Add-ons

[happyjacks]

I once stayed at a place where we rented the third floor room that advertised private bath. Got there and found out the private bath was in the basement. Two flights downstairs. ummmmmm....no.
We ended up paying for the more expensive room.
But the point is, a - don't over advertise, but to the point of the thread, b - maybe there is a spot down the hall or downstairs or in an out of the way place you hadn't considered..

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.

It all depends on he clientele and location. There are many people who will not give a rip if it is down the hall as long as it is private - but that will only fly in some locations. I am fortunate that I get people who are not too snooty to go down the hall in the robes i have provided. I WILL say though that for the most part, en suite is the way to go if possible.
.

Not snooty at all. If I need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night...which I usually do...I don't want to go down the hall ANYWHERE.
.

I agree en suite is best, but Beach House gets a different clientele than Maddie. Maddie gets the guests I do not EVER want to find me. I will tell KatesCottage to make en suite unequivocally, but I will never make anyone feel their place is less than nice if they have a bathroom "down the hall". We have to work with what we have. And that is what I have to work with. I do not have enough money to change the bathroom situation. I started out underfunded (surprise!!) - raising 6 kids was not cheap. I found out a long time ago that my comfort zone is "broke" and I will do what I do with what I have and not worry about it. We all know that what makes people choose one room over another has no rhyme or reason. I had several people - even after the private bath was created - who called my full-size room next to that bathroom in the hall "is MY room available?"
That is what makes us all different. You would never use a hot tub away from home yet gurus are still telling innkeepers they MUST have them. Why if people are not going to use them? Then there are people like me who do not give a rip about the amenities - just give me a comfortable bed, a bathroom nearby (and a robe if it is not in the room), and GOOD food and I am happy. It is because we are so different and our guests are so different that B & Bs are the way to stay. No one is absolutely right nor wrong. I apologize if snooty was the wrong word to use - we step on toes sometimes without meaning to.
.

Hi guys,
I am still listening to you all. I met with my carpenter and plumber yesterday and we are trying to work out an arrangement to add a small bath to my second, smaller guest room. We think we have it together. I have to go price/choose fixtures today. My concern is that this will somewhat butcher the house in the long run and certainly the space inside that room. But I suppose another bath could be a plus when someday listing for resale. I can cut a doorway through the wall of my larger bedroom into the existing adjacent bath, thus creating a private bath for that room with little damage. Please understand that I am very reluctant to do this, simply based on the fact that I don't want to ruin the house. I chose this house because it has been beautifully upgraded and met all the requirements on my mental checklist. I felt everything about it was right for what I wanted to do. When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed. I had no idea that private baths are such a necessity.
.

...I don't want to ruin the house...When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed.

That's the basic decision you must make before you proceed. Are you running a business that needs to be successful, or are you running a hobby and it really doesn't matter, financially, if people come or not.
If it's a hobby, and business success isn't an issue, then do what you really want and have shared bathrooms. It will hurt the business, but if that's not a high priority, then it's OK. You can enjoy the people who do come, and keep your house the way you want it.
Just re-read the advice above about how it will be harder to change later than to do it up front, not just based on the construction work, but also to undo damage to the place's reputation as not having private bathrooms in the bedrooms.
Realize that Europe is full of buildings MUCH older than yours and they have become experts at modifying them to work as modern lodging while keeping the character of the old structure. It can be done, and is done all the time.
.

The bath is not totally out of the question. I'm still kicking the idea around. I may have found a bath design that could work: http://freshome.com/2012/10/09/30-small-bathroom-design-ideas/small_bathroom/ Fixtures are small and compact. If I can do this and still keep the integrity of the house I won't mind.
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.
That bathroom is cute BTW!
Good luck with the planning and hopefully you can get another bathroom in!
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.

Have you looked at some of the Ikea sinks? They have a few that are designed for micro condos. Might fit for you. Link here:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/categories/departments/bathroom/20723/
We have one sink I'd like to replace but it's an antique (or maybe just old) corner sink and I've never seen anything like it.

 

[Madeleine]

I once stayed at a place where we rented the third floor room that advertised private bath. Got there and found out the private bath was in the basement. Two flights downstairs. ummmmmm....no.
We ended up paying for the more expensive room.
But the point is, a - don't over advertise, but to the point of the thread, b - maybe there is a spot down the hall or downstairs or in an out of the way place you hadn't considered..

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.

It all depends on he clientele and location. There are many people who will not give a rip if it is down the hall as long as it is private - but that will only fly in some locations. I am fortunate that I get people who are not too snooty to go down the hall in the robes i have provided. I WILL say though that for the most part, en suite is the way to go if possible.
.

Not snooty at all. If I need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night...which I usually do...I don't want to go down the hall ANYWHERE.
.

I agree en suite is best, but Beach House gets a different clientele than Maddie. Maddie gets the guests I do not EVER want to find me. I will tell KatesCottage to make en suite unequivocally, but I will never make anyone feel their place is less than nice if they have a bathroom "down the hall". We have to work with what we have. And that is what I have to work with. I do not have enough money to change the bathroom situation. I started out underfunded (surprise!!) - raising 6 kids was not cheap. I found out a long time ago that my comfort zone is "broke" and I will do what I do with what I have and not worry about it. We all know that what makes people choose one room over another has no rhyme or reason. I had several people - even after the private bath was created - who called my full-size room next to that bathroom in the hall "is MY room available?"
That is what makes us all different. You would never use a hot tub away from home yet gurus are still telling innkeepers they MUST have them. Why if people are not going to use them? Then there are people like me who do not give a rip about the amenities - just give me a comfortable bed, a bathroom nearby (and a robe if it is not in the room), and GOOD food and I am happy. It is because we are so different and our guests are so different that B & Bs are the way to stay. No one is absolutely right nor wrong. I apologize if snooty was the wrong word to use - we step on toes sometimes without meaning to.
.

