Toilet Styles & Technology: A Guide for Your Remodel

neill • August 7, 2025

The Ekon Bath Guide: Making an Informed Choice on the Best Toilets for Your Family, Your Home, and Your Lifestyle.

The Modern Throne: Exploring the World of Standard Toilets

The modern toilet is far more than a simple fixture. It is a critical component of your bathroom's design, a key player in water efficiency, and a daily workhorse for your family. At Ekon Bath, we know that selecting the right toilet can make all the difference in completing your design. It's about finding a fixture that not only looks great but also performs flawlessly for years to come.

When our clients are choosing a toilet, we often see them gravitate toward two leading brands: Toto and Kohler, along with some of the reliable generic options available at major retailers. Each choice offers a different blend of style, technology, and value.



Finding the Right Style for Your Bathroom

The look of your toilet can dramatically affect the overall feel of your bathroom. The days of a single, bulky porcelain fixture are long gone. Today's options include:

  • Toto's Modern Sleekness: Toto is renowned for its clean, minimalist designs. They often feature skirted, one-piece toilets with hidden trapways that make for a sleek, easy-to-clean profile, perfect for modern and contemporary bathrooms.
  • Kohler's Versatile Elegance: As you’ll see in our own showroom, Kohler offers a diverse range of styles, from traditional two-piece models to their elegant, seamless one-piece options. The sleek, low-profile design we chose for our showroom not only looks fantastic but also offers a lower-maintenance opportunity, making it a functional choice for any space.
  • Generic Options: Brands sourced by retailers like Lowe's and Home Depot provide a solid, cost-effective choice for many homeowners. While they may not have all the premium features, they offer reliable performance and a wide range of standard styles that can fit into most traditional or transitional designs.



Flushing Technology and Water Efficiency

Beyond aesthetics, the technology and efficiency of your toilet are a major factor in its long-term value. With increasing focus on sustainability and water conservation, this has become a top priority for our clients.

  • Flushing Power: Toto is a leader in this area with its powerful and quiet Tornado Flush® technology, which uses a cyclone flushing action to clean the bowl more effectively with less water. Kohler also offers advanced flushing systems like their Revolution 360®, which provides a comprehensive, powerful flush.
  • Water Efficiency: A key detail to look for is the toilet's Gallons Per Flush (GPF) rating. The standard today is 1.6 GPF, but you'll see many models that are even more efficient at 1.28 GPF, meeting the EPA's WaterSense criteria. These high-efficiency toilets can save a significant amount of water over a year, which is why we chose an efficient option for our own showroom.




Ultimately, the best toilet is the one that best suits your needs, your family's usage, and your design vision. At Ekon Bath, we're here to help you navigate these choices, ensuring that every element of your bathroom, down to the toilet, is a perfect fit.

An Ekon Bath bathroom remodeling van parked on a street.
By Neill Rossouw March 18, 2026
Thinking about a one-day bathroom remodel? Learn why Ekon Bath’s engineering standard is the leading choice for Longview homeowners doing bathroom renovations.
A modern bathroom featuring a walk-in shower with grey walls, a wooden bench, and a separate vanity with wood cabinets.
By Neill Rossouw March 11, 2026
The definitive East Texas guide to bathroom remodeling. From humidity control and ventilation to Onyx systems, explore our checklist for a five-star renovation.
By Neill Rossouw March 2, 2026
Can you turn a 1980s bathtub into a luxury Art Deco shower? Yes. By combining custom architectural arches, high-flow plumbing for 13 water outlets, and specialized "aging-in-place" safety features, you can transform a dated bathroom into a spa-like "rainforest" sanctuary that increases home value and personal comfort. The Vision: More Than Just a Bathroom When I first met Griff Hubbard through the Rotary Club of Longview, I knew his project would be special. Griff is a man of history, particularly railroad history, and his home reflects that soul. He didn't just want a new shower; he wanted the "crowning achievement" of his home—a space that felt like an Art Deco rainforest. To truly understand Griff’s vision, I did something most contractors don't: I listened to his railroad history podcasts. This allowed us to build a design that wasn't just functional, but deeply personal. Engineering the "Rainforest" Experience The centerpiece of this transformation is the "Rainforest" shower system. To achieve this level of luxury, we had to overcome significant technical hurdles: 13 Water Outlets: We installed a massive array of body sprayers and the largest rain head Ekon Bath has ever commissioned. High-Volume Plumbing: Most older homes aren't built for this much water. We coordinated with specialists to ensure the water pressure and hot water capacity could handle the "rainforest" flow. Custom Art Deco Hardware: When standard handles didn't fit the 1920s aesthetic, we sourced custom hardware and even had a machine shop create a bespoke Art Deco drain cover. Design Details: Where History Meets Luxury Griff’s bathroom is a masterclass in Art Deco design . We replaced the standard square shower entry with a striking architectural archway . This creates a sense of "arriving" at a destination rather than just stepping into a shower. We also prioritized "Aging in Space" —a core value at Ekon Bath. While the shower looks like a high-end spa, it secretly includes reinforced support behind the walls for future safety features, ensuring Griff can enjoy this sanctuary for the next 40 years. The Ekon "Red Carpet" Experience At Ekon Bath, we believe the process should be as beautiful as the result. For Griff, that meant: Daily Cleanliness: We vacuumed and dusted every single afternoon so Griff could live comfortably during the renovation. Above and Beyond: To finish the job, we didn't just clean the bathroom; we power-washed his back patio to leave his entire home better than we found it.
Comparison of top rated bathroom remodelers in Longview Texas
By Neill Rossouw January 27, 2026
Searching for the best bathroom remodeler in Longview? We review the top-rated local pros like Premier Construction, Miracle Method, and Davill Kitchens. Compare ratings, specialties, and find out who offers transparent pricing.
Bright bathroom with a glass shower, soaking tub, wooden tile floor, and a toilet.
By Neill Rossouw January 21, 2026
Tired of scrubbing grout? Discover how Ekon Bath is replacing maintenance with wellness through single-panel systems, invisible universal design, and hygiene tech.
A bathroom ventilation fan installed incorrectly and with no proper ventilation.
By Neill Rossouw January 15, 2026
Stop the sweat! Proper bathroom ventilation is crucial in East Texas humidity.Utilize quiet, exterior-vented fans and timer switches to reduce mold and moisture.
The Ekon Bath Showroom, The Onyx Collection on Display
By Neill Rossouw January 13, 2026
Discover "The Standard" of bathroom remodeling. Tired of cracked tile and high-maintenance grout? Ekon Bath provides East Texas with the Onyx Collection...a high-performance, single-panel system engineered to survive shifting red clay. No mold, no leaks, and 50% less cleaning. Visit our Longview showroom today.
Samples of Onyx Collection Shower Base Options at the Ekon Bath Showroom.
By Neill Rossouw January 5, 2026
Tired of leaky, cracked tile shower floors? Discover why East Texas homeowners are switching to the #1 rated Onyx Collection. Learn how Ekon Bath installs walk-in showers to survive shifting red clay soil with a lifetime "no-crack" guarantee. Serving Longview, Tyler, and surrounding counties.
ADA Custom Walk In Shower w/ Glass shower enclosure with black hardware, white walls, and a window.
By Neill Rossouw December 30, 2025
Thinking of a tub-to-shower conversion in East Texas? Discover why Ekon Bath is the specialist choice for senior independence, safety blocking, and Onyx luxury.
Bathroom with white vanity, pale blue walls, patterned tile floor, and a black-framed mirror.
By neill October 31, 2025
Ekon Bath explains how to design a high-performance, ADA compliant bathroom that offers maximum independence, style, and preparedness for the future.