We’re finally at a point where we’re thinking more seriously about our first floor renovation. In addition to a new kitchen, the reno will involve reconfiguring our current long and skinny storage/utility space that runs from our back door under the stairs. We plan to add a bathroom and make a better organized laundry room.

I keep going back and forth on how far we should take the bathroom. We live in a neighborhood where all the houses are the same. The houses were all constructed with one full bathroom upstairs but over the years many people have added a second bathroom on the main level. Many homeowners have added a three-piece bathroom, with a toilet, sink, and standing shower. I’m not convinced it’s the best use of space. The room almost always seems crowded and the floor plan is frequently wonky.  The bathroom is right off of the main living space, which is already awkward, but it’s potentially even weirder to walk past your front door and through your living room to take a shower. Plus, adding the shower takes more room from the storage area, and I honestly think a big storage closet is more valuable in this house than a second shower. On the other hand, there is something appealing about eventually listing the house as two full bathrooms and I think that’s why a lot of homeowners have gone that route. For now, I’m sticking with no shower, and I’ve decided that I want to make this bathroom as small as possible so that we can maximize storage space in the laundry/utility room.

In order to squeeze the footprint of the sink (and hopefully save some money), I’m planning to do a small wall mounted sink. I’d love to make this room bold and graphic so that it’s a fun addition to the first floor instead of a tiny afterthought.

I also really like the contrast of bright white wainscot and dark paint or wallpaper. On the floors I would love to do some type of a hex mosaic, whether it’s porcelain or marble. The toilet will be recessed slightly into the under-stair area and I plan to install a recessed wall cabinet over the toilet for storage.

I’m in the process of drawing up plans and my next step will be to talk to the plumber and electrician to see how much those critical elements are going to cost and that what I want to do will be possible. I’m so excited to take on our first major renovation. Are you planning any big home projects this spring?