Hi guys,
I am still listening to you all. I met with my carpenter and plumber yesterday and we are trying to work out an arrangement to add a small bath to my second, smaller guest room. We think we have it together. I have to go price/choose fixtures today. My concern is that this will somewhat butcher the house in the long run and certainly the space inside that room. But I suppose another bath could be a plus when someday listing for resale. I can cut a doorway through the wall of my larger bedroom into the existing adjacent bath, thus creating a private bath for that room with little damage. Please understand that I am very reluctant to do this, simply based on the fact that I don't want to ruin the house. I chose this house because it has been beautifully upgraded and met all the requirements on my mental checklist. I felt everything about it was right for what I wanted to do. When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed. I had no idea that private baths are such a necessity.
.

...I don't want to ruin the house...When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed.

That's the basic decision you must make before you proceed. Are you running a business that needs to be successful, or are you running a hobby and it really doesn't matter, financially, if people come or not.
If it's a hobby, and business success isn't an issue, then do what you really want and have shared bathrooms. It will hurt the business, but if that's not a high priority, then it's OK. You can enjoy the people who do come, and keep your house the way you want it.
Just re-read the advice above about how it will be harder to change later than to do it up front, not just based on the construction work, but also to undo damage to the place's reputation as not having private bathrooms in the bedrooms.
Realize that Europe is full of buildings MUCH older than yours and they have become experts at modifying them to work as modern lodging while keeping the character of the old structure. It can be done, and is done all the time.
.

The bath is not totally out of the question. I'm still kicking the idea around. I may have found a bath design that could work: http://freshome.com/2012/10/09/30-small-bathroom-design-ideas/small_bathroom/ Fixtures are small and compact. If I can do this and still keep the integrity of the house I won't mind.
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.
That bathroom is cute BTW!
Good luck with the planning and hopefully you can get another bathroom in!
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.

Have you looked at some of the Ikea sinks? They have a few that are designed for micro condos. Might fit for you. Link here:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/categories/departments/bathroom/20723/
We have one sink I'd like to replace but it's an antique (or maybe just old) corner sink and I've never seen anything like it.
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.

Have you looked at some of the Ikea sinks? They have a few that are designed for micro condos. Might fit for you. Link here:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/categories/departments/bathroom/20723/
We have one sink I'd like to replace but it's an antique (or maybe just old) corner sink and I've never seen anything like it.

We'll leave it because it fits the space. It's not exactly pretty (it has metal legs that are awkward) but it's only the one room at this point.
It's about this size so we'd really only be trading! http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/20223716/ We have to have the legs because guests will lean on the sink. We've already tightened the sinks up over the years and replaced the grout because they've been pulled away from the wall.

 

[JBloggs]

I once stayed at a place where we rented the third floor room that advertised private bath. Got there and found out the private bath was in the basement. Two flights downstairs. ummmmmm....no.
We ended up paying for the more expensive room.
But the point is, a - don't over advertise, but to the point of the thread, b - maybe there is a spot down the hall or downstairs or in an out of the way place you hadn't considered..

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.

It all depends on he clientele and location. There are many people who will not give a rip if it is down the hall as long as it is private - but that will only fly in some locations. I am fortunate that I get people who are not too snooty to go down the hall in the robes i have provided. I WILL say though that for the most part, en suite is the way to go if possible.
.

Not snooty at all. If I need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night...which I usually do...I don't want to go down the hall ANYWHERE.
.

I agree en suite is best, but Beach House gets a different clientele than Maddie. Maddie gets the guests I do not EVER want to find me. I will tell KatesCottage to make en suite unequivocally, but I will never make anyone feel their place is less than nice if they have a bathroom "down the hall". We have to work with what we have. And that is what I have to work with. I do not have enough money to change the bathroom situation. I started out underfunded (surprise!!) - raising 6 kids was not cheap. I found out a long time ago that my comfort zone is "broke" and I will do what I do with what I have and not worry about it. We all know that what makes people choose one room over another has no rhyme or reason. I had several people - even after the private bath was created - who called my full-size room next to that bathroom in the hall "is MY room available?"
That is what makes us all different. You would never use a hot tub away from home yet gurus are still telling innkeepers they MUST have them. Why if people are not going to use them? Then there are people like me who do not give a rip about the amenities - just give me a comfortable bed, a bathroom nearby (and a robe if it is not in the room), and GOOD food and I am happy. It is because we are so different and our guests are so different that B & Bs are the way to stay. No one is absolutely right nor wrong. I apologize if snooty was the wrong word to use - we step on toes sometimes without meaning to.
.

Hi guys,
I am still listening to you all. I met with my carpenter and plumber yesterday and we are trying to work out an arrangement to add a small bath to my second, smaller guest room. We think we have it together. I have to go price/choose fixtures today. My concern is that this will somewhat butcher the house in the long run and certainly the space inside that room. But I suppose another bath could be a plus when someday listing for resale. I can cut a doorway through the wall of my larger bedroom into the existing adjacent bath, thus creating a private bath for that room with little damage. Please understand that I am very reluctant to do this, simply based on the fact that I don't want to ruin the house. I chose this house because it has been beautifully upgraded and met all the requirements on my mental checklist. I felt everything about it was right for what I wanted to do. When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed. I had no idea that private baths are such a necessity.
.

...I don't want to ruin the house...When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed.

That's the basic decision you must make before you proceed. Are you running a business that needs to be successful, or are you running a hobby and it really doesn't matter, financially, if people come or not.
If it's a hobby, and business success isn't an issue, then do what you really want and have shared bathrooms. It will hurt the business, but if that's not a high priority, then it's OK. You can enjoy the people who do come, and keep your house the way you want it.
Just re-read the advice above about how it will be harder to change later than to do it up front, not just based on the construction work, but also to undo damage to the place's reputation as not having private bathrooms in the bedrooms.
Realize that Europe is full of buildings MUCH older than yours and they have become experts at modifying them to work as modern lodging while keeping the character of the old structure. It can be done, and is done all the time.
.

The bath is not totally out of the question. I'm still kicking the idea around. I may have found a bath design that could work: http://freshome.com/2012/10/09/30-small-bathroom-design-ideas/small_bathroom/ Fixtures are small and compact. If I can do this and still keep the integrity of the house I won't mind.
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.
That bathroom is cute BTW!
Good luck with the planning and hopefully you can get another bathroom in!
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.

