Would you sacrifice a third bedroom for a better bathroom arrangement?

Sapindus

Currently looking at a 1930s semidetached property to buy.  There is scope to extend but I don't have the budget.  Current set up is:

Ground floor: hall, living room, dining room, tiny kitchen with chilly bathroom off it.
First floor: Two double bedrooms, one single bedroom, tired ensuite off biggest bedroom.

I am considering turning the third bedroom into a bathroom, scrapping the ensuite and turning the downstairs bathroom into a pantry/utility.  This set up would suit me very well.  I am looking to spend 20 years in this property and may inherit money at some point to do further work on it.

The house is in a very small village with reasonable access to larger towns and villages.

Opinions on whether this is a good idea?

teaselMay

Sounds good to me. If you're planning to stay there make it right for you.

As the bathroom is currently downstairs, and so the plumbing will all be there, you could in your planned changes make a small downstairs toilet as well as the pantry if that might be useful.

HampshireH

If your planning to stay then it doesn't matter what may work for others. Make it do you. I would recommend a downstairs toilet too if it fits as it's much easier for guests and definitely if you get poorly or have less mobile visitors 

Stubod

..if you are going to be staying there for a good few years, do what is right for you..

FlorayG

I had a house exactly like that; I sold it to an independent developer and he did exactly what you are proposing and sold it on at a good profit

RelievedSheff

You plan to stay long term so do what is right for you.

For what it is worth though I wouldn't get rid of the en-suite until you have lived with it for a while. We didn't think we wanted one until we bought our current house which has one. Wouldn't be without one now!

Sapindus

RelievedSheff said:

You plan to stay long term so do what is right for you.

For what it is worth though I wouldn't get rid of the en-suite until you have lived with it for a while. We didn't think we wanted one until we bought our current house which has one. Wouldn't be without one now!

I actively dislike the idea of an ensuite.  Two bedrooms with an ensuite AND a family bathroom, may as well just have two ensuites... not sure... worth thinking about.

teaselMay

I've similar feelings Sapindus, A few of the houses I've looked at had 3 bedrooms, 2 with en suite, and a bathroom, and a downstairs loo. It just meant lots of tiny rooms! 

Do what's right for you.

RelievedSheff

Sapindus said:

RelievedSheff said:

You plan to stay long term so do what is right for you.

For what it is worth though I wouldn't get rid of the en-suite until you have lived with it for a while. We didn't think we wanted one until we bought our current house which has one. Wouldn't be without one now!

I actively dislike the idea of an ensuite.  Two bedrooms with an ensuite AND a family bathroom, may as well just have two ensuites... not sure... worth thinking about.

At the end of the day it will be your house so do what suits you.

Just saying it might be worth living with it a while as is before doing any major works.

teaselMay

RelievedSheff said:

Sapindus said:

RelievedSheff said:

You plan to stay long term so do what is right for you.

For what it is worth though I wouldn't get rid of the en-suite until you have lived with it for a while. We didn't think we wanted one until we bought our current house which has one. Wouldn't be without one now!

I actively dislike the idea of an ensuite.  Two bedrooms with an ensuite AND a family bathroom, may as well just have two ensuites... not sure... worth thinking about.

At the end of the day it will be your house so do what suits you.

Just saying it might be worth living with it a while as is before doing any major works.

It's interesting how different people's ideals are. I was describing some of the houses I'd seen that to me just seemed like wastes of spaces with all the en suites and consequently smaller bedrooms. A friend was loving the same houses. Took me a while to realise they have 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, which works well in their house. Different things work for different people don't they

Emmia

I would always have a loo and basin downstairs, but a whole bathroom isn't necessary.

I'd also have an ensuite on the master bedroom if possible.