Charlottechicken Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I have a generous sized bathroom (12 feet long by 7 feet wide) and when I bought my house 17 years ago bought the biggest, grandest Victorian style suite I could find, and sensibly afford Suddenly, it's 2012 and the bathroom looks incredibly dated, with the gold fittings and a doric column under the baby bath sized basin (which could double as a font too!) I really feel the time has come to update it, but I don't want anything too clinical, just swish but functional with no bells and whistles. I've got some great charcoal colour floor tiles left over from my kitchen extension that I want to use as they will fit in with the pale blue theme I like in my bathroom. But, this is the rub, there's room for either a bath, which I have never used in 17 years, or a walk in shower cubicle. You know the type, you just walk around a shaped screen to the shower (no moving parts for OH to break either!). I'm trying to think of a really good reason to keep the bath, but I can't, and I know with a contemporary basin and toilet, and walk in cubicle, I can still have homely things, like my white wicker armchair and cushion, but also there's room for a bigger radiator and also a heated towel rail, and I will have a new shower too So, just canvassing opinion really, what do you sensible Omleteers think? Would you ditch the tub, or keep it and shower over the bath? Also, if you saw a house with a really swish and spacious shower room, would it put you off that there was no bath? (I'm not moving!) I've done some quick costings and I might be able to do the lot for under £1500, as I found the shower cubicle I saw in Homebase, online for less than half of the price, delivered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Personally speaking,I could never,never ever get rid of my bath. I love it - it is a large,extra deep double ended piece of marvellousness & I love it to bits. It is my second favourite place after my bed! I am lucky enough to have a bathroom fitting husband who managed to design the whole room around my bath,& fit a gorgeous walk in shower for himself too. But the bathroom did used to be a bedroom.....when we moved in there was an outside toilet & that was it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iar fach goch Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I'm another one who couldn't live without my bath, it's nothing special, but after a hard day or to help with aches and pains, there's nothing better than a long soak. I'm still dreaming of my long ago promised loft conversion of luxury bedroom with large free standing bath! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I couldn't live without my bath either, even though I don't use it often, but there are times when only a soak in the tub will do I am lucky though and have an ensuite with a walk in shower. Also, if you look at selling a lack of a bath can really hinder a house sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 The only bathroom in my house used to be an airing cupboard and is 2ft9 x 7ft so is not much bigger than an actual bath needless to say we dont have one! we have a normal shower cubicle. its less cleaning and I'd rather have a really good shower than a bath anyway 99% if the time I dont miss a bath but every now and again I do get a longing for a nice soak with a good book but then I can get that in a hotel when I get a night away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I agree with Spacechick; I'm house hunting & I'm really put off if there is only a shower...then I don't like showers over baths....I don't like wet rooms... !2 x 7ft bath???? You must have room in there for an ordinary bath & a walk in shower! I could go for a swim in there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Was in a similar situation five years ago and did away with the bath, our shower is divided from the rest of the bathroom by a clear glass panel with seamless tiling down to a central drain and is so easy to keep clean. Another thought was as we get older we may not be able to manage a bath and can easily fit a shower chair in if necessary. We hadn't used our bath for years before that so didnt miss it although must confess we now have a small hottub in the garden which we do use every day, unlike our old bath the water stays hot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 At Uni we've got 2 bathrooms, both have baths with showers over them, no-ones used it as a bath all year! Last weekend the first floor (boys) bath started leaking into the office downstairs so its been disconnected and we've all been using the girls bathroom upstairs. We're trying to convince the landlord to replace it with a shower cubicle, its the smallest bathroom ever - has to have a sliding door and there's no room for a radiator + have to have the window open 'cos of fire alarms so its freezing in there. At home we have 2 showers and a bath... I haven't used the bath for years, just the showers in the other bathrooms! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forestchook Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I could certainly live with just a shower instead of a bath although I think it is nice to have a bath available. Also, if you look at selling a lack of a bath can really hinder a house sale. I was told the same by an estate agent; buyers want a bath, renters (sp?) are happy with just a shower. N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddie Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 we are going through a similar scenario, except ours is moving walls etc to increase the size of a bedroom, and to decrease the bathroom, as there is no sense to the layout at the moment. I haven't used the bath here since we bought the house , (or before ), and would merrily do away withit. Oh wants to keep it though I've no idea why! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 We do not have a bath and I really, really miss not having one. I like to have a shower to get clean but I love soaking in a warm bubbly bath just beacause..... I have had just one bath in four years. OH took me away for the weekend and the hotel room had a bath, bliss I bought a bottle of bubble bath for the ocassion and locked my self away in the bathroom for over an hour. I came out looking like a prune but was so relaxed A bath is high up on my wish list. If you have the room I would go for a bath and shower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I'm obviously in the minority that I wouldn't miss my bath at all. I can't remember the last time I had a bath (possibly when pregnant 17 years ago ). The only thing I've used it for since then is scrubbing rugby shirts and giving the dog a bath! Having said that, our shower is over the bath so I suppose we use it every day, just not for an actual bath. I think if you have the room, though, you should probably keep the bath. Sounds like your bathroom suits having a bath in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 You'll have to pop over and see my bathroom for comparison - our houses are similar ages... it's nearly finished We have a bath - a double-ended one; it's very subtle with no shaping or handles and I hardly use