If you live in an old building or a rental, you'll understand where we're coming from: our last apartment's bathroom opened up directly into the kitchen, as did our apartment before that. In fact, we grew up in a home where the toilet room (just the toilet.. the sink and bathtub were separate) was basically in the dining room, a few feet away from the table...and our guests eating dinner. For anyone entertaining or on a date, this can be veeeerrrrry awkward. So how to help ease their discomfort?
It's a fact of life for many urban dwellers, unfortunately, so you have to make the best of it. We can tend to put up with the inconvenience, but we feel more for our guests. So here are a few things that help curb the awkward sounds and...er...smells that threaten to make their way into the kitchen:
- Make sure there's a working fan that can be turned on when the light is switched on. This helps to ease people's discomfort.
- Make sure all-natural scented candles are lit.
- Hide a small stereo in a cupboard and play some music. (How very spa-like.)
But perhaps most of all, don't draw attention to it! If your space is really small and your guest needs to use the bathroom, make up some excuse and leave the kitchen for awhile so that they don't feel crowded.
What about you? Has this been an issue for you? Or is it simply no big deal? Come on, come on... don't be shy!
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Comments (21)
Basically, you need soundproofing. Since your concern is for the comfort of guests on either side of that door, there are three points to consider: the person on the inside, the door itself, and the guests outside.
Comfort inside the bathroom means hearing nothing from the other side, so some sort of white noise is key - better a powerful (if loud) exhaust fan than music. Also, rugs and/or carpet inside the bathroom will help to absorb noise.
A heavy door with foam baffles on all edges will keep both noise and any potentially offensive odors from passing between the two rooms.
For the kitchen, I second the notion of playing music, and recommend ample libations in addition. Most importantly, a good sense of humor will win the day for all parties involved.
My bathroom opens into the kitchen, and in fact i had it remodeled that way. For my situation it works much better. I don't know. Its not really that big of an issue. Heck, the door is a frosted glass door. *Shrug* I don't know. Its not been an issue with any of my visitors.
Install a fog horn that perpetually blows when the light switch is flipped to ensure all sounds are masked.
Mines is right by the kitchen as well, but if we all restrain from giggling, guests don't seem to be too uncomfortable.
The best $80 bucks I have ever spent was for the Brondell Breeza toilet seat. It has a fan built in with a filter that runs the "bad" air through a charcoal filter and then over a scented (with natural oils) insert. It runs on batteries so no need for electrical... PLUS!! It's a soft close seat (no slamming!!) and it adjusts to just about every toilet out there. Run, do not walk to... http://www.brondell.com/products/Breeza.php
My house has the bathroom right off the kitchen and it's never been a problem. In fact, when I'm preparing a meal, I prefer to step over to the bathroom sink to wash my hands instead of using the kitchen. I serve dinner guests in the living/dining room, away from the kitchen so I guess we don't have an issue with "noises" during dinner. Then again, friends of mine added a powder room right off their dining room (with frosted glass door!) and no one seems put out by it.
haha, I used to rent a place where you'd have to go through the kitchen and then through the pantry as well, to find the bathroom! I always hated that. I found the "in" and "out" way to close for comfort, if you catch my meaning :o/
oh my gosh, I totally know what you mean. I rent an old house and the bathroom is right of the kitchen's tiny dining room area. So awkward at dinner parties when someone has to "go." You hear everything. Pfft. How weird!
One of my favorite restaurants has an unfortunate bathroom location. Luckily, the ambiance in the bathroom makes up for it. There is a sound machine of waves crashing and it's sooo relaxing, I make it a point to go in there every time I dine.
Maybe a beaded curtain in front of the door would make it seem more like a VIP lounge than a toilet???
I hate this! My in-laws's bathroom opens up the very frequently used dining room. You can hear everything. My MIL's solution to this is to run the faucet every time she's in there to mask any sound. Of course, this wastes water, but it works.
It turns my stomach to think about bathroom functions and eating in the same physical space. We decided once to pass up on buying a house because a bathroom was right off the kitchen, next to the stove. Yech.
dcirene, I totally agree. The smells that can come from the bathroom are not very appetizing and it's just an awkward set up. While it may not be a big issue for people who live in the home, it's probably uncomfortable for guests (they may not say anything because it's your home and what can you do). You feel like everyone can see or hear what you do, esp. since most gatherings end up in the kitchen. That's really awkward for someone with an upset stomach or during that time of the month. I would never have remodeled it that way like Jose did, seems a bad move for resale.
I had a kitchen that had a toilet room where you would expect a mud room to be. The back door opened into it and then into the kitchen. There was a full bath upstairs. On occasion guests would use it, but not really while we were cooking. (mom just after a long drive for example) It wasn't a big deal.
both of my bathrooms are pretty open to the rest of the house. It isn't a big deal to anyone- and believe me ,my friends would tell me if it was. Once you have kids- noises and smells are a fact of life. Trust me, it can get a lot worse!
I had a friend that used to yell "run the water" everytime someone walked into his bathroom. It became a joke and a catch phrase for all of us.
how about this - the down stairs bathroom in my house is in the center of the living area. it opens into the dining room, has frosted glass door which I had to cover with a curtain - you could see the shape of the person sitting on the toilet. what makes it even worse is the small window that opens into the living room, it's high but still no masking the noise. I use the water technique when I'm feeling shy, but still it can be uncomfortable..
Always dream of having one of those loud rattly old fans!
Oh this is one of the most hated features of our apartment. The only time it has had its benefits is when I am trying to cook and bathe a kid at the same time. Not only do we have a bathroom in our kitchen, but our kitchen also functions as our dining room, and laundry room. Way too many purposes for one room. Glad to be moving in 2 weeks!
I've been the unfortunate guest of a friend who had one of those bathrooms off the kitchen/breakfast room...
...and I was the guy w/ the upset stomach.
It was VERY unpleasant being right there when others were using the facilities (but nobody said anything because we were all too polite) so I made a point to go upstairs to use the other bathroom in the house when I needed.
That type of bathroom would be an instant dealbreaker to buying or renting a place unless I could bring in a workman to close off the door and knock another door into an adjacent hall or bedroom.
Poo-pourri.
You spray it into the bowl and it creates a barrier. It works. I made a bunch of my guys friends try it when we went on vacation.
The water running trick is a good one, too!
I don't mind it being off the kitchen except when there is someone in the kitchen. At a party or in a restaurant, I want the bathroom to be as secluded as possible! A long hallway with a turn in it is a plus!
It's not fun when you're the "smell emitter" or on the receiving end but if you've got the radio playing, the stove exhaust fan running, food cooking, and people talking its not that bad.
What's bad is when you have a 20 lb. cat who wants to be IN the bathroom with you when you're doing your business. He either howls if he's stuck outside the door or starts sticking his front paws under the door. Incessantly. It's really funny if you're not the one in the bathroom. :-)
I never gave it a second thought until I read this post. My bathroom leads directly from the kitchen and comes in very handy when cooking or running in from the garden.
Where I live, in New Zealand, building regulations specify that there must be 2 doors between a toilet/bathroom and any area where food is prepared or consumed This is not for privacy for the person using the facilities, but for hygiene, to prevent cross-contamination.
I personally dislike laundry facilities in the kitchen though I'm finding this is often the case over here. Strictly speaking, this area should be sealed off behind closable doors, but it doesn't always happen.