It’s high time for a new home fixture

Any female who lives with men, boys or both has undoubtedly suffered through the major irritation associated with sitting on a wet toilet seat.

And we know why it’s wet. Yuck. There really is nothing worse.

While older men who are considerate of female members of the family may have more experience with, shall we say, accurate aim, the same cannot be said for little boys or even older boys who are presumably still working on it.

Some may think leaving the toilet seat up is the answer. I beg to differ. I disticnctly recall my mother’s agitation late one night upon sitting down unexpectedly on the cold and  clammy lip of the toilet.

Needless to say, the seat had been left up. And I can assure you that my brothers were awakened directly from their peaceful slumber to hear her thoughts on the matter. So, is there really no solution in this ongoing battle between male and female family members when it comes to toilet seats? You can always impose toilet rules and strictly enforce them, and this is an inexpensive option, to be sure.

But if you’re considering renovating a bathroom, you can circumvent the problem entirely by installing a urinal. These units are primarily confined to a commercial market for now. Buying one is usually via special order, and plumbers and electricians are not yet accustomed to installing them.

But things are starting to change. I’m not the only one who can imagine the benefits. No more toilet seat battles. No more unpleasant surprises for the unwary. Less flushing of water. And it makes life easier for the person who cleans.

Not only that, a urinal in fact can be quite a style statement, sometimes executed in a witty or humourous way, and not at all the grotty trough you might remember from visiting well-used bar toilets.

Even in its most basic form, it’s a good-looking little gadget that is exclusively for the males in the family. And that’s a nice change in a room that is usually a homage to the female idea of luxury and pampering.

You can order your basic white porcelain urinal as a special order item from most large hardware store in your area, from about $300 for an American Standard or Crane unit, to up to $3,000 for an upscale Kohler model with contemporary styling.

For some cool ideas about how far you can go, consider, for example, the urinals that look like outrageously blooming flowers (see the New Flow­­­­er Urinal designs by Clark Sor­en­sen, at www.Clarkmade.com). For $4,000 to $10,000 US, you can aim into the bowl of a yellow tulip or Easter lily. Believe me, these urinals are so gorgeous, women may be a touch envious.
The English have a witty version of a urinal called the Spoon, designed by Phillip Watts (www.philipwattsdesign.com). It stands on its handle, and you aim into the deep curved spoon space.

One thing is clear. Whether you’re looking at a showstopper or an unobtrusive white porcelain model, a urinal at home is an idea whose time has come.

– Sylvia Putz is a journalist with an interest in home decor and design. She has written extensively for the TV show Arresting Design.