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Vintage High Tank Toilets, Cool or Creepy?

Bathrooms containing claw-foot bathtubs are legion; those that feature the romanticized tub’s humble cousin — the high-tank or pull-chain toilet — are far less. But for some people, the era-accurate look of a high-tank toilet outweighs its lack of fancy amenities, such as a heated seat, no-touch flush system or built-in nightlight. Some models have been given a modern outlook with water-saving features, but what stands out about these Victorian-era-style fixtures are their ceiling-grazing water tanks.

Celia James

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The first high-tank toilets were installed in private homes during the Victorian era. The tanks had to be high, because they used gravity to build up water pressure to flush.

This bathroom, by London designer Celia James, features what could be considered a crown jewel of a toilet. The toilet itself has a dragon-head base and a scalloped cistern perched near the room’s crown molding atop shiny brass brackets and plumbing pipes.

The pull chain has a ceramic handle (back in the day, some of the handles were quite elaborate) and stabilizing brackets. In this room, kitted out with vintage tiles and fixtures, a sleek, modern toilet would just not be the same.

lisa gutow design

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Interior designer Lisa Gutowhad similar thoughts when she was designing the bathroom for this vintage Mediterranean bungalow. “I felt like this room needed something to give it a little representation of the time the house was built,” she says.

roomTEN design

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The designers at roomTenwere inspired by Victorian literature when they created this guest powder room.

The elements — pull-chain toilet, chrome console sink, classic subway tile and French antique mirror work together for a period look.

Jessy Krol interiors

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Designer Jessy Krol says that this bathroom, with a lower high-tank toilet, is among her favorite projects. “This is a guest bath that’s not used every day,” she says. “My client didn’t need a lot of storage here, and she wanted something different.”

The designer fulfilled her client’s request with a vintage-style bathroom. “I’ll be honest with you; these are not like having a superpowered modern toilet,” Krol says. “They work like nice, midrange toilets, but when they flush, you don’t feel like you are in danger of being sucked down the drain. They are good, regular toilets — but if you are looking for a rock-star toilet, this is not the style for you.”

Meet today’s super toilets

Andre Rothblatt Architecture

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One of the most memorable high-tank toilets on Houzz has to be this steampunk fantasy by architect Andre Rothblatt. The owners of this home love the industrial look of steampunk, a design genre that marries the industrial age with sci-fi. Rothblatt brought the look to their home with a toilet whose pipes are functional but overly exaggerated.

See more of this bathroom

Boutique Homes

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The look is similar, but perhaps more historically accurate, in this British home, by Boutique Homes. The designers say they brought the home up to date but kept all of its original features.

Joseph Metzler / SALA Architects

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The owners of this Sears bungalow, a prefab house sold by the retailer between 1908 and 1940, wanted to add a ground-floor master bath in keeping with the style of the house.

Joseph Metzler at Sala Architects integrated the new bath into the old house by creating a toilet alcove complete with a pull-chain toilet and Arts and Crafts tiles. As one Houzzer commented on this photo: “Long live the pull-chain toilet!”

Learn more about kit houses

Dennis Mayer, Photographer

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Homeowners with a love of history no doubt share the sentiment — that and a long reach.

Your Fall Gutter Guide

The fall season had finally arrived and with temperatures dropping and more importantly leaves falling, it’s important to know if your gutters are ready to stand up to the harsh conditions ahead.

Gutters are important for transferring water away from your siding, windows, doors and especially foundation to keep your home safe from interior damage and costly repairs. Those repairs can even include things like mold remediation, termite damage and failed structural support…Who needs that! It’s important to note that poorly protected gutters can also be a breeding ground for insects, rodents and other wildlife. But never fear, the our team of experts at American Home Contractors are here to help guide you through keeping your gutters protected and in great condition year round.

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So how do I protect my gutters?

1. Start with Cleaning.

How often should you clean your gutters of leaves and debris? Well that depends on how many trees you have nearby, and it’s not just those beautiful, fall-colored deciduous trees you have to be concerned about. Evergreens grow a new set of needles each year, too. Although they generally keep them for 2-5 years, they also drop a set into your gutters each fall, as well. Twigs, acorns and shingle granules can also collect in your gutters and interfere with proper drainage. In dry conditions all this debris and even be a fire hazard.  While autumn is a good time to clean your gutter system, it should be checked periodically throughout the year as well, to ensure it’s working properly to protect your home.

2. Cover Up Those Gutters!

Never want to clean your gutters again?  Then you might want to consider having gutter guards installed to keep debris out and water in. We recommend RHINO Gutter Guards®, they’re the industry’s best at protecting your gutters and multiple layers of protection to keep water flowing safely away from your home year-round. RHINO’s patented surgical stainless steel micro-mesh keeps out even the smallest particles while never missing a drop of water -- tested at 60 gallons per minute! (Call the Coast Guard if you have more!) When choosing gutter guards, you want to beware of mesh gutter guards that glue, caulk, or crimp the mesh into the guard body because they can’t be removed and will cause you to replace them if anything may become trapped. When exposed to sun, and freezing/thawing weather conditions, these methods also pull away and fail over time. The RHINO Gutter Guard uses a patented “hemming” process to permanently bond the mesh to the aluminum body. 

