We need a new toilet in our powder room. It doesn’t flush properly and it’s a problem when you have to have the plunger permanently installed like an accessory.
Our powder room is off the laundry room which is the first room you enter when you walk in through the back door (below).
If we get a new toilet, a new sink and vanity is not far behind. Especially because the current colours are biscuit and we are going to white so the new toilet in here will scream, ‘New toilet, old vanity.’
And besides being the powder room, it needs to double as the garden sink too. It would be great if it would not look dumb to install a swan neck faucet so I could fill vases because I’m always in the way arranging flowers if Terreeia happens to be in the kitchen preparing for a meal.
Here’s what it looked like the day we took possession.
All I’ve done so far is replace the mirror, the bar light to this one, and paint it raspberry.
Yes I could have painted the 80s cabinet but frankly, that just seemed like too much work since I’m really not much of a do-it-yourselfer. Also, once the room was raspberry, that draws the eye away from the vanity. Or so I tell myself ; ) ; )
You can see the before pic of the laundry room here.
And of course the linoleum which was also in the laundry room and kitchen was replaced with the wood flooring. We have a little extra to go underneath the new vanity when the old one comes out.
So the emergency is replacing the toilet, then I’ll need to figure out the rest. Although I can help you choose finishes and colours, since I’m not a bathroom designer, I don’t spend my days sourcing toilets and sinks so I thought I’d turn it over to y’all to get your advice.
I’ve heard that the Toto dual flush is a good one and not outrageously priced. We have a septic system so we’ll want all three bathrooms in the house to be dual flush eventually when they get renovated.
Also, do you think it would look too oversized and bad to have a tall, swan-like faucet in such a small bathroom? I have’t done a lot of sourcing for inspiration photos but I haven’t seen a facet like that in such a small powder room yet.
Love your opinions on this!
PS. It sure relates well to the raspberry drapery in my living room!
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Love the raspberry color in your bathroom! Since you apparently don’t have a sink in your laundry room, I think it would be perfectly acceptable and practical to have a tall faucet and a sink large enough to accommodate your vases, along with any hand washables. Knowing your reputation, it will be lovely!
The large sink is definitely the way to go, and another design option would be to install your tall facet in the corner. (look at the motion sensor faucets – that way the c/h tap isn’t an issue) This way it works with the angle and height of the corner wall to the ceiling – and it wouldn’t feel too prominent in the middle – making the vanity seem small.
Bonus it would still work for arranging florals!
Best of design project wishes,
What about doing a really big, cool sink that takes up the whole alcove? The bigger the sink, the better a big faucet will look. And you could have it be deep like a kitchen sink and no cabinetry underneath, just beautiful pipes in nickel? or chrome?
my thoughts exactly!
That’s exactly what I was going to say – make it more farmhouse industrial looking and you can get away with making it more of a potting sink.
What about a deep ‘industrial’ style sink (width of space) porcelain or even galvanized, with a gooseneck faucet that swivels and extends for things like bathing a small dog (?) as well as filling pails and vases. Make sure it’s open at the bottom with a shelf for storing vases, etc in various shades of green – perfect with the raspberry, then create grids of botanical prints (new & vintage) all framed in white.
Agree totally! Big sink, big faucet. Not really a fan of seeing pipes….the shelves could hold a strategically placed basket (for texture). The basket could even be cut out in back to hide the pipes if necessary.
I agree too! Maria—you are a great lighting picker…lighting will be all important , so go for something cool & special!
Wish I could go shop with you at plumbing and lighting showrooms….in person is so much better….but, I’m sure you’ll not lack for
counselors!
PS: Toto is the BEST toilet, by far…I would stick with that advice. We have 5 of them.
Maria, what I like about you is , you have the same questions and house issues as the rest of us ! Of course you can use a swan neck … Why not ? You could also install a small deep farmhouse sink or small Trough sink ,that’s deep and has that great swans or gooseneck faucet . It seems to me ? You would tell
Others the vanity has to go … Sooner or later ? Use the room for how you NEED it and by your
Clever innovative style , it will be fabulous ! No doubt. Also love the raspberry ! How colorful and cheerful ! Can’t wait to see what you do !
You could also use a neat colored , painted potters bench as a vanity there are many small ones … Bridges your uses ! It can just be fun to see the unexpected and it especially works .
I have both Toto and American Standard dual flush toilets. The American Standard was less expensivethan Toto, and I like it better. I bought it at Home Hardware, plus I got it when it was on sale.
