Am I the only person who can't stand the half bathrooms that get built right next to the kitchen? It seems convenient, but these are often meant for guests, and I feel terribly uncomfortable using them, especially when every single one I've been in seems to have no noise dampening built in. Also there's the issue of bathroom smells mixing with kitchen smells, it just seems gross and potentially embarrassing for guests. It seems to be a popular standard feature in most houses from the past 10 years, but personally I think the toilet is something that should be built out of sight and out of mind, not right next to an eating and food preparation area lol.
Half Bathrooms Next to the Kitchen
- Thread starter icey_IHB
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Over the years having studied environmental psychology I learned that guests are reluctant to use the powder room because of the exact reasons Icey pointed out. Powder room must always have a small vestibule to shield it from sight. It should also be located at least 10' (minimal room length) away from the kitchen for buffering noise as well as smell. Foul water and clean water are important in feng shui.
Feng Shui also has grand scale application beyond the water in the toilet. Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Westin and Hyatt all consulted with feng shui master for their lobby and restroom locations. Prior to the 90's Vegas hotels were quite seedy and none seemed to established a grandeur statement. Steve Wynn consulted with a feng shui master and he recommended the element of water for his hotels as a focal point. First the Mirage and then Treasure Island. The water element in each scenario were shaped to promote wealth. Other hotels without the water feng shui element quickly faded such as NY NY, Luxor, Excalibur, Stratosphere and etc. Wynn continued to expand his water feng shui elements in the Bellagio, Wynn and Encore. Both Wynn, Encore, and the body of water in conjuction is a metaphor symbol of Ying and Yang.
Best place for the laundry room is by the bedrooms (that's where almost all of the laundry is generated, after all). My washer/dryer is in the garage, which I dislike-I don't want to have to walk on the dirty garage concrete floor in bare feet or in just socks, or have to put on shoes or slippers, just to do the laundry. I'm thinking about eventually installing linoleum or some such from the exit of the garage door from the house to the washer and dryer (not far) to mitigate this somewhat.
In addition to the button, you need to be able to aim so that you can: (1) Shower IHO's minivan after you pass him because he's driving too slow in the fast lane, and (2) Shoot at USC when he screams by you in his new BMW.
Excellent idea.
Didn't you design San Simeon plan 1 which has a toilet visible from the dining room table and can also be seen from the kitchen (reflection in powder room mirror)? The only good thing about the toilet next to the dining room table design is that your dinner guests always know if the lavatory is occupied so they won't make wasted trips to an occupied lavatory.
I've talked to many Chinamen who would never set foot in Luxor as it is modeled after a tomb.
Toilet is not visible from dining and kitchen and the fixture is 10' away from the kitchen.
Well, it's hardly BK's fault that he was asked to divvy up a shoebox. All you can ask is that he did the best he could, which is way better than most could have. Frankly, I felt cramped just looking at the plan. What's the square footage on these?
1,430 sf. 33x33 footprint including a 20x20 garage and 50% of the patio yard.
Well, its been many years since I lived there so please foregive my erroneous recollection about the precise toilet location. I was single at the time and spent most of my time at home drinking 8%+ malt beverages or sleeping off the after effects so my memory was obviously impaired. However, visible or not, the toilet definately was a "presence" in the dining room. There was really no inconspicuous way to excuse yourself during a meal. The other dinner guests will know how long you washed your hands after doing your business.
To the Bk fan club, I am not criticizing bk and agree the design is ingenious for the footprint. The only reason I sold is lack of space, not dissatifaction with the design.
I also suffer from goingnumbertwoaphobia... the fear of people knowing what you're doing in the bathroom.
That "feels" a lot smaller than 1,433 sq ft. Must be the fact that it's a two story and I'm used to looking at one stories out here in Riverside.
bkshopr_IHB
New member
icey said:
Over the years having studied environmental psychology I learned that guests are reluctant to use the powder room because of the exact reasons Icey pointed out. Powder room must always have a small vestibule to shield it from sight. It should also be located at least 10' (minimal room length) away from the kitchen for buffering noise as well as smell. Foul water and clean water are important in feng shui.
Feng Shui also has grand scale application beyond the water in the toilet. Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Westin and Hyatt all consulted with feng shui master for their lobby and restroom locations. Prior to the 90's Vegas hotels were quite seedy and none seemed to established a grandeur statement. Steve Wynn consulted with a feng shui master and he recommended the element of water for his hotels as a focal point. First the Mirage and then Treasure Island. The water element in each scenario were shaped to promote wealth. Other hotels without the water feng shui element quickly faded such as NY NY, Luxor, Excalibur, Stratosphere and etc. Wynn continued to expand his water feng shui elements in the Bellagio, Wynn and Encore. Both Wynn, Encore, and the body of water in conjuction is a metaphor symbol of Ying and Yang.
Geotpf_IHB
New member
I'm sure this is done for cost reasons-there's already plumbing going to the kitchen, so it's cheaper to put the half bath nearby than elsewhere.
One way around this is to buy a one story. It eliminates the need for the extra half bath downstairs-guests can use the hall bathroom near the (non-master) bedrooms. So instead of a two story 4/2.5, you have a one story 4/2 with almost the same utility.
Of course, with lot sizes so small in Irvine, one story houses are rare and expensive.
One way around this is to buy a one story. It eliminates the need for the extra half bath downstairs-guests can use the hall bathroom near the (non-master) bedrooms. So instead of a two story 4/2.5, you have a one story 4/2 with almost the same utility.
