Fitting the Fixtures

Master Bath Plan Details

When choosing the toilet, ask yourself, can the user reach the toilet paper holder? Is it visible (not good) from the open door? Where does the user find an extra roll of paper in the middle of the night? It’s a great idea to include a very small hand washing corner lav in the water closet compartment – this could just “make” the sale.

With regards to the sink, how will you light it and fit a mirror in the corner, and where will towel bars go that do not interfere with this special sink?

Be sure to plan the countertop splash/mirror/light fixture relationship. A bar-type fixture is a great light fixture to use because the entire fixture height is minimal – designs that have hanging shades can be impossible to use if a mirror door must open or a surface-mounted cabinet is used.

If a fixture with an open cover is to be used, are you going to direct the light “up” so that no one stares into bare bulbs (downside is less light on the face for applying make-up), or are you going to direct them down? This decision must be made before the electrician roughs-in the line for the fixture – or extra money and job delays will occur, resulting in lost money and an unhappy client.

If budget is a concern, be careful about custom shower doors – make sure you know all the choices available. I recently priced out a neo angle door/wall system and received a $4,000 estimate from the custom shop I normally use, and a $750 price from an “off-the-shelf” provider. In some baths, the door may not be key to the design or the functional solution; therefore, maybe you can use a standard door and apply the savings to something more important to the client.

Whatever you do, don’t make the floor space too small around the toilet. Finally, realize that your clients may not want to hear your planning criteria. Just get it ergonomically “right” for the client.