You might also want to consider if you want to buy a “comfort height” toilet. They are higher. Better for seniors or anyone with knee problems.
I also have no laundry tub but use a bathroom sink near the laundry machines. I really like the extra large and extra deep bathroom sink that came with the house. I can easily soak things in it. If it is going to be a garden sink, I would buy stainless steel. They are easier to keep clean.
Unfortunately, my sink has a standard bathroom tap. If I were to change this, I would get a higher one for the reasons you mentioned, or for even more flexibility as a garden and laundry sink, I would put in a tap that has a spray unit that extends from the nozzel (like you see in kitchens). Function. Perhaps you can also find one with good Form.
Have fun.
Nicole said what I was thinking, which is to have a big, practical wash-stand sink, preferably with a drainboard, with classic 1920s-30s styling. Something in this general direction: http://www.antiquehomestyle.com/inside/bathrooms/1920s/gallery/page07.htm or http://www.antiquehomestyle.com/inside/kitchen/1920s/gallery/page08.htm.
i agree with the writers who suggested a big farmhouse type sink with tall faucet neck, and have it sit on a potting bench type vanity or slim teak/cedar type simple piece with a shelf below…maybe store empty vases there and/or other floral arranging supplies. if there’s any room elsewhere in the powder room, i would put in a slim shelf or console or even a tall rectilinear japanese type stool so you can put the flowers/pruning shears/stuff down while you do the arranging in the sink.
i love seeing your raspberry walls and that pink-blossomed ikea “plant.” hot pink, yellow and bright green were the colors in my previous kitchen and sorta are in my current kitchen.
What is the raspberry paint color name, and what brand is it?
Oops that is definitely missing from this post its: Cloverdale AC126 or Behr SG120 Strawberry Daiquiri. and the yellow is Cloverdale 7928.
We lived in Japan for a couple of years and had all Toto toilets. I loved them and will replace the ones in our current home with Toto toilets when the time comes. I agree that a nice vintage looking trough sink or sink with drain board would be perfect with a high arched faucet. In my home’s bar, I have a faucet which has the pull out sprayer, but it’s smaller than a kitchen faucet and you wouldn’t know it had the spray faucet built in. I can take a pic if you’d like.
I have an old Toto and 2 new ones. The new ones definitely work better than the old one. The old one has a plunger as an accessory. The new ones have toilet brushes.
The only thing I like about them is the quiet-close seat.
Good luck!
We put a Toto in our upstairs spare bathroom and an American standard in the basement where my studio is. I use the basement one a lot because I am always rinsing brushes. The Toto is barely used and is constantly breaking. I will never buy a fancy one again – it isn’t worth it. The rubber thingy is always breaking – it broke before it was a year old and now it is hard to get parts because it isn’t standard.
I have Toto in all three of my bathrooms and I love them all. They are about 4 years old. Go figure…opinions on both sides of the fence!
I agree with others, a large farm style sink. I have one in my kitchen and I couldn’t do without it.
I also LOVE that raspberry, yummmm. It’s luscious and you’re making me want to start a project!
I have a 1/2 bath by the back door that has a stainless steel sink that is 10″ deep and 16″ x 16″ square (top mount so overall size is 18″ x 18″). When we replaced our kitchen sink, we moved the old kitchen faucet that was a swan neck into the 1/2 bath and it works really well there. It is 8″ high and protrudes into the sink about 8″ with 15″ clearance from bottom of sink to top of faucet. Be careful that the faucet doesn’t protrude too far out or you’ll be wet all the time. I think the 8″ we have is about maximum. I also have a laundry room with Kohler Entree sink that is one hole sink and love it. I can even bath the dog in it and I get to stand up doing it. I like the idea of a potting bench type sink as there is no way to make my sink “pretty” in a 36″ base. I’ve heard the Toto are the way to go – our local hardware store swears by them and that’s what they have in their public restrooms.
Absolutely beautiful! Love it all !
I REPLACED AN OLD TOILET WITH THE DUAL FLUSH TOTO AQUIA? SHE IS REALLY LOVELY WITH A COMFORT HEIGHT COMPACT ELONGATED SEAT AND COMPLETELY ENCLOSED BASE? I PURCHASED THE SOFT CLOSE LID which was very well worth the extra money.
Should let you know that the Toto I have is more than 10 years old. (I am the person who said I liked my American Standard better) I expect they are much better now and I bought Toto at the time because of the great reviews it go. My dual flush toilets are comfort height, elongated bowl, and quiet close. Love those features.
