Downstairs toilets vs bigger kitchen

[monaco]

Hi, we are currently planning a complete refurbishing of the kitchen and as part of that would like to create more space by removing the toilet that is currently occupying the back wall space. We could either move it to the space opposite the door to the cellar and make it quite small or get rid of it completely.

Have any one of you moved the toilet to that space and how does it feel?

Also, what's the general opinion about totally getting rid of a downstairs toilets to have a bigger kitchen: crazy idea or "go for it, after all it's your space to enjoy"?

[sw1234]

Personally I would never get rid of a downstairs toilet and certainly I would never buy a house without one, particularly if I had children. Move it yes but don’t remove it!

[C8989]

Agree with earlier reply. I wouldn’t delete a downstairs toilet. A toilet and basin can be quite space efficient if designed well. I think you might notice loss of downstairs loo more than you’d gain in kitchen space.

[Nightingale]

Also agree, keep a downstairs loo. Our friends did what you are suggesting by moving it and making more space in the kitchen. It really adds to the kitchen space and although the loo space is small it really isn’t a problem. We are going to do the same having seen it.

[Writerlady]

Totally opposite opinion here! Never had one. Whenever I go to houses with downstairs loo feels tiny and squeezed in and like you’re almost in the kitchen! Had two small children and managed fine. Loo was just at top of first flight of stairs. Nicely separate from kitchen but not exactly far! And children are small and being potty trained for such a short time. Just not worth it. Victorian houses tend to have lots of floors but shortage of living space. We had three bathrooms - didn’t want to take up valuable kitchen/living space with squashed in downstairs loo!!

[monaco]

Thank you for your comments.  I may do another post asking someone if they have a tiny loo in the kitchen that we could visit to get an idea!

@writerlady, thanks for your opinion too. Reading it, it's very tempting to do the same! We have two bathrooms, one on the first floor and one on the top floor so it's true that we already have two toilets.  Also we are redoing the first floor bathroom and my husband is such a minimalist that the room would always look squeaky clean.  

mmm, food for thoughts...

[mum_1980]

Don't get rid of your toilet downstairs, it is so important for so many reasons:

a) kids - I've had several incidents when they don't quite make it up the stairs in time! - oops
b) guests - I have to completely clear out my bathroom every time guests come because the family bathroom is also the guest bathroom and I don't want everyone seeing our wet towels and guzillion bottles and tubes of cosmetics, etc. It is a real pain.
c) Old people - my mother and parents-in-law come over a lot and it is difficult for them to go up and down the stairs.
d) Sickness - if you are ever ill or can't get around easily, it's much easier to have a loo downstairs so you don't have to keep going up the stairs.
e) I believe houses with toilets downstairs are more desirable to buy - although I don't think this is a deal breaker as anyone who bought it from you could just put one in.

I think if you are going through all the disruption of building, and you want a bigger kitchen, then reconfigure the toilet and have a smaller one rather than getting rid of it. You may regret it in future and then it's a hassle to put it back in.

I am planning to do a side return in my house some time this century and when I do, the first thing I'm putting in is a downstairs toilet!!

But of course it is your home and your choice! Good luck!

 

[dudette]

I lived in a house once without a downstairs loo. Visitors had to go up the stairs to use my bathroom on the first floor (we had two other bathrooms higher up). I found it a real invasion of privacy - you may not as you say it will always be immaculate but you might find the house harder to sell. Another idea is to have a cloakroom for dumping shoes, coats and scoooters if you don’t have one already (you could maybe get one under the stairs if you don’t have a cellar). I would have both of these in preference to a slightly larger kitchen.

[dudette]

Also if you put in a piece of mirrored glass to fill the entire length of one of the longer walls you’ll find the loo feels much bigger.