Thrones fit for the Royalty in Your Family

When I talk to friends and readers about National Builder Supply, I often describe it best as an online retailer specializing in “high end” quality plumbing fixtures. Their largest and most famous product line is from Toto, the world renowned inventor of the ultra modern Neorest line of toilets, probably the first real innovation in toilets in a century. People who experience Toto toilets in hotels and nicer restrooms in restaurants come away talking about them and immediately to find information about them. What they usually find out first is that they retail for over $5000 unless you happen to find NBS. I have blogged about these before but what made me think about them again, especially during this gift giving season, although most of us are lucky, these days, to even have a toilet much less a $5000 one, was that I ran across an article entitled Thrones Fit For a Queen: 5 Quirky Toilets, By Erin Loechner of Design for Mankind and thought I would show you some other varieties of elegance in bathroom fixtures. The floral urinals featured in this article may also look familiar because I blogged about them several months ago:

http://nationalbuildersupply.blogspot.com/2009/06/whats-latest-idea-in-urinals.html

So here for your reading enjoyment, personal edification and maybe that last minute addition to your list for Santa, is Thrones fit for a Queen with thanks and full credit given to Erin Loechner for the use of her great article.

“Poor toilets. So under appreciated, yet so entirely necessary. I'd even venture to say that they're one of the most essential fixtures in your home (aside from the remote, of course). It's a good thing the following designers are giving toilets the attention they deserve. After all, loos have feelings, too!”

The Blinged Out Bowl

Florida designer Jemal Wright can be thanked for this over-the-top collection (pictured above), which is encrusted with Swarovski crystals. The price tag? A mere $75,000. Ben Franklin toilet paper not included.

A Loo With a View
Peter Dallimore's Australian creation brings stage fright to a new level entirely. Featuring a backdrop of local models peeking at...well, you know, these urinals are built to impress (your spectators!). 

Pretty Potty

A flower shaped urinal? Artist Clark Sorenson in San Francisco is responsible for these beauties, which are installed in a Bermuda restaurant, a German hotel and, in the near future, an Italian garden center. I suppose your husband will finally learn to water those plants, ladies!

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide

Troy Adams' toilet creation comes fully equipped with a sliding wood panel to transform the commode into a bench when not in use. Let's hope your honey doesn't forget to put the seat down on this toilet!

Dinner Potty

A new kind of dinner party, the Modern Toilet chain of restaurants in Taiwan serves food on a ... porcelain platter. (A true pu pu platter?) With faux-toilet seating and a plethora of bathroom signage, even the food is served in mini-toilets. Soft-serve ice cream is a house favorite, and I can only hope the menu doesn't include Rocky Road.



That’s the end of Ms Loechner’s take on royal thrones but here is a reminder of the Toto Neorest I mentioned at the beginning:

• Cyclone Flushing System Can Be Operated By Remote Or By Sensor Operation
• Front And Rear Warm Water Washing With Temperature And Intermittent Pressure Controls
• Automatic Toilet Seat Can Be Opened/Closed By Remote Or By Sensor Operation • Heated Seat With Temperature Control
• Air Deodorizer • Dryer Function • Remote Control Operation

For more info go to:

http://www.nationalbuildersupply.com/pdf/Toto/MS990CG.pdf