I agree with commenters about the farm sink, and also about the comfort height toilets.
So, one of my questions is, how much do you need the storage in that bathroom? I can picture a pedestal sink–no cabinets or vanity. It would be simple and you might be able to find an eye catching but large faucet. I love design, but practicality comes first. We just had to replace our faucets, and had to do it quickly. Although I love the two handle ones and waterfall ones…they were not practical for our situation. For storage you could have some shelves, like the ones in your laundry room, above your toilet.
Don’t know if my Toto is a dual flush, but I have retired the plunger. Worth every penny
I have the KOHLER “memoirs” in all my bathrooms…it’s a classic that goes with any white sink you might consider. I also like that the tank is a rectangle and flat that you can put a tissue box or candle on without it sliding off! I had a “low flush” toilet that we got at Home Depot – returned after 8 months, because, it just didn’t flush well…and, yes, they took it back, no problem!
oh, yes. comfort height and elongated seat, too! A must!!
In this case, choose practicality over what is traditionally expected for a “powder room.” Make it work for you and your lifestyle! The stationary tub/farmhouse sink is an excellent solution. Decorate with gardening elements and make it your “potting shed” that happens to have a bonus toilet.
I love a swan faucet. To me they really soften a bathroom, especially when the mirror comes down low enough for a reflection. No room is ever too small for one!
We have Kohler, Am. St. and Toto. Toto wins hands down. Flushes best and beautiful glaze too, so it cleans easiest. (and Yes to the higher seat!). Go for the swan faucet-you won’t be sorry. So practical. Have fun!
Toilets with a skirted base are genius, so sleek and clean – an absolute must have. We have 3 Kohler Persuade toilets and they are great – reasonable price, dual flush, comfort height, elongated bowl and we don’t even own a plunger.
We have Toto toilets, and like them. After five years, both had to have a small part replaced, which my husband ordered and did himself.
I like the idea of the farmhouse sink and swan faucet very much. It seems like you have the opportunity to reinvent here. It’s not exactly a powder room, which to me would be at the front of the house, where ladies and gents go to freshen up. You have something different, a bathroom/utility sink/potter’s area. You can make it functional, comfortable and–if I know you, Maria–pretty, as well. I can’t wait to see what you come up with. People will go in there and be amazed at what a great and unique place it is, with many uses. They will be inspired to create their own multipurpose room like yours. : )
I had the same dilemma and solved the problem by installing a swan necked bar tap. They are more petite in profile but equally elegant. It does the double job of added height for potting needs while still part of the powder room and can suit a standard sink.
I have a dual flush skirted American Standard with the higher height ($200 on sale Home Hardware) which comes with the quiet close seat. Once you have the added height you never want to go back. We’ve replaced our other toilet with the same one. Very easy to clean as well.
By the way I am 5’2″ and still prefer the comfort height. I feel like I’m in kindergarten when I sit on a regular one now- seems too close to the floor. I don’t see airports installing anything but comfort height now and am glad it’s becoming the norm.
The ‘short people’ issue was my concern with a comfort height. My daughter was told by her pediatrician to always have her daughter’s knees up a bit higher (definitely not legs dangling), even if it meant putting a stool near the toilet, so that she could go to the bathroom more easily and not get constipated. He said that many adults don’t realize that, if they are short, they could have problems as well with the taller toilets (he had done some research on it). He said squatting, while not something we do in our culture, is the BEST way to go to the bathroom, as it stretches the colon out a bit, etc. I’m a bit less than 5′ tall and definitely have some problems with the handicap toilets in public bathrooms. I’m guessing they are higher than ‘comfort toilet’ height. Just saying, I’d TEST DRIVE a higher toilet before I’d buy it. ‘Comfort’ to some might not be comfort to all.
You can definitely use the swan neck option if you install it in a farmhouse type deep sink. You must though pay attention to the arc of the new faucet , you don’t want it to come out further than you sink center
American Standard toilet – they work great and reasonably priced!
Toto! We just replaced four toilets with Toto skirted sides and Sana finish. After reading dozens of reviews, Toto won.
Love the Toto and swan neck is fine…have them in my master bath. But I do not see your design aesthetic as farmhouse or rustic. Therefore, I would build in a wall to wall vanity shelf, drop in the sink, mirror the back wall for a clean and contemporary look. Looking forward to seeing what you decide.