Have you looked at some of the Ikea sinks? They have a few that are designed for micro condos. Might fit for you. Link here:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/categories/departments/bathroom/20723/
We have one sink I'd like to replace but it's an antique (or maybe just old) corner sink and I've never seen anything like it.
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.

Have you looked at some of the Ikea sinks? They have a few that are designed for micro condos. Might fit for you. Link here:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/categories/departments/bathroom/20723/
We have one sink I'd like to replace but it's an antique (or maybe just old) corner sink and I've never seen anything like it.

There is one thing that these sinks never have, and that very few pedestal sinks have (a backsplash). Unless you plan on tiling the area around the sink, which you mostly wouldn't.
A pedestal sink is still leaned on and pulled on, so be wary of those too Maddie. Odd to me how often people lean on them.

 

[KatesCottage161]

I once stayed at a place where we rented the third floor room that advertised private bath. Got there and found out the private bath was in the basement. Two flights downstairs. ummmmmm....no.
We ended up paying for the more expensive room.
But the point is, a - don't over advertise, but to the point of the thread, b - maybe there is a spot down the hall or downstairs or in an out of the way place you hadn't considered..

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.

It all depends on he clientele and location. There are many people who will not give a rip if it is down the hall as long as it is private - but that will only fly in some locations. I am fortunate that I get people who are not too snooty to go down the hall in the robes i have provided. I WILL say though that for the most part, en suite is the way to go if possible.
.

Not snooty at all. If I need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night...which I usually do...I don't want to go down the hall ANYWHERE.
.

I agree en suite is best, but Beach House gets a different clientele than Maddie. Maddie gets the guests I do not EVER want to find me. I will tell KatesCottage to make en suite unequivocally, but I will never make anyone feel their place is less than nice if they have a bathroom "down the hall". We have to work with what we have. And that is what I have to work with. I do not have enough money to change the bathroom situation. I started out underfunded (surprise!!) - raising 6 kids was not cheap. I found out a long time ago that my comfort zone is "broke" and I will do what I do with what I have and not worry about it. We all know that what makes people choose one room over another has no rhyme or reason. I had several people - even after the private bath was created - who called my full-size room next to that bathroom in the hall "is MY room available?"
That is what makes us all different. You would never use a hot tub away from home yet gurus are still telling innkeepers they MUST have them. Why if people are not going to use them? Then there are people like me who do not give a rip about the amenities - just give me a comfortable bed, a bathroom nearby (and a robe if it is not in the room), and GOOD food and I am happy. It is because we are so different and our guests are so different that B & Bs are the way to stay. No one is absolutely right nor wrong. I apologize if snooty was the wrong word to use - we step on toes sometimes without meaning to.
.

Hi guys,
I am still listening to you all. I met with my carpenter and plumber yesterday and we are trying to work out an arrangement to add a small bath to my second, smaller guest room. We think we have it together. I have to go price/choose fixtures today. My concern is that this will somewhat butcher the house in the long run and certainly the space inside that room. But I suppose another bath could be a plus when someday listing for resale. I can cut a doorway through the wall of my larger bedroom into the existing adjacent bath, thus creating a private bath for that room with little damage. Please understand that I am very reluctant to do this, simply based on the fact that I don't want to ruin the house. I chose this house because it has been beautifully upgraded and met all the requirements on my mental checklist. I felt everything about it was right for what I wanted to do. When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed. I had no idea that private baths are such a necessity.
.

...I don't want to ruin the house...When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed.

That's the basic decision you must make before you proceed. Are you running a business that needs to be successful, or are you running a hobby and it really doesn't matter, financially, if people come or not.
If it's a hobby, and business success isn't an issue, then do what you really want and have shared bathrooms. It will hurt the business, but if that's not a high priority, then it's OK. You can enjoy the people who do come, and keep your house the way you want it.
Just re-read the advice above about how it will be harder to change later than to do it up front, not just based on the construction work, but also to undo damage to the place's reputation as not having private bathrooms in the bedrooms.
Realize that Europe is full of buildings MUCH older than yours and they have become experts at modifying them to work as modern lodging while keeping the character of the old structure. It can be done, and is done all the time.
.

...I don't want to ruin the house...When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed.

That's the basic decision you must make before you proceed. Are you running a business that needs to be successful, or are you running a hobby and it really doesn't matter, financially, if people come or not.
If it's a hobby, and business success isn't an issue, then do what you really want and have shared bathrooms. It will hurt the business, but if that's not a high priority, then it's OK. You can enjoy the ones who do come, and keep your house the way you want it.
Just re-read the advice above about how it will be harder to change later than to do it up front, not just based on the construction work, but also to undo damage to the place's reputation as not having private bathrooms in the bedrooms.

THIS is the BEST advice!! It all depends on what YOU (Kate) want this to be. If you want/need income from it - go private. If you just want to have visitors (paid of course) if and when they come, leave it alone. Just remember that whichever way you go, you WILL have expenses for insurance, taxes, and marketing.
.

It's not exactly a hobby, more a cottage industry, but I am hopeful that it is successful. I plan on running this as a business. I'm retired and am looking to suppliment my retirement income. I have a decade of exprience in the hospitality industry and this is an occupation that I love. Therefore, I am taking your advice and adding the second guest bath. After listening to you all and gathering comments from local friends and acquaintences I now realize how important this is. Thanks for all your sound advice.

 

[Madeleine]

I once stayed at a place where we rented the third floor room that advertised private bath. Got there and found out the private bath was in the basement. Two flights downstairs. ummmmmm....no.
We ended up paying for the more expensive room.
But the point is, a - don't over advertise, but to the point of the thread, b - maybe there is a spot down the hall or downstairs or in an out of the way place you hadn't considered..

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.

It all depends on he clientele and location. There are many people who will not give a rip if it is down the hall as long as it is private - but that will only fly in some locations. I am fortunate that I get people who are not too snooty to go down the hall in the robes i have provided. I WILL say though that for the most part, en suite is the way to go if possible.
.

