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Once you have decided on the flushing method of your toilet, it is time to decide on style and color.

Toilets are available in a variety of styles and colors, and in a wide price range. Most homeowners will install basic units in guest baths and in children's bathrooms, but will upgrade for the powder room that will be used by company, and will go all out for their master bath.

Be aware, not all options or features are available in all types of toilets. Your choices may be limited by the type of flush system your toilet uses. Newer technologies, because they are newer, offer a more limited range of styles, colors and options. Gravity type toilets offer the most flexibility in style.

 ROUND or Elongated
Toilets come in round-front and elongated sizes, with many different shapes and styles to choose from.

Round-front toilets are 2" shorter than elongated models, and are popular where space is at a premium or where a more traditional look is preferred.

Elongated toilets are the best choice for most homes. The extra space in the front makes it easier for males to use.

The style you select is a matter of personal taste, and you can choose from a variety of styles, ranging from contemporary to traditional.

 WALL MOUNT
Wall-mount toilets are fastened to the wall, do not have a pedestal or tank, and can be set at almost any height. Since the toilet itself is mounted to the wall, rather the floor, bathroom cleanup a breeze. Since the toilet itself is mounted to the wall, rather the floor, bathroom cleanup a breeze.

While they can be used in almost any type of decor, they are most often used in a contemporary or Euro-style setting.

Most residential tankless toilets are actually stylish wall-mount toilets with the tank hidden within the wall itself. These units provide a sleek, clean look without resorting to smaller fixtures or sacrificing design options.

Since the toilet tank (cistern) is built into the wall, an additional 6" to 9" of floor space can be gained (depending on the bowl shaped selected).

The flush actuator is generally mounted above the bowl but some manufacturers, such as Geberit, offer a remote unit that can be placed on the wall within 6' of the tank.

Concealed toilet tanks have been used in Europe for almost 40 years. The high density polyethylene tank (shown at the right) is insulated and installed between the wall studs, and has a quieter flush than floor-mounted models.
Geberit's Tessera^TM toilet system (shown at the left) brings high style and a sleek design to the American bathroom. Available with a small remote flush actuator or a flush actuator panel, Tessera offers a variety of convenience features making the system both unique and efficient.    Learn More »

 FLOOR MOUNT
Standard toilets mount to the floor and have a short pedestal base below the bowl. They adapt well to almost any type of decor.

There are lots of choices in floor mount toilets: round or elongated bowl, one or two piece, and what height the toilet should be.. Beyond that you will have a choice of colors and ornamental trim, and several style options. Always sit down on a toilet before buying it to make sure the height and size are comfortable.

HEIGHT
Toilets come in a variety of heights from 10" to 18" (measured from the bottom to the top of the rim, not including the seat).

The standard toilet is 14 1/2" - 15" high, which most people find too low to be comfortable.

In order to meet the standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act, toilets should have a height of either 16 1/2 inches (used in residential construction) or 18 inches (used in commercial construction).

This is comparable to the height of an average household chair making it easier to sit down without falling, and stand up without putting stress on the knees.

While these units were designed to allow easier access to the facility for disabled people, those without disabilities often prefer them to traditional units.

The 16.5" height is becoming increasingly popular for use in the Master Bath, but should definitely be considered a standard for use in the Guest Powder Room. These higher toilets are available in most models on the market, including one-piece toilets.

Toilet manufacturers are marketing the higher toilets under a variety of names. Kohler's Comfort Height.™(shown left)is one example

Please note, taller units are not always comfortable for shorter people or for children however.

ONE or TWO- PIECE
Most toilets are two-piece, having a separate tank and bowl. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors and even patterns.

Gravity flush one-piece toilets, have the tank molded to the bowl, and they are generally considered more stylish than traditional two-piece toilets. They are also more expensive.

One-piece construction prevents leaks between the bowl and tank. Noise levels are also lower than traditional toilets.

New flush technologies that use a pump instead of a water tank, have not only created a true tankless toilet, but have allowed manufacturers to actually rethink the shape of the toilet.

For instance, Kohler's award winning, comfort height Purist® Hatbox™ electric toilet (shown at left) offers a perfect example of melding stark beauty with outstanding function.

This innovative toilet may indeed lay the groundwork for the next generation of toilet.

 COLOR/PATTERN:
Toilets come in more colors than just white, but most people prefer white because they consider it the easiest to decorate around and less likely to go out of style.

Manufacturers offer toilets in range of colors from white to black. Although most color choices are in the lighter, neutral, end of the spectrum. The actual number of available colors varies by manufacturer.

If you want color, but think the pastel shades are too "quiet" and black a bit daunting, consider one of the new Artist Edition, hand-painted fixtures from Kohler.   (English Trellis pattern shown)

Many of the Artist Edition patterns include sink/vessel bowls, pedestal lavatories, toilets, bidets, coordinating ceramic faucet trim, tile and accessories to complete the picture perfect setting.

 SPECIAL FUNCTIONS

Do you see what is missing in this picture?

There is no flush handle! The only way to flush this toilet is to lower the seat.

