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all of the components in a suite can be handled by competent DIYers as a weekend project. American Standard offers innovations, like its Speed Connect faucet drain,  |
American Standard Bathroom Suite.
| that can make the job go quickly. A homeowner can decide whether to tackle installation of a new tub or shower based on his ability. If he does not feel confident about his ability, these are projects for a local plumbing professional.
Next, set a budget, which will “help to determine how many of the components of the ‘suite’ you can comfortably incorporate into your plan,” says Uhl. Prices for American Standard “suites’ can range from roughly $500 to $2,500. “With what you invest, you save time and the effort it takes to be assured of great performance and a professional-looking result,” he notes.
Schrage says Kohler’s suites range from a “very competitive entry level all the way up to high end.” TOTO bath collections range from the upper-mid to luxury level, says Lenora Campos, Ph.D., manager of public relations for TOTO USA, Inc.,
This TOTO lavatory features an embedded LED light that radiates soft illumination. The temperature and waterfall flow from the elegant spout are adjusted by a responsive knob control positioned closer than traditional tap handles.
| | the world’s largest plumbing products manufacturer.
Campos suggests homeowners review bathroom suite products and determine the design statement they prefer. Uhl advises picking “a style that fits your home and lifestyle,” noting that the great thing about a suite is that the individual parts can work great on their own but are guaranteed to work together.
“The age and style of the home should be coupled with the homeowners’ personal taste” in choosing a suite, says Schrage. She notes that homeowners should also keep in mind that the upgrades, such as switching to a high-efficiency toilet, can save thousands of gallons of water a year.
Design Options
There is a large variety of great options available to transform a bathroom into a well-coordinated retreat. From hands-free technology and waterfall cascades to LED | | | | | |  | | | | | Tips for Your Bathroom Suite Project According to Lenora Campos of TOTO USA, “studies of real estate buying habits reveal that, next to the kitchen, the bathroom is the area most likely to be closely scrutinized by potential buyers.” Whether your project is for a potential buyer or your own pleasure, here are a few steps to get you started.
• Know what you have. Measure your bathroom and lay out your floor plan.
• Consider the possibilities. Decide whether it’s time for better accessibility to the sink or shower, an adjustment in toilet height or elimination of space-gobbling storage. Kohler Co., for example, offers bathroom planning advice online, including tips from designer Diana Schrage on how to make the most of a small bathroom.
• Review products. From wall, pedestal and furniture mounts to compact fixtures, there are many available options. Most bath product manufacturers have extensive Web sites that spotlight their amenities.
• Check pricing. A bathroom suite may be surprisingly affordable or at a much higher price point.
• Know yourself. If you don’t feel confident in your DIY capabilities, turn it over to a professional.
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illumination in the TOTO Neorest II Luminist collection and Kohler steam shower options, there are some amazing products.
Homeowners choosing a TOTO bath suite will first have to decide if they prefer a traditional, contemporary or transitional design. “TOTO is perfecting Transitional design, a new aesthetic that merges elements of both Modernist and Traditional design to create products that have the richness of history combined with innovation, new materials and an uncluttered aesthetic,” says Campos. She says TOTO’s new Aimes Bath Collection and its sister suite, the new Legato Collection, are “prime examples of TOTO’s design prowess in this innovative, eclectic aesthetic that gives homeowners a heretofore unseen ability to develop a unique sensibility for their bath space.”
Kohler’s choices range from the highly distinctive design of its Escale® suite, “conceived from the form of a sail in the wind and Japanese ceramic tableware design,” to the Bancroft®, inspired by the “traditional elegance of early 1900s American design.” Among the choices, homeowners may find such features as wide, double-pivot, slow-close shower doors; a steam option for the shower; overflowing lavatory and bath designs; lavatory size variations on a theme to accommodate space needs; and low-threshold shower entrances.
American Standard’s suite concepts capture design spirits from contemporary to classic. Its choices, particularly the Heritage suite, are suggested to work well in both large and small bathrooms.
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Text by Maureen Blaney Flietner
© 2009 BobVila.com
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