it at all as both Rosie and I prefer showers. It only really gets used when Phil turns up at weekends... he loves to soak in the bath for ages, and if he's in it I will sometimes join him to relax and catch up on our news for the week. The bathroom would originally have been a bedroom, with the bathroom as a lean-to on the ground floor at the back. It's pretty spacious as bathrooms go. I can vouch that Tasha's is tiny, but it has everything that you need. Having said all that, if yo have the room I'd advise keeping yours in case you ever want to sell the house. PS Claire, who's this 'OH'... did I miss something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I am actually posting this FROM the bath, via my phone I love a soak, especially when it's cold/I'm a bit achey/it's been one of those days. That's a personal thing though - if you haven't used the bath in 17 years, you're obviously not a bath person! Unless you're planning to move in the next five years, I would design the room around your own needs/preferences. It's not such a big deal for a buyer to get a bath put in, if they want one. And showers are much 'greener'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 We got rid of our bath about 6 years ago and don't regret it one bit we have a double sized shower cubicle instead. We never used the bath either, the last bath I had was nearly 15 years ago when I was pregnant with DD and it was at a little hotel where they had a deep bath. I've never enjoyed a bath - being 5'10" makes it difficult to find one where I can fit comfortably, there's always too much sticking out! If you've never used it then I would get rid - what is the point of buying a new one if it's never used? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 Thanks for the replies, they make really interesting reading! It does sound like the bathroom is big enough for a bath and shower, but I don't think it is The room is 12 feet long as you enter and 7 feet wide, and the door is to one side. The toilet is behind the door, when it is open, and there are three steps down from the doorway. The bath is along the end, and the window is halfway down one of the long walls (the same one the toilet backs on to), the basin sits beneath the window and central to it so it all looks really well balanced and spacious. The type of shower cubicle I like is almost as big a footprint as my bath. To be honest, I'm really reluctant now to replace the bath, as I haven't used it for all the time I've lived here. Like I said, I'm not moving and at the moment it seems daft to have something taking up space that I will not use. However, I will be doing lots of floor plans to see if I can possibly accomodate both bath and shower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 When I moved in to my house I was taken aback by the lack of a bath but then my reasoning was that the bathroom is the one room that I spend the least amount of time in and thats how I got past it mentally But for now you have no plans to sell the house and you are the one that has to live in it so make it what you want it to be - worry about selling it when the time comes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Would you miss your bath? In a word, Yes. Our bathroom is smaller than yours and is on our revamp list at some point ie when we have the cash. We do have enough room for a walk in shower as well as a bath but it means moving the bath, a radiator and removing the old airing cupboard. However, if you don't want a bath and want a fab shower setup instead then go for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I would really miss having a bath and just love to soak in mine. We've been in our current house for over 13yrs and when we moved in one of the first jobs we did was to replace the old avocado suite with a white one, but we kept the original bath as it was cast iron and just had it re enamelled but it's got so knocked about we are going to replace it soon. I wouldn't dream of replacing it with a shower though. We also have an ensuite in our bedroom that is very small and just has a shower cubicle and a small handbasin in it. We've never used the shower as it doesn't work very well and we keep on meaning to get someone in to rip it all out and put a new one in and I am quite looking forward to being able to have a shower as well as a bath, but no way would I just want a shower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Yes, I would miss a bath. We have both a bathroom and a shower room and the shower get used most often as it's quick and easy, but the bath is for relaxing in and for some reason I feel a lot cleaner after a bath. It would be on my negative list if a house I was looking at didn't have a bath. I could cope with only a shower over the bath but having no bath feels wrong some how. Another thing: my mother struggles to get in to and out of a bath so has to shower. I'm sure there will come a day when I'll find the same, but up until then I want to be able to take a bath when I want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I use the shower as functional and love it after exercise but for sheer luxury I would not be without a bath. It's one of my favourite places - I've styled our bathroom in 1930s style to match the age of the house with posters of movie stars and plants. Candles, oils, bubbles, booze, the whole shebang - I could not do without it. Step back several years and bathtime was also when the kids would open up and tell me about their days. Time full of kids, towels, talc and chuckles. I'm a bath fan by the way, I love baths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I haven't had a bath in about 8 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 I love my bath, sometimes its the only thing that will do - after a strenuous bout of gardening for example. However, its my absolute dream to have a swish bathroom like in a hotel with big tiles and an enormous walk in shower, unfortunately we don't have room for both, so shower over bath it is But for you, as you have never used your bath and it doesn't sound like you are ever going to, I'd design the bathroom to be what you want it to be and let the future look after itself rather than trying to 2nd guess what any future buyer might want. As has been said, some older people, for example, can't easily manage baths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Have you looked in to those city baths - sort of half sized ones for small spaces? Might be worth a look if you want to keep a bath in the room,but maximise shower space Also corner baths can take up much less room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 I love my bath (don't think my OH has ever used it though!). As a child in the 60's I only had a bath once a week on a Sunday. I still have to have a bath on a Sunday evening or I don't feel right I shower every day but that just gets me clean - a bath makes me relax We had our very little bathroom re-done when we moved in. The shower is over the bath but it is a proper power shower and we have a curved glass shower screen with a curtain rail that curves into and over the bath (sort of making an integral curtained cubicle) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