3. Strengthening Your Gutters

Heavy wind, ice and snow take their toll on your gutters each year, causing them to pull away from your home. Did you know, some gutter covers, like the RHINO Gutter Guard®, can actually strengthen your gutters? This happens by first screwing the front of the product to the lip of the gutter with color-matching screws and then screwing the back leg to your fascia board. The torque of the second screw squeezes the gutter tight into a box-like reinforcement that will help your system last longer and drastically reduce maintenance. 

Something to note is that many older gutter systems are held up by large aluminum nails with aluminum sleeves that are called "spike-and-ferrell" hangers.  These tend to loosen with time and the nail begins to pull out.  A better gutter fastening system is the "hidden hanger" because it is much more structurally sound and uses an oversized screw to hold the gutter in place.  They also make the gutters look cleaner because they are completely inclosed within the gutter!

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Your October Home Check List

With the air turning crisp, leaves falling and farmer’s markets overflowing with squash, gourds, apples and potatoes, October is a time to celebrate the harvest — and button up the home and garden for the winter ahead. From raking leaves to sharpening knives, see which of these 13 to-dos make your list this month.

Facelifts Home Improvement

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1. Rake leaves. Clearing away leaves from lawns is hard work, so be sure to choose a rake that feels good to you. Plastic rakes don’t last as long, but they are lightweight — which helps if you get fatigued easily (or have a lot of leaves to contend with). Instead of bagging all of the leaves you collect, try chopping some with your mower and using them as mulch in flower beds, or add them to a compost pile.

5 Ways to Put Fall Leaves to Work in Your Garden

2. Clean gutters and downspouts. Schedule rain-gutter cleaning for after most of the leaves have fallen. Inspect gutters and downspouts for cracks and loose parts, and make repairs as needed.

3. Put up storm windows and doors. If you use storm windows or doors and haven’t put them up yet, now is the time.

Techo-Bloc

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4. Decorate outdoor spaces.Fall flowers, pumpkins and gourds are versatile enough to work throughout the season. If you enjoy decorating for Halloween, get out that frightful decor.

5. Shut off exterior faucets and store hoses for winter.Disconnect, drain and roll hoses before storing them indoors for the winter. Shut off the water supply to exterior faucets to prevent frozen pipes.

DIY Halloween and fall decorating ideas

David Sharff Architect, P.C.

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6. Sharpen knives. The holidays are around the corner — be sure your knives are ready to take on all of that cooking by having them professionally sharpened now.

7. Launder and iron holiday linens. Get ahead of the holiday crunch and prep your linens — roll up the freshly laundered and ironed linens on old wrapping paper tubes to prevent wrinkles.

Bardes Interiors

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8. Decorate with layers of warmth. Get toasty indoors with cozy throws, thicker curtains and soft rugs. If you haven’t done so yet, swap out your bedding for thicker blankets and fluffy duvets.

Barker Freeman Design Office Architects pllc

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9. Check safety devices. Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the house, and replace batteries as needed. Check the expiration date on the kitchen fire extinguisher and replace it if needed.

10. Swap seasonal clothes.Depending on where you live, September can be a fickle month — but now that October has arrived, it’s time to settle into more predictable fall weather. Gather up stray sandals and lightweight clothing that you don’t plan to wear again until spring, and pack it away. Also look over your fall and winter clothes, and note anything you will need to replace this year.

Shelley Gardea

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11. Start an art wall for all of those school projects. Corral those stacks of paper coming home from school with a dedicated space for display. A large bulletin board or magnet board makes hanging art and papers easy. Or you could try art wire with bulldog clips, or simply tape art to the wall with colorful masking tape.

12. Start planning or making holiday gifts. I know it seems like the holidays are still a long way off, but that’s exactly why it’s smart to start thinking about gifts now. Especially if you have hopes of making anything by hand! At the very least, start a gift list that you can add to as you think up ideas.

Whitten Architects

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13. Savor your favorite fall traditions. Is there a local harvest festival you’d love to attend, a favorite pumpkin patch or apple orchard to visit? Mark some dates on your calendar so you don’t miss out.

-Laura Gaskill

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8 Ways to Embrace the Wonders of Fall

and the clear night skies that makes fall the perfect time to take stock of where you’ve been and what the coming months may bring. This season take pleasure in the small, simple things, like collecting acorns, pressing oak leaves and wrapping up in warm blankets to count the stars overhead. These suggestions will help you feather and enjoy your nest.

Apartment 46 for the Home

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John J. Kehoe Photography

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1. Press leaves. Sitting under a big September moon in the crisp evening air, I found myself thinking about the past nine months and how thankful I was to be right there in that moment. Fall feels like a desperately needed time-out to me, and in those moments before Halloween hits my neighborhood, it’s an opportunity to celebrate the natural world and the little gifts it leaves, literally, on my doorstep.