Not snooty at all. If I need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night...which I usually do...I don't want to go down the hall ANYWHERE.
.

I agree en suite is best, but Beach House gets a different clientele than Maddie. Maddie gets the guests I do not EVER want to find me. I will tell KatesCottage to make en suite unequivocally, but I will never make anyone feel their place is less than nice if they have a bathroom "down the hall". We have to work with what we have. And that is what I have to work with. I do not have enough money to change the bathroom situation. I started out underfunded (surprise!!) - raising 6 kids was not cheap. I found out a long time ago that my comfort zone is "broke" and I will do what I do with what I have and not worry about it. We all know that what makes people choose one room over another has no rhyme or reason. I had several people - even after the private bath was created - who called my full-size room next to that bathroom in the hall "is MY room available?"
That is what makes us all different. You would never use a hot tub away from home yet gurus are still telling innkeepers they MUST have them. Why if people are not going to use them? Then there are people like me who do not give a rip about the amenities - just give me a comfortable bed, a bathroom nearby (and a robe if it is not in the room), and GOOD food and I am happy. It is because we are so different and our guests are so different that B & Bs are the way to stay. No one is absolutely right nor wrong. I apologize if snooty was the wrong word to use - we step on toes sometimes without meaning to.
.

Hi guys,
I am still listening to you all. I met with my carpenter and plumber yesterday and we are trying to work out an arrangement to add a small bath to my second, smaller guest room. We think we have it together. I have to go price/choose fixtures today. My concern is that this will somewhat butcher the house in the long run and certainly the space inside that room. But I suppose another bath could be a plus when someday listing for resale. I can cut a doorway through the wall of my larger bedroom into the existing adjacent bath, thus creating a private bath for that room with little damage. Please understand that I am very reluctant to do this, simply based on the fact that I don't want to ruin the house. I chose this house because it has been beautifully upgraded and met all the requirements on my mental checklist. I felt everything about it was right for what I wanted to do. When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed. I had no idea that private baths are such a necessity.
.

...I don't want to ruin the house...When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed.

That's the basic decision you must make before you proceed. Are you running a business that needs to be successful, or are you running a hobby and it really doesn't matter, financially, if people come or not.
If it's a hobby, and business success isn't an issue, then do what you really want and have shared bathrooms. It will hurt the business, but if that's not a high priority, then it's OK. You can enjoy the people who do come, and keep your house the way you want it.
Just re-read the advice above about how it will be harder to change later than to do it up front, not just based on the construction work, but also to undo damage to the place's reputation as not having private bathrooms in the bedrooms.
Realize that Europe is full of buildings MUCH older than yours and they have become experts at modifying them to work as modern lodging while keeping the character of the old structure. It can be done, and is done all the time.
.

The bath is not totally out of the question. I'm still kicking the idea around. I may have found a bath design that could work: http://freshome.com/2012/10/09/30-small-bathroom-design-ideas/small_bathroom/ Fixtures are small and compact. If I can do this and still keep the integrity of the house I won't mind.
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.
That bathroom is cute BTW!
Good luck with the planning and hopefully you can get another bathroom in!
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.

Have you looked at some of the Ikea sinks? They have a few that are designed for micro condos. Might fit for you. Link here:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/categories/departments/bathroom/20723/
We have one sink I'd like to replace but it's an antique (or maybe just old) corner sink and I've never seen anything like it.
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.

Have you looked at some of the Ikea sinks? They have a few that are designed for micro condos. Might fit for you. Link here:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/categories/departments/bathroom/20723/
We have one sink I'd like to replace but it's an antique (or maybe just old) corner sink and I've never seen anything like it.

There is one thing that these sinks never have, and that very few pedestal sinks have (a backsplash). Unless you plan on tiling the area around the sink, which you mostly wouldn't.
A pedestal sink is still leaned on and pulled on, so be wary of those too Maddie. Odd to me how often people lean on them.
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.

Have you looked at some of the Ikea sinks? They have a few that are designed for micro condos. Might fit for you. Link here:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/categories/departments/bathroom/20723/
We have one sink I'd like to replace but it's an antique (or maybe just old) corner sink and I've never seen anything like it.

There is one thing that these sinks never have, and that very few pedestal sinks have (a backsplash). Unless you plan on tiling the area around the sink, which you mostly wouldn't.
A pedestal sink is still leaned on and pulled on, so be wary of those too Maddie. Odd to me how often people lean on them.

No backsplashes. And, no, we weren't planning on tiling. We just do a touch up painting when necessary.
At least the pedestal is anchored to the wall (as were the previous sinks) but has a much stronger base. The skimpy legs on the former sinks kept getting knocked out from under. DH finally had to drill into the tile floor to secure the legs. So, those tiles have had to be replaced.
The last sink we do will have a vanity because of where the pipes are. We need the cabinet to hide that. Other pipes were straight down. The last one curves way out to the side.

 

[gillumhouse]

I once stayed at a place where we rented the third floor room that advertised private bath. Got there and found out the private bath was in the basement. Two flights downstairs. ummmmmm....no.
We ended up paying for the more expensive room.
But the point is, a - don't over advertise, but to the point of the thread, b - maybe there is a spot down the hall or downstairs or in an out of the way place you hadn't considered..

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.

It all depends on he clientele and location. There are many people who will not give a rip if it is down the hall as long as it is private - but that will only fly in some locations. I am fortunate that I get people who are not too snooty to go down the hall in the robes i have provided. I WILL say though that for the most part, en suite is the way to go if possible.
.

Not snooty at all. If I need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night...which I usually do...I don't want to go down the hall ANYWHERE.
.