Yes to the farm style sink and Yes, Yes, Yes to a Toto toilet. I had the first one Ultramax installed over 8 years ago in my basement bathroom and another 2 years ago Eco Nexus in my upstairs bathroom and they are awesome. Absolutely no need for a dual flush with the Toto. One flush takes care of everything! The Connelly looks like a nice design. Check out this site to become more toilet savy.
http://www.terrylove.com/crtoilet.htm
Maria – I would love to see you embrace the potting sink idea. Go for a small deep farmhouse sink with an apron so you can arrange the flowers right next to the high gooseneck faucet. Decorate the walls with some botanicals and/or framed old seed packets. Install some very small shelves with brackets similar to your laundry room but high and on each side of the vanity and store some vases there. Put a set of baskets on a shelf above toilet with some labels – one for extra toilet rolls and one for your gardening gloves and gardening shears. It could look lovely and useful!
I think something like this would look great in your powder room.
http://colonialcraftkitchens.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Small-Vanity-with-Open-Shelf-571×800.jpg
You could do a deeper sink, and have the swan neck faucet. I like the open shelf on the bottom. It would give you space to put a basket under there for some of your garden tools that you use for arranging flowers.
My vote would be for something like this, given the style of your house. Not a farm house sink. I would have a deep and wide stainless sink (to solve the problem of staining) but not the standard laundry tub. And perhaps even a stainless counter for the same reason. Tall or spray faucet. Expect this will get more use as a garden sink then a powder room.
We await the magic you will do. How can you lose when the walls are raspberry; love that.
Like idea.
Hi, Maria!
I love your work.
Have you thought about a wall faucet coming from the mirror? It’d give the height you want to fill vases…
Hi Maria, looks great, love love the colors. We have a toto throughout our house. love it but I don’t have American standard to compare with. I do have some American standard faucets which I do love. Love farmhouse sinks however, depending on the material, they do stain and one has to be careful so depends what you will be using it for. Perhaps they have changed them by now though. Love that you have the same issues we all do.
Some interesting info on duel flush toilets. On the face of it, they’re a great idea, very eco-friendly by separating liquid and solid waste, using less water, etc. However, toilet tissue is considered a solid. So while the duel flush works well with males in the household, maybe not so much for the women in the house 🙂
Another consideration is the septic tank line. I was cautioned by our plumber years ago that changing out our older high-volume flush toilets for the lower water volume ones would be a bad idea given the fact that our septic tank lines are pretty long and he said sometimes the low-volume flush won’t carry solid waste all the way to the tank. You might remember to use the second flush for solid matter (with more water volume), but guests might be clueless. Recently, though, the Locke Supply folks said the newer low-volume toilets have a more powerful flush that would easily carry waste all the way out to our septic tank. I’d investigate it a bit, maybe even talking to a plumber who services your area a lot. It might be a moot issue with the new technology.
Hello! First, I represent Kohler plumbing in the Vancouver area. (disclaimers done!). I understand the desire for the low water option of a dual flush but…trying to be delicate…the the low-flush option (1.0 gpm or less) is designed for and tested with liquid only and is not meant for paper. Most women then end up double flushing or using the full flush option (1.6 gpm) and using much more water. I’d buy a good performing single flush (1.28 gpm). You will absolutely use less water daily and clean less often. (And get to through away the plunger!!!)
Good point.
Hi! Just reread my note…auto correct… It’s gpf – gallons per flush NOT gpm – gallons per mile!
Well, form follows function, so I would definitely go with an oversized sink. What about an apron sink, nice and big? Good for any hand washables, too, since it is right next to your laundry.
I painted “My” side of the Jack and Jill bath upstairs that same color a few years ago. Since it is the side that is used for a guest bath, and that attached bedroom is not only a guest room but also my library and sewing room, it makes me happy to see that color when I am up there.
Instead of installing a tall ugly kitchen faucet in your bathroom, install a sleek wall faucet, high enough to place your vase under.
Check this one out.
http://www.trendir.com/archives/001499.html
One thing to consider: your toilet problems may have to do with the underlying plumbing, not just with the toilet. If you replace the toilet but the problem is the plumbing, then you will still have a problem… (you may want to check this possibility out)
We have a septic tank with a 1973 house. We were plunging the toilet nearest to the septic tank side of the house off and on for years. It recently was getting worse, so we called a plumber, thinking the line was blocked. He said it is always best to check the septic tank first since a full septic tank will yield the problem we were seeing. The septic service guy said the tank was only 1/3 full and in great shape. So, he hunted down the REAL problem. Come to find out, the connection between the line and the septic tank had deteriorated (it was a metal fitting, not PVC) and it was catching debris. Over time, only a small passageway remained. The toilet farther away had the longer line that allowed the debris to flush, fill the line, and then slowly make its way through the narrow passageway. We had a plumber replace the corroded fitting (not the septic guy’s forte) and have not plunged once since. This happened recently, after 22 years of living with the problem and no plumber could figure it out.
