apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Is there room to fit a screen between the toilet and the tub?

I'd say go for the clawfoot tub. Their size if great and it would open up the space. The usual solution for the clawfoot tub as shower, is to have an oval shower curtain ring overhead; often it is integrated into the faucet system. Cliff's Hardware in the Castro carries them, amazingly enough!

On ours, we put a clear plastic liner (it actually requires two), with a sheer on the outside. Keeps it from looking to solid-looking, but the sheer hides the inevitable cloudiness of the liner.

Good luck!

How about a deep bathtub, like this:

http://www.signaturehardware.com/product2433

With the higher sides, maybe you won't be able to see the toilet while you're taking a bath. The clawfoot style tubs are higher off the ground too, and I think one would look really nice in your bathroom. There are special shower curtain fixtures you can use for clawfoot tubs. I used to use two curtains, one on each side of the tub, but there are also extra wide curtains that will go all the way around.

https://www.vintagetub.com/asp/product_detail.asp?
item_no=s404e

http://www.clawfootsupply.com/product2671

Removing the shower doors is pretty easy (though you'll have some screw holes to patch, and you may need to touch up the tub enamel where the door track was resting). Then you can just use an tension-mounted shower-curtain rod (Restoration Hardware has some nice, classic-looking chrome ones) to hang a curtain and liner.

It's hard to tell from the photo how big the bathroom is or exactly where the door is placed, but unless there's a lot more space we can't see or the door is on the wall opposite the sink and toilet, it doesn't look like there's anywhere to move the toilet *to*. If the door is directly across from where the toilet is now, perhaps you could swap the positions of the sink and toilet. Or, if you have another full bathroom, you may want to (temporarily) remove the toilet and replace it with another pedestal sink. (Though I think both of those options would probably require some moderate plumbing and floor work, plus either moving the light and mirror or getting a matching set. And when you sold you'd have to put the toilet back.) You could erect a short half-wall between the tub and toilet -- although those are more commonly used between the toilet and the bathroom door, so it might look weird. I'd leave it alone -- once you replace the shower door with a curtain, you can just pull the curtain a third of the way closed on the toilet side so you're not staring straight at the can while you soak.

I don't think a claw-footed tub would solve your too-small tub problem. It might actually make it worse (since in my experience having the shower curtain wrap all the way around you is a very claustrophobic feeling), and then you'd have all that errant shower water to deal with, too. I don't really think you can get a bigger tub without gutting the bathroom and stealing space from an adjoining closet or hallway.

Your bathroom is really cute, though, so if I were you I'd just get rid of those sliding doors, buy a pretty shower curtain, and count yourself lucky!

Have you thought about going frameless? Home Depot or Lowes will install and customize for you - it is a bit more pricey but the end result will be so much nicer and yes - it is definitely easier to clean! I wouldn't advise it if you were renting but since you own the place, it will increase the value of your place too if/when you plan to sell.

On the flip side, in my old place, I used curtains for one of the bathrooms and kept it super simple - white terry curtain and white liner. The liner gets yucky over time and you will need to replace it regularly but the look is very clean - you can add detail in the hooks if it is too simple for you.

Hey there,

We're redoing our bathroom right now. We're going with a European Shower Screen:

http://www.artistcraft.com/tub_doors/bathtub_screens/33/4328
or
http://www.bathroomheaven.com/sp_brochure/shower_screens

Most bathroom places have them on display.

hi vince,

the doors are beautiful. but i have to ask, are you worried that they will/won't keep all the water in? i've never used a shower with a european screen so i'm curious if water/shampoo suds splash out when there's a messy shower-er. please let us know how you like them. good luck with the installation! would love to hear all the details, we will be redoing our bathroom in march. its scary!

here's a tip for an instant remodel---my sis did this and it worked great. while you're deciding on/arranging for demo'ing the doors and/or replacing your tub, you can install a tension-mounted curtain rod with shower curtain right outside of your door/tub. my sis bought nice ones from restoration hardware. you won't need to bother to get a liner, b/c the water won't escape since you'll still have the door in place.

granted this is will most likely be temporary solution, but it's a small investment for a completely new and clean look. (sorry, no ideas on the toilet/tub issue).

personally, i don't like shower curtains because water does escape, and also b/c i don't like to feel so closed off as i shower. i have frameless shower doors as a result that i love.

good luck!

if you do end up getting a clawfoot tub, keep in mind all the tile you will have to replace, and probably match to the existing. plus a new concrete floor there. plus plumbing. you are opening a big can of worms. you are talking thousands of dollars when it is all done.

I say take off the shower door, get a nice thick (5/8") frameless frosted/antiqued glass panel (i think others have reccomended this) that covers half the tub/shower, so you can just walk around to the other side of the panel to shower/bathe.

also if you replace that mirror with one that has more detail, maybe a black frame or a mirrored frame it will give the whole room a little more class.

A frameless shower door would do wonders for this bathroom. I would also get some color on the walls and a new medicine cabinet or mirror. Also, sconces on either side of the mirror would really help class it up.

I would put an separating wall in half the width of the shower screen stopping about 1 foot short of the ceiling. Line the bath side with a material such as swanstone (that's the name her in the UK, it is a little like corian)and you don't have that awful grout discolouring you get with tiles Then you can decorate the outside wall to match the rest of your bathroom. This would stop water splashing out when you shower. I have done this with a small bathroom with the toilet next to the walk in shower. If you go to here you will see it http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6046/1683/1600/ShwrRm.jpg

i agree that you should go with a frameless glass shower screen. just a big piece of glass... make certain to look for opti-clear glass which won't give you the greenish tint that most thick glass casts. i would make it as long as possible to avoid shower water from splashing on your floor.

i think shower curtains look somewhat cheap and the glass barrier would really open up the bathroom.

if you want to spend a bit more money, have a contractor build out a tub (plywood) and then cover it with the same tile that is on your bathroom floors. the bathtub will look like it has always been in the apartment and will look seamless and modern. you can go as deeper and wider since you won't be restricted by the fittings needed for fiberglass bathtubs.

i was planning on using lala's suggestion for my new apartment's bathroom. i HATE shower doors, but it's a rental, so i can't really take it down. i'm happy to see that someone else has done this with success.

Uggg I have to say I hate those european shower shields- water gets everywhere because it bounced off your body and you never get the warm, cosy, enclosed feeling you get with a shower curtain. I never feel warm when I'm taking a shower in a tub with one of those screens.

i'm with cval gal. one of the places i stayed in while on a vacation to ireland had one of those european shower screens. water got *everywhere*. it was a total mess!

Probably the lowest cost option (other than doing nothing!) is to remove the doors and install a shower curtain with a design that complements your style. A curved shower rod would even ensure lots of room for you when you shower.
As for looking at the toilet while bathing, just close the lid and place a lit candle on it :-)