Any ideas for how to update a narrow gally size bathroom.

It's almost 4' wide and 8'ish long with a 27''x24'' window at the end with an electric heater below. I plan to replace the heater with a new one w/ a wall mounted thermostat.

A 16" wide wall mounted sink, toilet and clawfoot tub are all in a row. The tub is staying. I was hoping I could fit an ikea sink in, but the door swing leaves me with 13" of depth. Ikea does have a countertop sink model the horvic (which is 1 3/4" wider than the existing one) but then I'd have to build a cabinet for it, which would have to the same size as the sink. So where would the faucet go?

The floor is covered in 2" sq white tile and the grout is grungy. I thought I'd update the toilet. The floor looks like it might be shot under the toilet and if I have to rip out the tile to install subfloor to support the toilet flange, I'd do the floor over w/ a piece of sheet vinyl I have.

I could get more depth on that wall if I narrowed the door opening from the handle side and trimmed the door down, but it's already 28" and seems like a lot of work for little return.

Time is my other constraint, am hoping to freshen the space up btwn tenants. I was hoping a modern looking sink and new toilet might do the trick.

I don't think I'd update the window since there is a storm window behind it and a custom double hung is pricey.

If a prospect ever mentions something they don't like it's usually the bathroom. This is a 4 unit bldg, so the apts are already sm 1 brs. Not really an option to grab space from a surrounding room to make a bigger bath.

The space is what it is. Maybe clean the grout good. Does not seem like any way to redo it without expanding it or major work.

A few inches here or there isn't going to make a noticeable difference. Want to make it larger, replace tub with shower. Make it a handicap shower so that the floor slopes towards the shower so there's no threshold and install glass doors or curtain so it looks larger and a part of the room.

You don't want to spend a lot of time or money, so your options are limited. New flooring will be cheap and make a big difference.

If you think you're going to keep the bathroom for any length of time, I think I'd spend the time to fix it right. 4' wide is perfect for a 48"x32" shower at the end of the room. Open up the floor if you need to relocate the drains. Block off the window. Relocate the heater to opposite the toilet.

Google "tiny sink." You'll be amazed at the options. You can mount a faucet in the wall. Duravit is one option.

Thanks for the feedback.

Yes if I was doing it over I'd consider the shower at the end in front of the window, even though there is a window and I have an access panel on a side wall (that the tub hides). I would have to make a false floor to accommodate the pitch to the stack.

I wasn't sure radiant floor works with the tub covering most of the floor.

I have looked at all the ikea vanities and I'm smaller still! I do have a nice, larger medicine cabinet that I will use over the sink. I do like the idea of adding recessed shelves adjacent to that over the toilet.

Yes Plenty, if I was doing a pocket door my limited options would improve slightly. Not sure a barn door works w/ the adjacent LR.

Lighting is another upgrade I can pull off that I hadn't thought of earlier. and perhaps the pvc/ fiberglass wainscoting panels w/ a rail cap.

As a contractor a friend purchased a 4 unit with all 2 bedroom and 1 narrow bathroom. So they tired different contractors and designers to re-do their current bathroom. I was given the job on a vacant downstairs unit.

After 2 weeks I allowed the owners to see my solution. They walked into the common hallway between the two bedrooms and looked at the old bathroom, NOTHING WAS CHANGED! They were shocked and disappointed, thinking I had failed.

Their other 3 units had had the bathroom remodeled. Each of the 3 costing between $7000 to $9000.

So I took them to the Master Bedroom? Wait, each of the two old bedroom were just rooms with closets, nothing master about it! Well instead of spending money on re-doing a tight space I added on the the back bedroom making space for a walk-in closet and full bathroom. The upstairs unit also now had an exterior deck. Price? The same amount they had paid to other contractors just to remodel the older bathroom.

Now they had a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom unit with walk in close and a real master bedroom. They were able to charge and extra $500 a month for this unit over the rents of the other units.

Would this Lowes vanity fit. item # 1143489 Model # CE29J24-SS Style Selections Euro 25-in Because the bowl curves out from the cabinet, I was able to make it work in one of my small baths. Even if the door blocks the vanity a bit when opened, once you close it, you have access to the sink.

How about a corner sink by the window?

Change the swing on the door, can it open out instead?

The sliding barn door will certainly give you more room. In a 1 bedroom unit, I would think you don't need a locking door. If you don't like the actual barn door look, just use a pocket door rail mounted on the wall. The door can slide behind a chest or desk if it is moved out from the wall a bit.

You could also put down sheet vinyl right over the tile. Pick a pattern that would look OK if the tile/grout design telegraphs through.

Linda thanks for the suggestion on the vanity. I'm not sure I have 17.35" if I went w/ the ikea one. If I had 24" of width my options are unlimited even w/ 13" depth limitation. Nothing works in the window since the tub extends into that area all the way.

Robert great idea, wish I had the space. Most houses are chopped up 1 families or were constructed w/ small BRs like 8x11ish w/ enough room for a dresser and queen bed and no closet. Closets are the 2nd thing I find prospective tenants look for. In my units they are usually under a staircase or built into an entry hallway. I have added small 3'x2' closets w/ curtain rod and they go over well. I leave the top open for additional storage. People have stuff!

Small,

In minuscule apts such as in HongKong or in motorhomes the entire bathroom is the shower - tiled walls with a drain the center. IKEA showroom has these.

Water will not harm the sink or toilet. Advertise it as a novelty.

Shower instead of tub.

Custom replacement windows are $115. Or no window. Or glass blocks.

Dark grout stain for grungy grout. Light colored grout should be outlawed.

Only rent to skinny people.:)

BRAD

I have old farmhouses with doors that swing out. Of course, the bathrooms were retrofitted where they could go. One at the end of the hall, one was a bedroom. Where I am, you don't get permits for inside work, and it isn't a fire hazard. It is more how acceptable it will be for a tenant as far as arranging furniture in the room it opens to.

The downstairs bath in my house has a pocket door into the washroom and a pocket door on the washroom into the front breezeway. We always warn guests when they use it where the door is!

Small,

Just remembered. We recently remodeled a small bathroom. Toilet and shower are behind the door which swings OUT and the 36" vanity/mirror/light are in the bedroom. Prospects LOVED the idea of giving privacy to one person while the other is brushing teeth, doing makeup.

New hotels are doing this.

BRAD

Another:

Me? Do we really need a bathroom sink when the kitchen sink is two steps away? I am fully capable of brushing my teeth and rinsing my mouth in the kitchen.

Brad, that's funny. I have gone w/out a bath sink for over a year while looking for the perfect used small slop sink for my own bathroom. Still looking, but I put in a plastic mop sink from a project "temporarily" .

I'm not satisfied with the small improvements I can make and am leaning toward leaving it as is until the time I have the go ahead to loose the tub. Then I'll do the shower room thing. I have always loved the idea of being able to hose down the whole bath and it flows to one drain and you don't have to worry about the floor.