I agree with the suggestions above about oversized sink with swan neck if you want. I just wanted to mention another option to consider: wall mounted faucet. They are often seen in powder rooms and you could place it at whatever height would work best for you. It’s a bigger plumbing project though.
I love our Toto toilets. They have worked great and were reasonably priced. Not fancy, but not ugly either. As for faucets, I think a fun faucet would look great. I’m sure you will not overdo it with too much glam stuff, so one killer piece would be lovely.
Just one thing to consider, the length of your legs. I find the taller toilets uncomfortable, as I am short and prefer my feet touch the ground 🙂
Yep, my point exactly.
I prefer Toto – we have had one for 9 years and it is great. Someone talked me into a Kohler, and I am not a fan. We are building an addition with a new master bath and we are getting a Toto. As for the sink, i am not sure if you need the storage underneath. But if you don’t a Console sink that fits the entire space would look wonderful. Barclay makes one. If the bathroom is super small, then the consolw will make it look larger. I think a gooseneck is fine as long is it isn’t too heavy.
We love out Toto toilets, quiet functioning and the self closing lid is good feng shui. If the budget allows, a wall mount faucet could work .
I think a tall gooseneck faucet would be great. Just something I have experience with is that my parents had a ‘wet bar’ and they put in a tall swan neck faucet with a small sink. Well, it splashed everywhere! Not sure if it was the fact that the sink was shallow or maybe the faucet didnt have an aerator. Just something to think about when selecting a sink!
Maria, a regular size kitchen goose neck/swan neck faucet would be nice in the space if the sink is larger enough to accommodate the larger faucet. What about using a wall mount faucet? I know that will require more money due to plumbing changes. Another idea is using a solid surface material spanning the length of the space and face it with the same material. Your plumbing would show a little but just use a nice polish chrome plumbing and the space underneath could be used for storing baskets while working.
First thing to do – change the name of the room. It’s not the powder room; it the potting room (which just happens, happily, to have a Toto potty in it). Now, go to town with everything else that would work for working with plants – your swan neck faucet, a farmhouse sink with room underneath to store supplies and some area to set things on while you’re working – it’s a tight so you probably will need some type of lightweight rolling folding metal table that you could flatten and store somewhere when not in use. Have fun with it.
We switched our three toilets to Toto comfort height shortly after we bought our home in 2004 and when I sold in 2012, we had had only two tiny problems, one not Toto-related. They are a bit more expensive than American Standard or others but we loved them. Definitely the comfort height. Check Kohler’s website for an article on how to shop for toilets.
Such a great color and I have all your dilemmas! My guest bath is the exact configuration/size as yours, without the window. I suppose it’s too late, since you’ve painted, to move the toilet paper holder…it’s the first thing you see..I would keep under-sink storage no matter which sink/faucet you choose…extra TP, etc. has to go somewhere. When we bought this townhome, we also put in new flooring and a Toto, and I don’t like it at all. It’s a teeny tiny toilet and I have to keep a plunger handy. My neighbor got an American Standard for his luxury redo…it’s taller, flushes well and wasn’t terribly costly. I look forward to seeing the completed redo…at least yours is a ‘utility bath.’ Since mine is for guests, I’m trying to ‘make a silk purse from a sow’s ear!!
Love love love the raspberry!
How about a bath faucet with a pull-out sprayer?
http://www.amazon.com/Pfister-2-Handle-Centerset-Bathroom-Brushed/dp/B0066HFYY8
And get a comfort-height toilet. Nobody is getting any younger.
Haven’t seen this faucet before. This will work for me in my combined first floor washroom/laundry room.
I agree with Mary and Heather that a sprayer seems to be essential, whether it is this unique faucet or a separate sprayer. You may have bits of this or that to wash down the sink – just not too much dirt! Some potting sheds with sinks actually dump the water directly outside rather than tying into drainage that could easily get plugged with dirt over time. But, you mentioned flowers and vases, which doesn’t sound like dirt work.
