Bathroom design need not be flushed when seeking the best plan for a powder room's privy. "People don't really think about the design of a toilet, until it comes time to replace the old one," says Chuck York, a vice president with Mansfield Plumbing Products in Perrysville, Ohio. Founded in 1929, Mansfield manufactures more than 1 million toilets a year, distributing them to 1,500 retail outlets in the United States and Canada.

The time to "talk toilets" is more relevant than ever, especially when it comes to the topic of water conservation in the home. "An old toilet will use up to 3.5 gallons per flush, compared to today's high-efficiency toilet, which uses 1.28 gallons per flush or less," York says. "Not only will a family save on water bills, having a high-efficiency toilet is a necessity, especially in places like California, which are experiencing a severe drought."

But using less water doesn't mean consumers need to poo-poo the loo's performance. Toilets earning a WaterSense label are certified to be at least 20 percent more efficient without sacrificing performance. WaterSense is a program that, in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, seeks to protect the water supply by offering its seal of approval on water-efficient products.

The design of a high-efficiency toilet uses less water by forcing it through the front of the bowl. Most toilets operate on a gravity-flush system, but a pressure-assist flush mechanism can be installed inside the tank to move more material with less water. Mansfield's QuantumOne line of pressure-assist, high-efficiency toilets have attained the industry's premium ratings by achieving high performance and efficiency standards, using only 1 gallon of water per flush.

Installing a high-efficiency toilet saves dollars and makes sense for conservation. Using a water conservation calculator, a family of five can potentially save more than 20,000 gallons of water a year using a high-efficiency 1.28 gallon-per-flush toilet, instead of an older water-laden lavatory. This also translates into savings on water bills. "When considering swapping out an older toilet for a high-efficiency one, make sure to check with your water municipality," York says. "Often, there are local rebate programs through water districts that reward homeowners for efforts in water conservation."

Keep it Clean

The design of a toilet features the tank -- where the water is stored -- and the bowl. According to York, toilets can range up to $500 and up, depending on style aesthetics.

Contemporary toilets appeal to modern-day design, and are available in one-piece or two-piece options, including tank and bowl, which come ready for assembly. Featuring clean lines, the outside of a toilet has become easier to clean with a concealed trapway at its base. "Some toilet designs have less nooks and crannies, which makes them easier to keep hygienic," York says. "Also, toilets with a rimless bowl design eliminate cleaning issues in those hard-to-reach areas in toilets with a traditional rim on the bowl."

Mansfield manufactures Cascade -- a high-efficiency, rimless toilet featuring a mechanical design that creates a strong swirling action, which clears the bowl. Today's toilets have different locations for the flushing handle -- or button -- which can be on the front, side or top of the tank, along with variations to the bowl, which can be round or elongated.

When it comes to color and construction, York says most want to keep their toilets bright white porcelain. "The days of the avocado green or harvest gold toilet are long gone," he says. "Customers aren't only discerning about the look of a toilet, they also want it to sit at the right height."

The standard toilet height is anywhere from 14 3/4 to 15 1/2 inches from floor to the top of the toilet seat. Taller toilets sit higher at 16 to 17 1/4 inches, which provides more comfortable access for users, according to York.

"Even though it's just a matter of 2 inches or so on the toilet height, it makes a world of difference," he says. "As people age, it's more difficult to get up and down from a standard toilet. Taller toilets are easier to use for many people, including those who are taller themselves or have physical challenges."

While popular in international markets, American bathrooms don't usually include bidets, says York. But no matter your "throne" selection, York advises hiring a professional plumber to install a new toilet.

"Before you buy a new toilet, make sure you know how far the drain in the floor is from the wall. Usually, it's 1-foot standard, but make sure a new toilet will fit the space," he says. "Whenever you deal with water, it's always good to hire a professional, because it can become a mess real quick, if you don't know what you're doing."

For those families that battle over the toilet seat being left up, York says many manufacturers make models that lower the toilet seat gently with a single touch.

"Mansfield Plumbing calls it 'Smart Close' technology," York says. "A new high-efficiency toilet with an easy-close seat can help create harmony in a family and bliss in the bathroom."