I agree en suite is best, but Beach House gets a different clientele than Maddie. Maddie gets the guests I do not EVER want to find me. I will tell KatesCottage to make en suite unequivocally, but I will never make anyone feel their place is less than nice if they have a bathroom "down the hall". We have to work with what we have. And that is what I have to work with. I do not have enough money to change the bathroom situation. I started out underfunded (surprise!!) - raising 6 kids was not cheap. I found out a long time ago that my comfort zone is "broke" and I will do what I do with what I have and not worry about it. We all know that what makes people choose one room over another has no rhyme or reason. I had several people - even after the private bath was created - who called my full-size room next to that bathroom in the hall "is MY room available?"
That is what makes us all different. You would never use a hot tub away from home yet gurus are still telling innkeepers they MUST have them. Why if people are not going to use them? Then there are people like me who do not give a rip about the amenities - just give me a comfortable bed, a bathroom nearby (and a robe if it is not in the room), and GOOD food and I am happy. It is because we are so different and our guests are so different that B & Bs are the way to stay. No one is absolutely right nor wrong. I apologize if snooty was the wrong word to use - we step on toes sometimes without meaning to.
.

Hi guys,
I am still listening to you all. I met with my carpenter and plumber yesterday and we are trying to work out an arrangement to add a small bath to my second, smaller guest room. We think we have it together. I have to go price/choose fixtures today. My concern is that this will somewhat butcher the house in the long run and certainly the space inside that room. But I suppose another bath could be a plus when someday listing for resale. I can cut a doorway through the wall of my larger bedroom into the existing adjacent bath, thus creating a private bath for that room with little damage. Please understand that I am very reluctant to do this, simply based on the fact that I don't want to ruin the house. I chose this house because it has been beautifully upgraded and met all the requirements on my mental checklist. I felt everything about it was right for what I wanted to do. When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed. I had no idea that private baths are such a necessity.
.

...I don't want to ruin the house...When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed.

That's the basic decision you must make before you proceed. Are you running a business that needs to be successful, or are you running a hobby and it really doesn't matter, financially, if people come or not.
If it's a hobby, and business success isn't an issue, then do what you really want and have shared bathrooms. It will hurt the business, but if that's not a high priority, then it's OK. You can enjoy the people who do come, and keep your house the way you want it.
Just re-read the advice above about how it will be harder to change later than to do it up front, not just based on the construction work, but also to undo damage to the place's reputation as not having private bathrooms in the bedrooms.
Realize that Europe is full of buildings MUCH older than yours and they have become experts at modifying them to work as modern lodging while keeping the character of the old structure. It can be done, and is done all the time.
.

The bath is not totally out of the question. I'm still kicking the idea around. I may have found a bath design that could work: http://freshome.com/2012/10/09/30-small-bathroom-design-ideas/small_bathroom/ Fixtures are small and compact. If I can do this and still keep the integrity of the house I won't mind.
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.
That bathroom is cute BTW!
Good luck with the planning and hopefully you can get another bathroom in!
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.

Have you looked at some of the Ikea sinks? They have a few that are designed for micro condos. Might fit for you. Link here:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/categories/departments/bathroom/20723/
We have one sink I'd like to replace but it's an antique (or maybe just old) corner sink and I've never seen anything like it.
.

Those sinks are at Lowe's and they are really sharp looking. Oddly, that sink is too big for one bathroom here! The bowl would stick out beyond the door frame. It is the last sink that we cannot fix.

Have you looked at some of the Ikea sinks? They have a few that are designed for micro condos. Might fit for you. Link here:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/categories/departments/bathroom/20723/
We have one sink I'd like to replace but it's an antique (or maybe just old) corner sink and I've never seen anything like it.

There is one thing that these sinks never have, and that very few pedestal sinks have (a backsplash). Unless you plan on tiling the area around the sink, which you mostly wouldn't.
A pedestal sink is still leaned on and pulled on, so be wary of those too Maddie. Odd to me how often people lean on them.
.

The pedestal sink in the Gillum Room has a small back splash - but it is NOT a small pedestal sink. I will try to get a photo of it tomorrow after my guest checks out.
The leaning on the sink could be from several reasons - leaning forward o do eye make-up, the body tends to push against the sink and this could move it. IF it is close to the toilet, it could be leaned on as a "grab bar".
One of the reasons I will not leave this house until DH leaves it permanently is the set-up in the owner's bathroom. The sink is next to the toilet and is VERY sturdy - without that sink, DH would have a LOT of difficulty that mere grab bars would not suffice.

 

[EmptyNest]

I once stayed at a place where we rented the third floor room that advertised private bath. Got there and found out the private bath was in the basement. Two flights downstairs. ummmmmm....no.
We ended up paying for the more expensive room.
But the point is, a - don't over advertise, but to the point of the thread, b - maybe there is a spot down the hall or downstairs or in an out of the way place you hadn't considered..

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.

It all depends on he clientele and location. There are many people who will not give a rip if it is down the hall as long as it is private - but that will only fly in some locations. I am fortunate that I get people who are not too snooty to go down the hall in the robes i have provided. I WILL say though that for the most part, en suite is the way to go if possible.
.

Not snooty at all. If I need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night...which I usually do...I don't want to go down the hall ANYWHERE.
.

I agree en suite is best, but Beach House gets a different clientele than Maddie. Maddie gets the guests I do not EVER want to find me. I will tell KatesCottage to make en suite unequivocally, but I will never make anyone feel their place is less than nice if they have a bathroom "down the hall". We have to work with what we have. And that is what I have to work with. I do not have enough money to change the bathroom situation. I started out underfunded (surprise!!) - raising 6 kids was not cheap. I found out a long time ago that my comfort zone is "broke" and I will do what I do with what I have and not worry about it. We all know that what makes people choose one room over another has no rhyme or reason. I had several people - even after the private bath was created - who called my full-size room next to that bathroom in the hall "is MY room available?"
That is what makes us all different. You would never use a hot tub away from home yet gurus are still telling innkeepers they MUST have them. Why if people are not going to use them? Then there are people like me who do not give a rip about the amenities - just give me a comfortable bed, a bathroom nearby (and a robe if it is not in the room), and GOOD food and I am happy. It is because we are so different and our guests are so different that B & Bs are the way to stay. No one is absolutely right nor wrong. I apologize if snooty was the wrong word to use - we step on toes sometimes without meaning to.
.