Hello Maria-i haven’t read all the comments so perhaps this is redundant. Bathroom design starts with the faucet; it sets the tone, modern, utilitarian, luxury, victorian, etc. Please pick your faucet and then find the Toto dual action flush styled toilet to go with it. From there you’ll easily pick the sink, vanity, pedastal, etc. Best of luck.
Or you could do a wall mount tap but I like all the ideas above – a nice big industrial sink with a funky farm house light in white.
Maria, We had a big problem with our powder room toilet. The plunger was used daily.
We replaced it with a Toto Soiree 3-1/2 years ago and have used the plunger once since. The Soiree is not dual flush but it is eco friendly. The average low flush toilet is 1.6 Gpf (gallons per flush). The Soiree is 1.28 Gpf; only one flush is needed. We like all its features: the Sana Gloss makes it easy to clean, the higher seat which Toto’s calls universal height, the flat tank top and the soft close. We’re very happy with our choice.
As one reviewer mentioned, it is advisable to have your plumbing checked to ensure that the problem is not with your pipes. Ours was strictly poor toilet design.
My only replacement toilets are American Standard and at 5 and 15 yrs old, I haven’t had a single problem with either. The rest are 100+yrs old and doing great with tweaking every 5-10 years. I wouldn’t expect to do a thing to a toilet for quite some time…definitely longer than the five years a writer above mentioned.
I would definitly investigate the plumbing…I replaced one toilet twice thinking it was the toilet. Wrong! It was the clogged plumbing. You never know what got thrown before you took possession. Get someone to flush out your lines now before you replace and you’ll see an amazing difference.
Lastly, go with a large sin a swan-type faucet. There are many lovely contemporary designs and spins on the traditional farmhouse style, as I don’t really see that as complementing your aesthetic. I’m not sure about turning the Br completely into a potting shed, but a large sink and faucet could make it more useful.
P.S. What about a small potting bench with water and sink outside for the nicer weather…you could keep all that mess out that most of the time.
Put the swan-neck faucet! I’ve seen plenty of tiny bar sinks with them. I do flowers too–you’ll be so glad to have the tall faucet.
What about a wall mounted faucet?
We totally love our Toto. It’s the 1.28 gallon per flush high efficiency rather than the dual flush. My husband and son in-law are toilet efficienados and my husband is an energy engineer. It also has the skirt which I love for cleanliness reasons. I think the swan neck faucet would be great and love some of the other ideas about sinks. ‘Nother idea: farmhouse sink with a small bit of real estate on the sides for setting a glass or box of kleenex. We off-set our half bath faucet so it’s not centered. That also helps get things under the faucet and looks neat too! Good luck on your toilet search and I can’t wait to see your finished room!
If you are looking for a quality faucet at an affordable price, my plumber brother insists I buy Delta (or Moen if I can’t find what I want with Delta, but he still considers that a step down). Also, the box stores may handle Moen or Delta, but their faucets are generally cheapened with plastic parts instead of brass to keep the costs down. Buy from a plumbing supplier and get a quality fixture that will last for years without any problems. When you consider the cost of calling a plumber out, it makes sense to spend $200 for a good fixture than to buy a cheap product and have to have the plumber return in a year or two, as I have well learned.
I vote for an “interesting” large sink with a high faucet. With all the cool choices you can have form and function, maybe a trough sink with an open base something like this (not the faucet). Definitely need a flat bottom so vases won’t topple.
http://st.houzz.com/simgs/80216ff50f96aae1_4-9158/contemporary-bathroom-sinks.jpg
We went with “regular” Toto toilets (not dual flush) when our house was built 7 years ago. They flush great but we have had to replace parts in both toilets several times. We have very hard water so maybe Toto just can’t handle it.
And I agree with Kathy about the toilet height. This probably isn’t a concern for you, but “comfort height” is not at all comfortable for shorter people. I’m sure we are the exception but everyone thought we were crazy by insisting on the regular height. In fact, if I moved to a house that already had comfort height toilets they would have to be one of the first things to go.
Whichever brand you choose, definitely go with a soft close lid. What a great invention (like soft close cabinet drawers and doors).
Can’t wait to see the “after”.
Agree 100% about soft close lid. And we have a regular and a comfort height – I far prefer regular.
Absolutely agree with the selection of a trough style sink and shelf below. You may prefer a white painted finish rather than the wood shown here but this style is both functional for floral/laundry use as well as powder room use and is so chic. (Great suggestion Linda!) The deeper the sink, the more appropriate a spray style tall faucet is for practicality. Often you can find a medical supply faucet – i.e. surgeon’s scrub faucet – some even offer foot controls. 😉 LOVE THIS IDEA!
