25 Step Guide to Designing and Buying a Bathroom
A Professional Designers Guide
Step 18. Bathroom Wc and Bidet Guide
Toilets and bidets are always an area of amusement when trying to make a decision and quite often chosen quickly without any real discussion about what is the best choice for shape and function.
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Mainly construced from vitreous china fired to a high temperature then coated with a ceramic glaze and fired again. Problems with quality can be both in the clay imperfections before firing and in the glaze after second firing.
Modern wc's and bidets are available in white, cream and pergamon in limited ranges. If you are looking for unusual then there are citrus colours in limes and oranges, and many other colours coming through including black, grey and blue. These are normally seen on more modern Italian ranges.
An interesting and stylish option used for many years in Northern Europe with ranges like Villeroy and Boch, but not so much in the British market other than in top-end bathrooms. It can be limiting if you want to mix ranges of toilets, basins and baths. It is appearing more in ultra modern ranges.
The external wc pan type can be a bottom discharge type or a rear outlet type. Both are used actively, and replacing either is relatively easy. The rear outlet type is probably the most popular for resiting and re-connecting, because this is possible with flexible pipework.
Pan height does vary a little but if it is an issue then some options are available in lower and taller heights for children and larger adults.
Cisterns are available in single and dual flush. Most manufacturers have introduced the dual flush as standard because of the demands for water saving. There is an economy quick flush and a longer flush option for more serious situations !
There is a vast array of seat material options from white plastic through to handmade resin with objects like starfishes in it. Styles are dependant on the toilet shape and are designed mostly to suit one toilet type. Budget toilets tend to have a more standard shape so are more flexible if you do not like the matching plastic toilet seat, ie you want black walnut for instance. I have provided links to popular choices.
This is the most popular option by far with the progress of modern design and the demand for a freestanding look. I have listed a number of options for ranges and styles.
If you are a traditionalist and want to update without ending up with too modern a statement, then there are lots of re-worked traditional details on modern transitional suites where a comfortable balance has been achieved. If you like a particular period like the 30's, and want to achieve this look without being too obvious, then there are toilets that achieve this statement without trying too hard.
This style still has its place in traditional bathrooms, but not as much as I have been used to because of the demand for more transitional or modern design, even in period houses.
This is still a popular method of hiding waste pipes and water to give a flush look. I seem to be using this option more without furniture by fitting it against tiled and veneered panels. The cistern is still hidden behind the panel but the look is a plainer and more unfitted look.
Hb bathrooms wc . Ideal Standard bathrooms wc . Duravit wc . Ceramicaeos wc . Ideal Standard wc . Ideal Standard . Jacussi wc . Jacussi wc . Porcelanosa bidets . Scarabeo Ceramica wc
I haven't used many of these recently in full period style, but have used more simplified transitional versions of old styles that are more easy on the eye.
This is my favourite choice at the moment, even though it requires a support frame structure to hold it up. I have provided links to some of my favourites and also links to frame and cistern integrated systems.
This type of toilet is for the hard core traditionalists who are not bothered by the latest trends and want what they want. I have fitted one of this type in the last 7 years and that was an authentic Thomas Crapper type wc and cistern. I have included a link for your entertainment.
Flush plates are used for flushing the toilet aswell as providing access to the concealed cistern behind. They are bigger than conventional flush options but useful for situations where top access is difficult.
This is one for small bathroom situations. I have shown two options - one is a full combination and one is a space-saver combination.
If there is something of interest and new to market then look here for your ideas. I will be adding new products when I find them or they are launched at shows etc.
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