Primary bath suites: the layout mistakes we fix most

We demolish beautiful bathrooms every month. Marble, brass, the works — torn out after ten years because the layout never worked. The finishes get the photos, but the layout decides whether you love the room. These are the five mistakes we fix most often.

The list

• The door hits everything. A 32-inch swing eats a third of a small bath. Pocket doors exist. Use them.
• The toilet greets you. The most-photographed fixture in real estate listings should not be the first thing the door reveals.
• One wet zone, split plumbing. Shower and tub on opposite walls doubles the plumbing runs and the cost. Group them.
• Vanity lighting from above only. Ceiling-only light shadows every face. Sconces at eye level are non-negotiable.
• Ventilation as an afterthought. An undersized fan is future mold with a switch. Size it to the room and duct it outside.

Fix it on paper

Every one of these costs nothing to fix in the drawing and thousands to fix in tile. It’s why our bath projects spend their first weeks in layout, not in a showroom — the slab of marble can wait until the door stops hitting the vanity.

Finishes are what you see. Layout is what you live with.