Keep in mind, if you have a tall faucet, you must have a deeper sink, otherwise splashing will be a problem. I have two family members who have a Kohler cimarron. It has a powerful flush, and I would definitely go for the elongated bowl, comfort height and soft close lid.
Have you looked at kitchen faucets instead of bathroom ones? Kitchen faucets often have a sprayer that is part of the design.
My vote would be for a pull out sprayer for utility. Then you will be able to wash the dog in the sink!
Well, whatever toilet you pick make sure it isn’t one with the (sorry, no delicate way to say this) “poop path” molded on the side of the toilet. A lot of the new toilets have switched to this design and it’s a GROSS reminder of what the plumbing is doing not to mention harder to clean because it’s not flat. Doesn’t this bother anyone else?
Example: http://www.cockeyed.com/lessons/toilet/real_toilet.jpg
I would look for a sink/faucet combo like this (even thought the rest of the design is a little “cottagey” for you)
http://www.homeplusdecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/kitchen-elegant-vintage-kitchen-design-idea-with-white-kitchen-cabinet-with-brown-counter-white-sink-with-silver-faucet-and-green-garden-view-admirable-vintage-kitchen-design-ideas.jpg
Late to the game but Toto is great, in baths and Oz.
I see I’m late to the convo but I found a few sink ideas for you to consider if you’d like. Here is a link to the pinboard:
Marias Powder Room Pinboard
(If that didn’t work try this: http://www.pinterest.com/IIJennCollins/killam-powder-room/)
Now I have to go see what everyone else thought of!!!
Where did you get the shelves for your laundry room. I
have been looking at all the standard stores…Home Depot,
Lowe’s, Ikea, etc and I can’t find them anywhere.
Thanks,
from houzz, a Kohler Alcott farmhouse sink with gooseneck faucet in a kids’ bath
Farmhouse Bathroom by Denver Architects & Designers Chalet
I think you should look at a bigger picture and see what sink functions you need in regards to your garden. Do you also need a big sink to wash off dirty vegetables before bringing them into the house? Or for other really dirty things? You may need the potting sink outside. If it is on the outside of the wall of the bathroom, the plumbing may not be so expensive. The advantage is that you will not get your bathroom dirty. It is a lot of work to clean garden dirt from a regular bathroom. Also, if you or someone else gets really dirty from gardening, you can put an outdoor showerhead there, too. (Little kids really love to play in these, too.) Since you are having a plumber come out, think of all the things you want to change: Do you need more water spickets in the yard at hard-to-reach areas? Are there any energy or water-saving items related to plumbing that he could do?
Excellent suggestion.
/Users/Anastassia/Pictures/iPhoto Library.photolibrary/Masters/2014/04/30/20140430-142055/08c1058b01095a39_4464-w422-h634-b0-p0–transitional-powder-room.jpg
Function is always first, form second. Go for it
Let’s get a beautiful floor in here because this is what you see. Check out Crossville’s bright color porcelain tiles in a large format. I’d still want a vanity for storage but why not one that floats on the wall. Kohler and Ronbow both make these. That will make your floor space feel bigger. Get the new Kohler deep bowl sink and yes a nice big gooseneck faucet. It’s still a powder room so you want it to work for guests as well as gardening.
We replaced 2 toilets 3 years ago with American Standard Champion 4 toilets. Absolutely LOVE them! Comfort height, elongated seat, soft-close lid. One of the soft-close lids has started to fail and now I must remember to gently put it down myself. As far as comfort height, I think it’s the way to go. If you ever have to have any type of abdominal or female surgery you want to be able to easily get up off the toilet. Before these Champion 4 toilets were installed, I had a regular height toilet. It was agony to get up from them after my hysterectomy. I’m 5’5″ for reference. I love your raspberry walls and think either a tall faucet with a pull-out sprayer or a wall-mounted faucet would look great and be functional for you. Looking forward to seeing what you choose!
Hi Maria,
Are you considering the swan neck faucet because it can swivel? If not, have you thought about a wall mount option?
Another couple of looks to consider. Maybe a single rather than double sink but nice faucet mount.
http://www.houzz.com/photos/382929/Repurposing-salvaged-sink-traditional-kitchen-burlington
And, swap out for gooseneck faucet but LOVE THIS sink style for your space.
http://www.houzz.com/photos/1686303/Hyde-Park-Renovation-transitional-entry-chicago
Love the raspberry color, my daughters’ bathroom is a very similar color. We have the Toto dual flush wall mounted toilet and I really like it! All of our toilets and bathroom cabinetry is wall mounted and it makes cleaning the bathroom so much easier!