Hi guys,
I am still listening to you all. I met with my carpenter and plumber yesterday and we are trying to work out an arrangement to add a small bath to my second, smaller guest room. We think we have it together. I have to go price/choose fixtures today. My concern is that this will somewhat butcher the house in the long run and certainly the space inside that room. But I suppose another bath could be a plus when someday listing for resale. I can cut a doorway through the wall of my larger bedroom into the existing adjacent bath, thus creating a private bath for that room with little damage. Please understand that I am very reluctant to do this, simply based on the fact that I don't want to ruin the house. I chose this house because it has been beautifully upgraded and met all the requirements on my mental checklist. I felt everything about it was right for what I wanted to do. When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed. I had no idea that private baths are such a necessity.
.

...I don't want to ruin the house...When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed.

That's the basic decision you must make before you proceed. Are you running a business that needs to be successful, or are you running a hobby and it really doesn't matter, financially, if people come or not.
If it's a hobby, and business success isn't an issue, then do what you really want and have shared bathrooms. It will hurt the business, but if that's not a high priority, then it's OK. You can enjoy the people who do come, and keep your house the way you want it.
Just re-read the advice above about how it will be harder to change later than to do it up front, not just based on the construction work, but also to undo damage to the place's reputation as not having private bathrooms in the bedrooms.
Realize that Europe is full of buildings MUCH older than yours and they have become experts at modifying them to work as modern lodging while keeping the character of the old structure. It can be done, and is done all the time.
.

The bath is not totally out of the question. I'm still kicking the idea around. I may have found a bath design that could work: http://freshome.com/2012/10/09/30-small-bathroom-design-ideas/small_bathroom/ Fixtures are small and compact. If I can do this and still keep the integrity of the house I won't mind.
.

gee that looks great and actually more space than i would expect. if you can do that you are set.

 

[Bommelhoeve]

Are you using the third room now? If you just want it for the future there is one extra option for you to consider: Don't build new walls, make your entire 3th room a bathroom, change the doors and have 2 nice rooms with private bath. But do it in such way that in future you (or a new owner) can do an easy change back to 3 rooms and bath.
(disclosure - I don't like tiny bathrooms...)

 

[Silverspoon]

I once stayed at a place where we rented the third floor room that advertised private bath. Got there and found out the private bath was in the basement. Two flights downstairs. ummmmmm....no.
We ended up paying for the more expensive room.
But the point is, a - don't over advertise, but to the point of the thread, b - maybe there is a spot down the hall or downstairs or in an out of the way place you hadn't considered..

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.
.

have you not been reading any of Maddies tales about her hall bathroom???
.

have you not been reading any of Maddies tales about her hall bathroom???

not at all the point. last try.
IF it is not possible to add a bathroom to your existing bedroom, then think outside the box. Look under the stairs, in a hall closet, in the existing bath. Can it be cut into two baths?
Private bath is better than shared bath. Attached is best. But if you can't do that, look further.
Honestly, there is more than black and white. There are countless shades of grey in the world. Embrace grey.
.

You mean there are more than 50 shades of grey?

 

[Silverspoon]

I once stayed at a place where we rented the third floor room that advertised private bath. Got there and found out the private bath was in the basement. Two flights downstairs. ummmmmm....no.
We ended up paying for the more expensive room.
But the point is, a - don't over advertise, but to the point of the thread, b - maybe there is a spot down the hall or downstairs or in an out of the way place you hadn't considered..

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.

It all depends on he clientele and location. There are many people who will not give a rip if it is down the hall as long as it is private - but that will only fly in some locations. I am fortunate that I get people who are not too snooty to go down the hall in the robes i have provided. I WILL say though that for the most part, en suite is the way to go if possible.
.

Not snooty at all. If I need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night...which I usually do...I don't want to go down the hall ANYWHERE.
.

I agree en suite is best, but Beach House gets a different clientele than Maddie. Maddie gets the guests I do not EVER want to find me. I will tell KatesCottage to make en suite unequivocally, but I will never make anyone feel their place is less than nice if they have a bathroom "down the hall". We have to work with what we have. And that is what I have to work with. I do not have enough money to change the bathroom situation. I started out underfunded (surprise!!) - raising 6 kids was not cheap. I found out a long time ago that my comfort zone is "broke" and I will do what I do with what I have and not worry about it. We all know that what makes people choose one room over another has no rhyme or reason. I had several people - even after the private bath was created - who called my full-size room next to that bathroom in the hall "is MY room available?"
That is what makes us all different. You would never use a hot tub away from home yet gurus are still telling innkeepers they MUST have them. Why if people are not going to use them? Then there are people like me who do not give a rip about the amenities - just give me a comfortable bed, a bathroom nearby (and a robe if it is not in the room), and GOOD food and I am happy. It is because we are so different and our guests are so different that B & Bs are the way to stay. No one is absolutely right nor wrong. I apologize if snooty was the wrong word to use - we step on toes sometimes without meaning to.
.

Hi guys,
I am still listening to you all. I met with my carpenter and plumber yesterday and we are trying to work out an arrangement to add a small bath to my second, smaller guest room. We think we have it together. I have to go price/choose fixtures today. My concern is that this will somewhat butcher the house in the long run and certainly the space inside that room. But I suppose another bath could be a plus when someday listing for resale. I can cut a doorway through the wall of my larger bedroom into the existing adjacent bath, thus creating a private bath for that room with little damage. Please understand that I am very reluctant to do this, simply based on the fact that I don't want to ruin the house. I chose this house because it has been beautifully upgraded and met all the requirements on my mental checklist. I felt everything about it was right for what I wanted to do. When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed. I had no idea that private baths are such a necessity.
.

...I don't want to ruin the house...When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed.

That's the basic decision you must make before you proceed. Are you running a business that needs to be successful, or are you running a hobby and it really doesn't matter, financially, if people come or not.
If it's a hobby, and business success isn't an issue, then do what you really want and have shared bathrooms. It will hurt the business, but if that's not a high priority, then it's OK. You can enjoy the people who do come, and keep your house the way you want it.
Just re-read the advice above about how it will be harder to change later than to do it up front, not just based on the construction work, but also to undo damage to the place's reputation as not having private bathrooms in the bedrooms.
Realize that Europe is full of buildings MUCH older than yours and they have become experts at modifying them to work as modern lodging while keeping the character of the old structure. It can be done, and is done all the time.
.

