In-Laws, Outlaws and Granny Flats

That bathroom is gorgeous. Good luck!

Thanks - looks like lots of good ideas for small spaces, as well as accommodating needs of elders/disabled, and multi-family homes.

That sounds like a dangerous book--from my husbands perspective, anyway. I love those books that give me ideas--he hates having so much as a chair placed at a different angle.

Now this takes me back: San Francisco began its housing price bubble decades ago, as early as the 80s. And consequently often when couples, straight or gay, broke up, they could not afford sell the house because they neither person would be able to afford to keep living in the city in new digs.

So -- in those days when I was working in residential remodeling, we more than once divided houses so estranged people could each have a unit in what had been one house. We also did some of those garage to living space conversions (mostly without permits). We learned a lot about fitting baths under stairwells and other oddities. The city is littered with such adaptations; this is one of its charms.

My favorite was the house that we divided when one couple broke up, then several years later reopened when one owner finally bought out the other and acquired a new partner. A stairwell had been hidden as a closet during the interim.

Thanks for the link and photos, Ronni, I love looking at photos of well done small spaces.

Oh, I want that shower. Better yet, it should have a built in seat at the end so you could sit and trim your toenails.

I do think getting in and out of that bed in the dormer without hitting those shelves would be a real challenge for an elder, though. Maybe it was meant for the young adult who took advantage of the parent's revolving door. (Don't we all have one?)

To the last poster, Darlene, this response. The in-law with the bed tucked away in the dormer was lived in by a gent in his late seventies, who got in and out of bed just fine. In fact, after losing his wife of 50 years, he found a new lady love.

I am in love with that bathroom, the shower is wonderful. I had hoped to do something like that but hadn't thought of the half wall of glass for light. Great resources thanks.

A slightly indelicate word to the wise: when we built a house 43 years ago, our architect insisted we have the faucet within reach of the toilet. My subsequent bathrooms have also had that feature--a lifesaver as you get older. Also, even if you don't need a raised toilet now, eventually almost everyone does, so best to be prepared for those old knees to stop working well.

Great ideas! We've lived in a compact 2BR townhouse for the past 16 years so we're used to relatively small spaces. No problem with the faucet being close to the toilet in my no-windows apx. 5'x5' bathroom; it already is. Still, there's always a lot to learn--like, how would one access this bathroom in a wheelchair? Thanks so much for the column, the photos and the link.

Elizabeth...
Not every bathroom can be all things to all people, although there is no reason the one I like couldn't be adapted for wheelchairs.

And, I have another bathroom that has more space that would better suit wheelchair adaptability.

Here's another bathroom from the book planned and executed for wheelchairs.

Ronni,
There's a company called "Bathwraps" that displays their products in a small kiosk in a nearby mall. I think they are a franchise so there is probably one in your area or you could likely find a website. They can replace a typical bathtub with a large walkin shower in the same space. I've surely been tempted to have them give an estimate.

Ronni, when I first read Granny Flats in your title, I thought you are referring to sensible shoes for elders.

Love the bathroom. Wish I had seen this picture when I built my cottage 2 years ago.

I moved into a house that had a walkin shower before I knew how valuable it was to me...Love it...

I love the bedrooms. I guess it's nice as long as everything is in its proper places.