Of course, with lot sizes so small in Irvine, one story houses are rare and expensive.
SoOCOwner_IHB
New member
Our 1/2 bath is directly next to the dining room. The person sitting at the head of the table has a view directly into the john - just a few feet away. I've literally had folks get up from the dinner table, use the bathroom and sit down again. Nice.
momopi_IHB
New member
bkshopr_IHB
New member
I need one for the driver seat with the septic tank that empty out to the freeway lane with a control of a botton.
irvine_home_owner_IHB
New member
I was going to post something similar to this.
I also don't like it when the laundry room/area is next to the kitchen.
1. Don't want to smell bathroom odors while cooking/eating.
2. Don't want clean clothes to smell like food.
3. Don't want clean clothes to smell like food and kaka/doodoo/peepee.
So if you put a water feature in the 1/2 bath does it give you Feng Shui credit?
I also don't like it when the laundry room/area is next to the kitchen.
1. Don't want to smell bathroom odors while cooking/eating.
2. Don't want clean clothes to smell like food.
3. Don't want clean clothes to smell like food and kaka/doodoo/peepee.
So if you put a water feature in the 1/2 bath does it give you Feng Shui credit?
Geotpf_IHB
New member
irvine_home_owner said:
Best place for the laundry room is by the bedrooms (that's where almost all of the laundry is generated, after all). My washer/dryer is in the garage, which I dislike-I don't want to have to walk on the dirty garage concrete floor in bare feet or in just socks, or have to put on shoes or slippers, just to do the laundry. I'm thinking about eventually installing linoleum or some such from the exit of the garage door from the house to the washer and dryer (not far) to mitigate this somewhat.
Sunshine_IHB
New member
bkshopr said:
In addition to the button, you need to be able to aim so that you can: (1) Shower IHO's minivan after you pass him because he's driving too slow in the fast lane, and (2) Shoot at USC when he screams by you in his new BMW.
bkshopr_IHB
New member
Sunshine said:
Excellent idea.
High Gravity_IHB
New member
bkshopr said:
Didn't you design San Simeon plan 1 which has a toilet visible from the dining room table and can also be seen from the kitchen (reflection in powder room mirror)? The only good thing about the toilet next to the dining room table design is that your dinner guests always know if the lavatory is occupied so they won't make wasted trips to an occupied lavatory.
I've talked to many Chinamen who would never set foot in Luxor as it is modeled after a tomb.
bkshopr_IHB
New member
High Gravity said:
Toilet is not visible from dining and kitchen and the fixture is 10' away from the kitchen.
Geotpf_IHB
New member
It is close to the dining room, but there's no real way around that, and somebody designing for pure cost would have put the toliet and sink on the other wall of the powder room to have one fewer wet wall (because the washer and dryer are on the other side), in which case the door would, in fact, open into the dining room and the toliet would be visible.
However, I have two minor quibbles. One is a pure terminology one-that's not a great room, that's a living room. It's nowhere near the kitchen, the ceiling doesn't appear to be very high, and it's not very large. Second, the laundry is in the garage. It would be fairly easy to just add a wall there, seperating it from the garage.
However, I have two minor quibbles. One is a pure terminology one-that's not a great room, that's a living room. It's nowhere near the kitchen, the ceiling doesn't appear to be very high, and it's not very large. Second, the laundry is in the garage. It would be fairly easy to just add a wall there, seperating it from the garage.
EvaLSeraphim_IHB
New member
Geotpf said:
Well, it's hardly BK's fault that he was asked to divvy up a shoebox. All you can ask is that he did the best he could, which is way better than most could have. Frankly, I felt cramped just looking at the plan. What's the square footage on these?
Mcdonna1980_IHB
New member
Bk, I think you did a good job with those floor plans given the space restrictions. I visited the Decada (same as San Simeon) models in Portola Springs. My personal favorite was the plan 3. It felt the most spacious. The stairway leading up to the second floor was by far the most inviting do to the large elongated windows with a view of the backyard. Windows in the master closet were also a big plus for me as I'm a tad claustrophobic. I personally couldn't care less about the laundry in the garage because I despise laundry and don't want to have to listen to the machines going.
Astute Observer_IHB
New member
One good thing about able to watch the powder room from kitchen is that I can put my kid on the poty in there, and still can do my cooking. I use lots of odorous things (like shrimp paste), so the powder room makes my kitchen more kitchen-like.
bkshopr_IHB
New member
EvaLSeraphim said:
1,430 sf. 33x33 footprint including a 20x20 garage and 50% of the patio yard.
High Gravity_IHB
New member
bkshopr said:
Well, its been many years since I lived there so please foregive my erroneous recollection about the precise toilet location. I was single at the time and spent most of my time at home drinking 8%+ malt beverages or sleeping off the after effects so my memory was obviously impaired. However, visible or not, the toilet definately was a "presence" in the dining room. There was really no inconspicuous way to excuse yourself during a meal. The other dinner guests will know how long you washed your hands after doing your business.
To the Bk fan club, I am not criticizing bk and agree the design is ingenious for the footprint. The only reason I sold is lack of space, not dissatifaction with the design.
irvine_home_owner_IHB
New member
It's okay... I know that's what you really wanted to say.High Gravity said:
I also suffer from goingnumbertwoaphobia... the fear of people knowing what you're doing in the bathroom.
Geotpf_IHB
New member
bkshopr said:
That "feels" a lot smaller than 1,433 sq ft. Must be the fact that it's a two story and I'm used to looking at one stories out here in Riverside.