The bathroom in a Troy, Michigan colonial-style home needed updating. The homeowners wanted more shower space in their L-shaped, 13 ft. x 8 ft. master bathroom and were skeptical of getting it without costly structural renovations. An adjacent two-story staircase and a wall-to-ceiling window made redesign difficult. The window could not be altered or reconfigured as it was part of the outside façade of the home, and the staircase did not allow for expanding the shower. Additionally, an old sliding-glass shower door abutted the bathroom’s window and an old floor-mounted toilet and tank were placed in an awkward and tight position near the shower. Exiting the shower meant side-stepping the toilet, leaving little space for maneuvering and safety.
The homeowners asked Ronda Ballard, Lead Designer at Borchert Kitchen and Bath in Washington, Michigan to take on the task of remodeling the bathroom.
Ballard created a design that removed a closet and utilized the Geberit in-wall toilet tank system to deliver the larger shower and bath the owners wanted. The resulting layout offered more free space without extensive structural renovation, at lower costs. Ballard’s clients were unfamiliar with the in-wall tank and wall-hung toilet system, but she explained the system’s benefits and features such as easy installation and access to maintenance, more floor and wall space for design, water savings, and design integrity. In fact, she used the system in three bathroom designs prior to tackling the Troy home redesign.
“Our customers were very pleased with the end results,” Ballard says, “especially the way the Geberit system opened up their floor space. We replaced the existing closet with a linen cabinet for storage space and maintained the integrity of the structure.”
Ballard chose the wall-mount toilet carrier for 2x4 walls with dual flush (1.6/0.8 GPF) Sigma concealed tank that conveniently fit the home’s existing structure. A white wall-hung toilet gave the bathroom an open, spacious look.
The final elegant touch Ballard chose was a Geberit Sigma30 flush plate in white with polished chrome accents, complementing the contemporary appeal of the bathroom. The Sigma30 offers intuitive dual-flush buttons, a large button for solids and a small button for liquids, giving an effective flush volume of 1.1 GPF (4 LPF) and saving thousands of gallons of water per year when compared with a standard toilet.
“Today our customers are happy with their easier-to-clean bathroom and freer access to the shower and toilet," explains Ballard. “Geberit in-wall systems helped keep costs down, eliminated structural renovations and gave us a satisfied customer.”
The Geberit system combined with a wall-hung toilet offers many advantages beyond aesthetics including more space, improved accessibility, better hygiene, real water savings, and enhanced function. Removing the toilet from the floor and suspending it from the wall makes cleaning easy. Plus, installing the toilet seat at a predetermined height — adjustable from 15 to 19 inches — makes it accessible and safe for children and family members with special needs. The system is strong and durable, supporting up to 880 lbs. (400 kg). When combined with the Geberit dual-flush plate, a typical family can reduce water consumption, saving money and paying back the cost of the system over the course of its lifetime.
For more information about Geberit in-wall systems contact:
Rick Nortier 847/803-5000 #224 or Richard.nortier@geberit.com or visit geberit.us