The bath is not totally out of the question. I'm still kicking the idea around. I may have found a bath design that could work: http://freshome.com/2012/10/09/30-small-bathroom-design-ideas/small_bathroom/ Fixtures are small and compact. If I can do this and still keep the integrity of the house I won't mind.
.

The bath is not totally out of the question. I'm still kicking the idea around. I may have found a bath design that could work: http://freshome.com/2012/10/09/30-small-bathroom-design-ideas/small_bathroom/ Fixtures are small and compact. If I can do this and still keep the integrity of the house I won't mind.

BTW that grey tile is on sale at our LOWE's BIG TIME right now... It is 1/3 the price of any other tile. It may just be our Lowe's I am not sure. Even the smaller 12 x 12 of multiples is on sale. (you cut those for accent pieces)
.

And grey is still THE color that says "updated". I am picking a shade of grey for our new bedroom color. Who had any idea that there were so many different shades of grey, from tan to icey blue. Have fun!

 

[Madeleine]

I once stayed at a place where we rented the third floor room that advertised private bath. Got there and found out the private bath was in the basement. Two flights downstairs. ummmmmm....no.
We ended up paying for the more expensive room.
But the point is, a - don't over advertise, but to the point of the thread, b - maybe there is a spot down the hall or downstairs or in an out of the way place you hadn't considered..

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.
.

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.

It all depends on he clientele and location. There are many people who will not give a rip if it is down the hall as long as it is private - but that will only fly in some locations. I am fortunate that I get people who are not too snooty to go down the hall in the robes i have provided. I WILL say though that for the most part, en suite is the way to go if possible.
.

Not snooty at all. If I need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night...which I usually do...I don't want to go down the hall ANYWHERE.
.

I agree en suite is best, but Beach House gets a different clientele than Maddie. Maddie gets the guests I do not EVER want to find me. I will tell KatesCottage to make en suite unequivocally, but I will never make anyone feel their place is less than nice if they have a bathroom "down the hall". We have to work with what we have. And that is what I have to work with. I do not have enough money to change the bathroom situation. I started out underfunded (surprise!!) - raising 6 kids was not cheap. I found out a long time ago that my comfort zone is "broke" and I will do what I do with what I have and not worry about it. We all know that what makes people choose one room over another has no rhyme or reason. I had several people - even after the private bath was created - who called my full-size room next to that bathroom in the hall "is MY room available?"
That is what makes us all different. You would never use a hot tub away from home yet gurus are still telling innkeepers they MUST have them. Why if people are not going to use them? Then there are people like me who do not give a rip about the amenities - just give me a comfortable bed, a bathroom nearby (and a robe if it is not in the room), and GOOD food and I am happy. It is because we are so different and our guests are so different that B & Bs are the way to stay. No one is absolutely right nor wrong. I apologize if snooty was the wrong word to use - we step on toes sometimes without meaning to.
.

Hi guys,
I am still listening to you all. I met with my carpenter and plumber yesterday and we are trying to work out an arrangement to add a small bath to my second, smaller guest room. We think we have it together. I have to go price/choose fixtures today. My concern is that this will somewhat butcher the house in the long run and certainly the space inside that room. But I suppose another bath could be a plus when someday listing for resale. I can cut a doorway through the wall of my larger bedroom into the existing adjacent bath, thus creating a private bath for that room with little damage. Please understand that I am very reluctant to do this, simply based on the fact that I don't want to ruin the house. I chose this house because it has been beautifully upgraded and met all the requirements on my mental checklist. I felt everything about it was right for what I wanted to do. When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed. I had no idea that private baths are such a necessity.
.

...I don't want to ruin the house...When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed.

That's the basic decision you must make before you proceed. Are you running a business that needs to be successful, or are you running a hobby and it really doesn't matter, financially, if people come or not.
If it's a hobby, and business success isn't an issue, then do what you really want and have shared bathrooms. It will hurt the business, but if that's not a high priority, then it's OK. You can enjoy the people who do come, and keep your house the way you want it.
Just re-read the advice above about how it will be harder to change later than to do it up front, not just based on the construction work, but also to undo damage to the place's reputation as not having private bathrooms in the bedrooms.
Realize that Europe is full of buildings MUCH older than yours and they have become experts at modifying them to work as modern lodging while keeping the character of the old structure. It can be done, and is done all the time.
.

The bath is not totally out of the question. I'm still kicking the idea around. I may have found a bath design that could work: http://freshome.com/2012/10/09/30-small-bathroom-design-ideas/small_bathroom/ Fixtures are small and compact. If I can do this and still keep the integrity of the house I won't mind.
.

The bath is not totally out of the question. I'm still kicking the idea around. I may have found a bath design that could work: http://freshome.com/2012/10/09/30-small-bathroom-design-ideas/small_bathroom/ Fixtures are small and compact. If I can do this and still keep the integrity of the house I won't mind.

BTW that grey tile is on sale at our LOWE's BIG TIME right now... It is 1/3 the price of any other tile. It may just be our Lowe's I am not sure. Even the smaller 12 x 12 of multiples is on sale. (you cut those for accent pieces)
.

And grey is still THE color that says "updated". I am picking a shade of grey for our new bedroom color. Who had any idea that there were so many different shades of grey, from tan to icey blue. Have fun!
.

And grey is still THE color that says "updated". I am picking a shade of grey for our new bedroom color. Who had any idea that there were so many different shades of grey, from tan to icey blue. Have fun!

My next reno color (in Feb) will be gray. With B&W bedding. And my photos in B&W on the walls.

 

[Innkeep]

I once stayed at a place where we rented the third floor room that advertised private bath. Got there and found out the private bath was in the basement. Two flights downstairs. ummmmmm....no.
We ended up paying for the more expensive room.
But the point is, a - don't over advertise, but to the point of the thread, b - maybe there is a spot down the hall or downstairs or in an out of the way place you hadn't considered..

Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.
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Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.
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Sorry Beach House...we already said "en suite" You should know that across the hall won't work well either.

ok, sorry, so my story is useless? Not interesting? Not on point?
my most popular room is the only one with a down the hall bathroom. just sayin'.
forgive me.

It all depends on he clientele and location. There are many people who will not give a rip if it is down the hall as long as it is private - but that will only fly in some locations. I am fortunate that I get people who are not too snooty to go down the hall in the robes i have provided. I WILL say though that for the most part, en suite is the way to go if possible.
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Not snooty at all. If I need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night...which I usually do...I don't want to go down the hall ANYWHERE.
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I agree en suite is best, but Beach House gets a different clientele than Maddie. Maddie gets the guests I do not EVER want to find me. I will tell KatesCottage to make en suite unequivocally, but I will never make anyone feel their place is less than nice if they have a bathroom "down the hall". We have to work with what we have. And that is what I have to work with. I do not have enough money to change the bathroom situation. I started out underfunded (surprise!!) - raising 6 kids was not cheap. I found out a long time ago that my comfort zone is "broke" and I will do what I do with what I have and not worry about it. We all know that what makes people choose one room over another has no rhyme or reason. I had several people - even after the private bath was created - who called my full-size room next to that bathroom in the hall "is MY room available?"
That is what makes us all different. You would never use a hot tub away from home yet gurus are still telling innkeepers they MUST have them. Why if people are not going to use them? Then there are people like me who do not give a rip about the amenities - just give me a comfortable bed, a bathroom nearby (and a robe if it is not in the room), and GOOD food and I am happy. It is because we are so different and our guests are so different that B & Bs are the way to stay. No one is absolutely right nor wrong. I apologize if snooty was the wrong word to use - we step on toes sometimes without meaning to.
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Hi guys,
I am still listening to you all. I met with my carpenter and plumber yesterday and we are trying to work out an arrangement to add a small bath to my second, smaller guest room. We think we have it together. I have to go price/choose fixtures today. My concern is that this will somewhat butcher the house in the long run and certainly the space inside that room. But I suppose another bath could be a plus when someday listing for resale. I can cut a doorway through the wall of my larger bedroom into the existing adjacent bath, thus creating a private bath for that room with little damage. Please understand that I am very reluctant to do this, simply based on the fact that I don't want to ruin the house. I chose this house because it has been beautifully upgraded and met all the requirements on my mental checklist. I felt everything about it was right for what I wanted to do. When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed. I had no idea that private baths are such a necessity.
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...I don't want to ruin the house...When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed.

That's the basic decision you must make before you proceed. Are you running a business that needs to be successful, or are you running a hobby and it really doesn't matter, financially, if people come or not.
If it's a hobby, and business success isn't an issue, then do what you really want and have shared bathrooms. It will hurt the business, but if that's not a high priority, then it's OK. You can enjoy the people who do come, and keep your house the way you want it.
Just re-read the advice above about how it will be harder to change later than to do it up front, not just based on the construction work, but also to undo damage to the place's reputation as not having private bathrooms in the bedrooms.
Realize that Europe is full of buildings MUCH older than yours and they have become experts at modifying them to work as modern lodging while keeping the character of the old structure. It can be done, and is done all the time.
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...I don't want to ruin the house...When I originally ventured into this idea I wasn't so concerned about occupancy rate. I simply wanted to share my home with travelers and that hasn't changed.

That's the basic decision you must make before you proceed. Are you running a business that needs to be successful, or are you running a hobby and it really doesn't matter, financially, if people come or not.
If it's a hobby, and business success isn't an issue, then do what you really want and have shared bathrooms. It will hurt the business, but if that's not a high priority, then it's OK. You can enjoy the ones who do come, and keep your house the way you want it.
Just re-read the advice above about how it will be harder to change later than to do it up front, not just based on the construction work, but also to undo damage to the place's reputation as not having private bathrooms in the bedrooms.

THIS is the BEST advice!! It all depends on what YOU (Kate) want this to be. If you want/need income from it - go private. If you just want to have visitors (paid of course) if and when they come, leave it alone. Just remember that whichever way you go, you WILL have expenses for insurance, taxes, and marketing.
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It's not exactly a hobby, more a cottage industry, but I am hopeful that it is successful. I plan on running this as a business. I'm retired and am looking to suppliment my retirement income. I have a decade of exprience in the hospitality industry and this is an occupation that I love. Therefore, I am taking your advice and adding the second guest bath. After listening to you all and gathering comments from local friends and acquaintences I now realize how important this is. Thanks for all your sound advice.
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It's not exactly a hobby, more a cottage industry, but I am hopeful that it is successful. I plan on running this as a business. I'm retired and am looking to suppliment my retirement income. I have a decade of exprience in the hospitality industry and this is an occupation that I love. Therefore, I am taking your advice and adding the second guest bath. After listening to you all and gathering comments from local friends and acquaintences I now realize how important this is. Thanks for all your sound advice.

This whole discussion reminds me of me. My first post to the forum (actually it was the old forum that preceeded this one) was about how many bathrooms did I really need to convert my parents' house into a B&B. The people who persuaded me of the necessity for one bathroom per bedroom are exactly the same ones who are giving you essentially the same advice.
You have an advantage over me because of your experience in the hospitality industry. All I had was a house that I wasn't able to sell. Had maybe stayed at one B&B in my life, but it was almost like the house told me it needed to be a B&B. So eight years down the road I am still reading, posting, and listening to what these Innmates have to say.
I also have a "cottage industry" because the house pays for itself, I run the business in a semi-professional way, and I stay home and meet people from all over the world. And I must tell you that the Innspiring Roadtrip was by far the most fun I've had in years.
I'd encourage you to visit some of the innmates if any are near. Other local B&B's if they are in your local or state organization should also be helpful for you. I confess that I didn't think any of the aspiring clases I took were as informative as the advice I got in these threads, but I'm told there are some good aspiring classes. So enjoy your adventure!