Water Closet Conservation

To see how much water (and money) you can potentially save with a high-efficiency toilet, access the Water Savings Calculator at MansfieldPlumbing.com under the Resources & Specifications tab.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)

Give your home the spa treatment by creating a room for grooming. A non-commercial home salon can be a personal oasis where one can be pampered without leaving the house.

As individualized as each person's hairstyle, a home salon should also have its own sense of style, says Los Angeles-based stylist and WEN hair care product developer Chaz Dean.

"I have a natural philosophy and holistic approach to life, and believe that should be reflected in how you take care of yourself," Dean says. "When people are able to have a stylist come into their home as part of their beauty regimen, people don't have to rush, are more comfortable and it can truly be a time to relax and recharge yourself."

Dean has been a stylist for more than 20 years and is known for his celebrity clientele. His Hollywood studio, which bears his name, has a cozy, contemporary charm located within three renovated 1920s Craftsman bungalows, all surrounded by an ivy-covered fence. Dean understands his studio location's allure, as these homey structures emulate a tranquil energy.

"Everyone deserves to be pampered," he says. "Having a home salon isn't just for celebrities."

From older individuals who enjoy the creature comforts of home to working professionals who want to cut down on their drive-time to get a haircut, different demographics are seeing the beauty of creating a salon in the home. But before outfitting a home salon, Dean says to have a plan in place, otherwise there is the potential for the space to become a cosmetological catch-all.

"Know what beauty regimens you want to have done in your home salon and start there," Dean says. "Whether it's a regularly-scheduled haircut or manicure, have the space outfitted for your specific needs."

A home salon doesn't have to be large to be functional, but you need to find a space to cosmetically claim as your own. Whether it's a partitioned portion of the laundry room, an under-used spare bathroom or an addition to the master-suite, a home salon should feel light and bright, says Dean.

"Natural sunlight is conducive to a salon space, especially when dealing with hair color and makeup," he says. "When the weather is beautiful outside, I also love to invite that into the salon by opening windows for fresh air."

If you don't have access to a window or natural light, install both overhead and task lighting fixtures to illuminate the space, as well as ventilation fans. A mirror is also a must, and often a fully-lit version is part of any salon station.

It's also a bright idea to put time into selecting the proper light bulbs for home salon fixtures. Based on the color rendering index (or CRI), look for bulbs that have CRI ratings of 75, or better. With daylight rated at 100 CRI, some fluorescent lights might only score a 50 CRI. However, compact fluorescents, color corrected fluorescent tubes, incandescent and halogen bulbs can all have CRI ratings that are 75 and greater.

A salon's style starts from the ground up and Dean prefers hardwoods underfoot. "Hardwood floors give the space a natural feel and, as a stylist, they are more forgiving to stand on than ceramic or stone tiles," he says. "Regardless of what is on the floor, it should not include a rug or carpeting, as you need easy cleanup in a salon."

A watershed moment of inspiration can also be found in a home salon's sink or cleansing basin. For a one-stop sitting, invest in a single barber-style chair that will recline for a wash into a basin on which the neck can rest, and then will spin around and sit up-right for a styling.

"In my first studio in Bel Air, I bought gently used equipment from a failed salon," Dean says. "If people are installing a personal home salon, check on-line for commercial salons that are going out-of-business and selling their wares."

Dean says the upholstery in a chair is an easy cosmetic upgrade, but make sure the hydraulics - - for raising and lowering the chair - - are sound before purchasing. "You want a treated fabric that doesn't have a nap, so cut hair and stains don't stick to the chair," he says. "Again, you want easy cleanup."

Personal style can make a statement in the station of your home salon. Whether it's contemporary or classic in style, a home salon station can mimic the curves of French Provincial or the straight lines of the modern movement. Regardless of the architectural style of your home salon station, it should include a lighted mirror and storage for towels and beauty products. "You want your salon to be clean and organized," Dean says. "If it's not, the space can move from a serene environment into a stressful one."

Although Dean doesn't have a personal home salon within his house, he's considering building one for his own use. "There's the saying that beauty is only skin-deep, but true beauty comes from within and from being at peace," he says. "Comfort is key when talking about a home salon and you want to invite peace and tranquility into the space."

