1' in length

Option #3:

• Bathroom shrinks in length to 5' but still takes up the north wall
  • bathroom layout seems kind of plain
• Bedroom is as big as option #1 again
• Closet is on the south wall

I plan to use the space for Airbnb and as a guest room for visiting friends and family. So, it won't be inhabited 100% of the time. Any input would be appreciated! 

[Jim K.]

Again and again, I see the same sort of thing here on Bigger Pockets, and it's frustrating and for me, deeply disappointing. Here, look at my layout. Tell me if it looks good, if I'm using the space in the best possible way. Look at my diagram. Here are my options, here's the commode in three different places.

Twenty people contribute and offer you aesthetic opinions. The licensed architect cautions you against positioning the vanity in an infelicitous place. I'm a designer, pay me and I'll help you. Sunlight versus practicality. Get a pocket door, they're so cute and darling. The closest we got to practical concerns was @Theresa Harris, who points out that you need to think about existing plumbing. You also delicately mention, "...the existing plumbing pipes that exit west of the bathroom." Which plumbing pipes? Oh, those pesky details.

WHERE'S THE WASTE STACK, @Nikko Mason? Answer the first question first, worry about the rest later. The creative and aesthetic aspects of this that you are obviously so interested in and have invested so much time in thinking about and working through are of trivial importance next to The Facts of Crap. You can't make crap run a marathon and dance. You need to know where it's going FIRST. You must base your design on the location of the waste stack if you don't intend to do major surgery on your property to put your bathroom in. Yet that location is not on your diagrams. And how dare I be so crude as to bring it up, right?