Waukesha County Home

MILWAUKEE — "Imagine never having to argue over the bathroom again," said Jennifer Earhart, a designer with Callen Construction, Inc. in Muskego. "It's possi- ble when you design a bath- room remodel that features a water closet, or a separate area for the toilet, in your home. Beyond privacy, hygiene, functionality and customization, a water closet is a luxurious and highly use- ful feature to have, especially for a shared bathroom." Despite being an older design concept, with origins dating back to the 1800s, incorporating a water closet into a bathroom remodel is rising in popularity among homeowners. In fact, water closets have become one of the most desirable features in a master bathroom, accord- ing to the National Associa- tion of Home Builders (NAHB). "A prominent benefit of having a water closet in your bathroom is the luxury of maximum privacy," Earhart said. "This is particularly beneficial if you're sharing the bathroom with your part- ner or with other family members." In other words, someone could use the toilet while someone else washes their hands, brushes their teeth or hair or takes a bath or show- er without disturbing each other. Not to mention, this is a huge time saver when two or more people need to get ready in the bathroom at the same time. Hygiene is another key benefit of a water closet. "It's highly sanitary because it helps prevent the spread of bacteria and virus- es," said Earhart. To be specific, the detection of bacteria and viruses that disperse after the toilet is flushed remain airborne long enough to settle onto surfaces throughout the bathroom, and there is a possibility that a person may acquire an infection from an aerosol pro- duced by a toilet, according to the National Library of Med- icine. However, when the toilet is separate from the rest of the bathroom, the microbes that are spread are confined to one location. As a result, the chance of microbe transfer- ence to other surfaces and the possibility of sickness are greatly reduced. Remember, closing the lid when flushing further minimizes the spread of germs. "Even though modern water closets generally refer to a separate room within the bathroom that contain either a toilet or a toilet and a sink, they can be a standalone space in your home, which is especially useful if you host parties or family gather- ings," she said. "If you prefer that party guests don't use your master bathroom, a standalone water closet would be an ideal solution as it serves as an alternate place for your guests to use the bathroom — a space where other amenities, like a show- er or tub, are not necessary." Moreover, water closets can be customized to meet specif- ic needs. Although they are usually simple in terms of basic features, layout, and design, this doesn't mean cre- ativity needs to be limited. "For instance, instead of a traditional bathroom door, a water closet can be fitted with sliding pocket doors or a half-wall to save space," Earhart said. "Furthermore, you can have fun with vari- ous design features, from wallpaper, mirrors and light- ing, to tiles, artwork, plants and more." Although there are stan- dard water closet dimensions homeowners should consid- er, if space allows, consider incorporating a water closet into your next bathroom remodeling project. "A water closet may be the single best design feature you decide to incorporate as it will signifi- cantly improve the usability of the space as well as add value to your home, especial- ly if the bathroom you plan to remodel is a shared space," said Earhart. For more information or to arrange an initial showroom consultation, call Callen at 414-529-5509 or visit Call- Callen.com. JUNE 2022 HOME 7 Water closets are making a comeback and their benefits Callen Construction, Inc. Water closets work particularly well in bathrooms used by more than one person at a time, such as in a master bathroom. "A water closet may be the single best design fea- ture you decide to incor- porate as it will significant- ly improve the usability of the space as well as add value to your home, espe- cially if the bathroom you plan to remodel is a shared space." – Jennifer Earhart, , Callen Construction designer

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