Source:

A Zen-like Zone -- ChazDean.com

(For editorial questions, please contact Universal Uclick at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

You don't need an attached acreage to enjoy the honest design of farm living. While the mauve ruffles and dusty blue "duck-in-bonnet" motifs of the 1980s country craze are out, today's true farmhouse details also can be at home in suburbia or a city loft.

The modern take on classic country design creates a homey feel no matter where you live, says Joanna Gaines, co-owner with husband Chip Gaines of their Waco, Texas-based Magnolia Homes, and co-star of HGTV's "Fixer Upper."

"People are so busy in their lives, they crave simplicity and calm when they come home at the end of a frantic day," she says. "Chip and I see the value in taking something old and making it new again, whether we're repurposing or restoring it."

Modern farmhouse design begins with solid craftsmanship, whether it requires rehabbing an old house or just bringing a bit of "old soul" into a newly constructed home. "The details in older homes are perfectly imperfect," Chip says. "These homes are meant to be lived in and have a character about them that only time can give."

Open Spaces

Removing interior walls to achieve an open floor plan is often the first step toward creating a modern farmhouse aesthetic. "You want the energy to flow in a home," Joanna says. "A lot of walled-off rooms really affects the functionality of a space -- and not in a good way."

Chip and Joanna bought their family's 1895 Victorian-era farmhouse, located on 40 acres outside of Waco, in 2012. The Gaineses reconfigured the walls within the original 1,800-square-foot home to highlight the kitchen as the workhorse of their house.

The cornerstone of modern farmhouse design is to focus on the kitchen and its connected living and dining areas, but Chip warns against being too eager to "take down those walls."

"As much as we promote DIY (do-it-yourself) projects, removing walls requires a reputable professional," he says. "A respected contractor will know whether a wall is load-bearing before removing it, because the last thing you want is to compromise the structural integrity of your home."

Light, Bright and White Design

After achieving an open floor plan, Joanna builds on a clean color palette by painting walls white or a neutral color. "Interest is created in a home by using natural materials," she says. "I love painting the walls' wood paneling or shiplap white and then layering wood, stone, metal and pops of color on top of that blank canvas."

White ceilings with stained wooden beams, open shelving cabinetry and wide-plank wood flooring are all at home in a modern farmhouse. Bright and airy interiors invite natural light into a space through windows. A bright tip is to install vintage light fixtures -- whether it's over the kitchen table or the bathroom tub -- to illuminate and accentuate this simple, yet sophisticated style.

The Gaines' farmhouse was originally a two-bedroom home with an unfinished attic. After its renovation, the home's square-footage doubled by finishing the upstairs with a family room, guest bedroom and craft room. A master bedroom was added onto the house, and Joanna incorporated old doors and fixtures while using salvaged molding and trim pieces to preserve the architectural integrity and interest in the home.

But Chip cautions against having the interior of the house too monochromatic. "An operating room is also light, bright and white, but we're not going for a sterile environment," he says. "Don't be afraid to incorporate rustic touches or distressed finishes into your home, because that's what gives it character and warmth."

While the design foundation of the farmhouse is neutral tones, Joanna likes to accessorize with the colorful dishes she displays or textiles she uses. A simple needlepoint sampler, colorful antique quilt or rustic folk art piece can personalize the space and add to a farm fresh vibe.

Bringing the Outside Inside

The overall modern farmhouse style can be viewed as uncluttered and contemporary. But by incorporating natural elements into an otherwise austere atmosphere -- such as a wooden butcher-block countertop, metal basketry and stone fireplace -- a warm, intimate farmhouse feeling can be achieved.

The Gaineses look to nature for design inspiration. If possible, keep windows bare or use light and airy window treatments so outdoor views are unobstructed. French doors can replace windows that lead to an outside deck, patio or porch.

"Use what you have and only have what you use" is the modern farmhouse mantra. Farmhouses were historically constructed without waste, so reclaimed wood can be used to build a kitchen island, or an old dresser can be converted into a freestanding bathroom vanity.

"It's the tiny details that add charm and personality to a home," Joanna says. "And don't forget the flowers -- whether you pick them up at a grocery store or just pick them from the garden outside your home."

Farm Out

For design inspiration, go to MagnoliaHomes.net. Click "Shop" to purchase items from Magnolia Market or "Fixer Upper" to view design projects.

(For editorial questions, please contact Universal Uclick at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)