HOW TO… CHOOSE A NEW LOO
Sourcing the perfect sanitaryware
FIND YOUR FIT ‘Aim for a toilet that is as discreet as possible,’ says Kirsten Wain, designer, West One Bathrooms. ‘The majority of installations are wall-hung, with sleek designs, easy floor cleaning and bespoke height.’ Back-to-wall, where the pan sits on the floor but the cistern is concealed in a stud wall, is also discreet, while close-coupled toilets are easier to install because the cistern isn’t built in.
LOOK BEYOND WHITE Gloss white still rules – it just looks so clean – but more colourful options are on the horizon. ‘We’re getting lots of requests for pastels and jewel tones that lend a fun vibe, as well as moody anthracites and black,’ reports Rebecca Milnes, senior designer, C.P. Hart. Matt colours are also gaining ground for their tactile appeal, providing soft relief against the bathroom’s hard surfaces.
EASY CLEAN IS THE DREAM Most recent advances focus on hygiene and minimising contact. Benefit from extra grime-resistance by choosing toilets with specialist glazes, for example Duravit’s Hygieneglaze, which are baked into the ceramic when firing to block bacteria growth. ‘New rimless designs also contribute to cleanliness, eliminating gaps where dirt might build up and simplifying cleaning,’ says Inês Araújo, design and projects executive, Roca Group. ‘When flushed, rimless designs distribute the water around the entire bowl, reaching higher and cleaning the whole surface. Touchless sensor technology has also made advances, with electronic automatic flush plates available in new and retro-fit versions.’
SAVE WATER By law, newly installed toilets cannot exceed six litres of water per flush. Great for the environment, but not always great for effectiveness – flushing twice is often the norm. Such problems are generally due to cheap, ineffective pan designs and incompatible plumbing. ‘We recommend buying a pan and cistern designed to go together from the same brand,’ says Peter Davis, products director, Geberit. ‘Also look out for innovations designed to avoid wasting water, like Geberit’s Turboflush Rimfree pans.’
DO NOT DISTURB ‘Quieter flushing is one of the standout new technologies,’ says Ideal Standard designer Bart Sobieszczanski, ‘and you can now get toilets, like our rimless Aquablade models, that are 80% quieter than standard.’ Also seek out quiet cisterns, like Grohe’s Whisper that conceals the sound of the cistern filling, and slam-free soft-close seats.
A SMARTER FUTURE We’re talking intelligent toilets that double as bidets, often with drying facilities, programmable spray options, deodorising, odour extraction, heated seats, automatic seat opening/closing and integral lighting. ‘In short, cleaning with water, not paper, makes more sense,’ says Floyd Case, global specification manager for Toto. Hygiene is at the heart of smart toilet sales. ‘Many advances are almost invisible, like our use of electrolysed water, Ewater+, to suppress germs,’ adds Case. ‘The toilet changes tap water with a small anode and cathode to create an effective cleansing product, similar to the mouthwash your dentist gives you.’