I put a nice laundry sink with a high faucet in my bath/laundry room combo and it looks nice and is very useful. I have a limited budget, so used a basic one that included the faucet from Lowe’s that was only $300, and five years later, it still looks good. I just wish the sink was a heavier material.
It has been discontinued, but here are some rather nice laundry/utility sinks, or maybe an IKEA single bowl farmhouse or contemporary bath sink.
http://www.amazon.com/KOHLER-K-12787-0-Gilford-Scrub-Up-Plaster/dp/B0014YJH8C/ref=lp_3754781_1_18?s=kitchen-bath&ie=UTF8&qid=1398964296&sr=1-18
http://www.amazon.com/American-Standard-7692-008-020-Lakewell-Enameled/dp/B0015IVSEI/ref=lp_3754781_1_12?s=kitchen-bath&ie=UTF8&qid=1398964296&sr=1-12#productDetails
http://www.amazon.com/Sterling-996-0-Latitude-25-inch-Top-mount/dp/B001DTPUSY/ref=sr_1_28?s=kitchen-bath&ie=UTF8&qid=1398964528&sr=1-28
http://www.amazon.com/Kohler-K-6655-1-0-Self-Rimming-One-Hole-Drilling/dp/B001UP1K94/ref=sr_1_39?s=kitchen-bath&ie=UTF8&qid=1398964528&sr=1-39#productDetails
http://www.amazon.com/American-Standard-9061-193-020-Plaster-Backsplash/dp/B0015B6Y5S/ref=sr_1_111?s=kitchen-bath&ie=UTF8&qid=1398964968&sr=1-111
This is acrylic, but actually is designed to wash delicates: http://www.amazon.com/Designer-Delicate-Touch-Laundry-Finish/dp/B00BWV8LX4/ref=sr_1_118?s=kitchen-bath&ie=UTF8&qid=1398964968&sr=1-118
Saw great wall-mounted enameled metal (Germany) and rustic flat ceramic utility sinks with built-in drainer (France) and concrete (Italy) in Europe, but don’t know if can get here. If you find a distributor, let me know!
If you get a hardworking extra deep sink, you won’t regret it. So convenient for gardening and the laundry, and good enough for hand washing and such. Can be attractive in an industrial sort of way too.
IKEA
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S09894062/ (wide but narrow)
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70207144/
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60148329/
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49847479/
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S19896367/
I am in agreement with a farmhouse sink and goose neck faucet, open shelves with zinc containers. I also would add some shelves behind the toliet for a nice display of vases. The only thing I would suggest is thinking about a large scale wallpaper with peonies, bouquets or a landscaping feels, in colors to pick up your yellows and raspberries. It would add more texture and connect the outside with the inside and making it a multi-purpose space.
We have two Toto toilets (put them in about six years ago) and love them to pieces. I’ve only plunged twice in the whole time that we’ve had them! Can’t say enough good things – I think we have the “drake” model, so fairly basic.
http://www.bhg.com/decorating/storage/organization-basics/storage-solutions-using-baskets/#page=17 This sink would meet the requirements. It has a wall mounted faucet for the height, a shelf above the sink and a vanity size top (without the vanity) for work space. The legs could be of any style. You could have something like this custom made of quartz.
I think they call these farmer’s sinks, with high enameled back, wall-mounted faucet and apron front. So pretty, and practical, although a bit of challenge these days to retrofit a cabinet or stand for it. Here’s an option that isn’t too big:
http://www.amazon.com/American-Standard-9062-008-020-Country-Kitchen/dp/B00084MY8O/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_text_y
Well, you are spoiled for choice here. How about a really big vessel sink, one large enough to be a kitchen sink, and for only $80?
http://www.amazon.com/Decor-Star-CB-013-Bathroom-Porcelain/dp/B003UE7Y5W/ref=pd_sim_hi_13?ie=UTF8&refRID=0Q425SSK0C3F3H68YPQN
Then maybe a wall-mounted faucet? I used to have one in my kitchen and loved it–so easy to fill buckets and so forth. I added an inexpensive swivel aerator, which saves water and is useful, and never missed having a sprayer. Or maybe a high arc deck mounted kitchen faucet could work.