If you have kids, it’s a wonderful time of year to get them involved in decorating the house for the change of season. Have them gather up fallen leaves of different colors, shapes and sizes. Press the leaves between two sheets of paper for a few nights, and when they’re dried, attach them to card stock with double-sided tape. You can display them garland-style on a mirror or mantel by clipping them with clothespins to a length of twine, or you can get a little fancy and arrange them gallery-style in a well-used space.

9 Easy Ways to Decorate With Autumn Leaves

Apartment 46 for the Home

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2. Collect seedpods. One of the simplest and yet most gratifying things to do is to stop and marvel about what nature has to offer at this time of year. Fallen leaves start to blanket the landscape, empty nests provide a window into a bird’s world, and long, sinewy branches rattle in the breeze.

Whether you live in a small studio in a big city or a rambling ranch home far away from prying eyes, small things of beauty are everywhere. Take time to collect a bowlful of unexpected seedpods or other fallen curios and display them in a place that invites others to pick them up, check them out and admire the treasures of the natural world.

Rikki Snyder

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3. Find your happy place.Wind down and calm your mind by savoring the last few rays of the day. Try soaking up that sunlight splashed across your favorite chair or stand outside on the balcony to take a few deep breaths. If you haven’t yet set aside a place where you can be still for a few minutes, now’s the time. Put a chair in the bedroom corner and keep it free of clutter so you can sink in and give yourself a break before jumping into the next set of chores. Put a bench on the back porch or throw a blanket on the grass and make a point of sitting on it as day turns to dusk. I often sit on my back steps to catch the evening breeze, because when space is limited, you’ve got to make the most of what you have.

DHR Architecture

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4. Upgrade your bedding.During hot and humid times, a good night’s rest is often found under a single top sheet, but when the weather changes and the nighttime temperatures drop, adding to your bedding can significantly improve the quality and maybe even the amount of your sleep.

Summer is a time for coverlets; fall calls for adding a more substantial blanket. It’s not yet time to break out the heavy comforter, but blankets are perfect for layering when the nights get a little colder. Choose a material that feels good against your skin and envelops you in comfort. If you’re soothed by scents, spritz your blankets with organic rose, geranium or lavender water (as opposed to oils, which stain fabric), before you put them in the dryer, and they’ll come out with a subtle hint of your favorite relaxing floral.

Perk Up Your Bedding’s Personality

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5. Turn a few pages. In every room of my house there are books, magazines and catalogs in various stages of being looked at or read, and all have at least one dog-eared page. No matter how voracious a reader you are, carving out time to read a few pages or interesting articles every couple of days can do a great deal to refocus your mind, put complex things into perspective and allow you to unplug from the world for a minute.

15 Cozy Book Nooks and What They Want You to Read

Justine Hand

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6. Take a long soak. One of the most basic human comforts is warmth, and a hot bath is the perfect way to make everything feel a little less overwhelming. I’ve long dreamed of having a soaking tub with a view of the night sky, but right now I have a shower-tub combo with a view of my neighbor’s two-story. If you’re in a similar situation, dim the lights or turn them off altogether in favor of candlelight to create a more Zen-like atmosphere. Put a small stool within reach so you can bring in a cup of tea or glass of wine. Add a few drops of essential oil to your soak and let go of everything on your mind, or just spend uninterrupted time thinking about what’s most important to you.

Take Cues From Japan for a Zen-Like Bathroom

House Port LLC/Hally Thacher

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7. Create a special table setting. You don’t need to be a party planner to host a memorable evening. You probably have everything you need in your cupboards and drawers to set a warm and welcoming table.

Mismatched plates with a hodgepodge of flatware don’t matter nearly as much as the people surrounding the table and adding their lives and laughter to the mix. Drape a table with an uncommon cover — think vintage Mexican serapes or Turkish towels. Candleholders are easy to come by, and tea lights are sold by the extra-huge bag at most discount stores. In a pinch use small juice glasses for votives and vary the height and selection for a more relaxed feeling.

Luxurious Holiday Table Settings for Less

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

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8. Start a fire. Fire pits come in all shapes and sizes, from built-ins to small, movable models and even non-wood designs, so there’s really something for everyone, assuming you have a safe space to have one. Keep them well away from anything flammable, and monitor them at all times. Movable fire pits can be surrounded by lounge chairs to set a campout sort of mood. Be sure to think about your neighbors and consider a smokeless variety when air quality is a concern.

Roast a few marshmallows and pop them in mugs of pumpkin-spiced cocoa to underscore that fall feeling. A big basket full of throw blankets lets you stay cozy while the fire winds down. Write down some wishes on slips of paper and toss them into the embers. Let the ashes keep your hopes secure while you ponder the months to come. 

-Melisa Bleasdale

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