Toilets are far grander than they used to be. More expensive materials and unusual designs have been introduced. Many toilets today have veneered panelling and stainless steel with granite or slate wash slabs.

No matter how much-or how little-room you have, you need to make the best possible use of your space. To alleviate traffic jams when two people share a bath, divide the room into "mostly wet" areas-the shower, tub, toilet, and bidet-and "mostly dry" areas-the vanity, sink, cabinetry, and dressing area. If there's room, you may want to sequester the toilet in its own room, but you can also create the privacy of a separate water closet simply by placing the toilet on the far side of a partial wall.

There have been advancements in toilet design and function as well. Manufacturers have solved the problems encountered with the early conversion to the low-water-consumption toilets required by modern code. Some fixture manufacturers have expanded the size of the trap within the base of the toilet. Some offer a pressure-assist system in the toilet tank, assuring quiet and efficient removal of waste. Also available is a toilet in which the tank is housed in the sheetrock wall behind the bowl, offering quiet operation.

If you are planning on a new bath be prepared to do some homework. Talk to plumbers and designers, and visit some of the numerous bath showrooms in the area. The Internet is also a valuable resource; all major plumbing suppliers have websites on which their selection of fixtures, as well as product specifications, can be easily viewed.

Keep in mind at the outset that per square foot, creating the modern bath is by far the most costly room in the house to build or remodel. With care taken in the planning and installation of the bath, and the purchase of good quality materials and workmanship, the expense of building a new bath should be repaid with years of satisfaction and service, as well as providing refuge from the strains of the modern world.