Kohler's innovative Peacekeeper™ seat-actuated flush solves the age-old dispute about leaving the toilet seat up, because it flushes when the user closes the lid.

A sensor in the tank automatically flushes the toilet when the lid is closed. And because the sensor is in the tank, any toilet seat can be used.

Available on a select line of Kohler toilet tanks - the sensor requires two D-size, 1.5 volt Alkaline batteries)

NO-SWEAT TANKS
In humid climates, warm room air can condense on the cooler surfaces of a toilet and drip onto the floor, which can encourage mildew, and can rot subflooring.

Kohler offers a factory-installed foam lining option which minimizes condensation on the outside of a toilet tank by insulating the cold water in the tank from hot, humid air.

 UNIQUE DESIGNS/STYLES
Sometimes function alone isn't enough.

If you're looking for something truly unique, and price is of little concern, there are many options available that are not usually stocked at mass merchandisers.

If theVictorian era is your style, a classic pull-chain, gravity toilet from Sunrise Specialty lends authenticity along with a water saving 1.6-gpf for your contemporary lifestyle.

OLD WORLD ELEGANCE
For a truly one-of-a-kind bathroom, consider having a toilet and/or other fixture, decorated and bronzed. (see left) The bronze exterior should last well into the next century with minimal care.

Looking for something a little more "Royal"?
Perhaps only a throne will do?

For the true Master of the House, the King Louis XIV Throne Toilet, from the Carrington collection, is a unique show stopper and sure conversation starter in any upscale bathroom.

 
Designed for comfort and easy installation, the toilet bowl simply caulks to the furniture the same way an undercounter lavatory is mounted.

Sliding panels on each side provide easy access, and every Throne comes complete with a matching finish wood toilet seat.

The King Louis XIV Throne Toilet is available in twelve different finishes and your choice of twenty-three pulls or knobs starting at $3,250 suggested list price.

 ADVANCED DESIGNS
Bathroom fixtures are changing radically as technology advances and consumer demands expand.

In Japan, models are being shown that purify the wastewater for reuse. In China, a "compost toilet" is being sold that uses no water. These units are highly useful in areas where drinking water is in short supply.

Vitra has begun using a new anti-bacterial glaze in its commercial plumbing fixtures. Called VitrAhygiene, the new glaze is created by adding silver ions to the raw glaze before firing. The silver particles are able to reduce bacterial growth because the bacteria can't breathe or breed.

Vitra's Vitraclean is a unique surface is so incredibly smooth that water is repelled. Dirt simply runs off along with the water and the build up of lime scale is reduced to provide longer lasting cleanliness and better hygiene. It is currently offered only on commercial fixtures.

Researchers in Vienna have begun production on what they call a "toilet with brains," which is a high tech model with adjustable hand rails designed to assist disabled or elderly people.

Other advanced designs will do everything from automatically flush after use, raise and lower the seat automatically, and even analyze urine while taking the user's blood pressure.

Form almost always follows function. As new technological developments are introduced into the marketplace, new designs, styles and shapes will follow.

 MATERIALS:
Toilets are predominately made of vitreous china, which is clay fired at high temperature to form a high gloss, stain-resistant surface.

They are durable but can be chipped, cracked, or broken if abused. Under normal use, however, they can last a lifetime. Some commercial units, particularly those used in prisons and in some public buildings, are made of stainless steel, but these seldom found in the home.

Maintenance
Toilets are easily cleaned with commercial toilet bowl cleaners and a common toilet brush.

Often bleach alone will eliminate hard water stains. Any mild bathroom cleaner can be used on exterior surfaces and the seat. Avoid placing your hands in contact with toilet bowl cleaners. Wear rubber gloves for safety purposes. You should never pour boiling water into a toilet because china can crack, and since they are fragile they can be broken by impact from heavy objects.

Be sure to clean under the rim each time you clean the bowl. Lime deposits can overtime clog the rim holes, reducing not only the amount of water flowing through these holes, but the flushing action as well.

NEVER MIX CLEANING PRODUCTS OF ANY KIND The combination of chemicals can prove to be volatile, flammable and utterly dangerous for you everyone in your home. NEVER MIX CHLORINE BLEACH WITH OTHER PRODUCTS Household bleach mixed with an ammonia-based cleaner or acid type cleaner, such as lime scale remover, produces deadly chlorine gas or hormone gas. Chlorine Bleach + Ammonia/Acid = Chlorine Gas Many household cleaners contain chlorine, though it is often called something else, such as "sodium hypochlorite" or "hypochlorite", among other names. Limescale removers and other toilet cleaners contain acid. Vinegar and citrus based products are acidic. Many glass, tub and tile cleaners contain ammonia. Chlorine Bleach + Ammonia/Acid = Chlorine Gas Brief exposure can produce:      Dizziness, Coughing, Tightness in the chest, Shortness of breath      Asthma, Burning in the throat and eyes, Serious lung irritation. For mild exposure, get outside if possible. Get plenty of fresh air. Use oxygen or a bronchodialtor if necessary. Effects generally resolve in a few hours. Prolonged exposure can produce:      Serious burns to the skin, eyes, lungs and death      Seek medical attention at once.

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