Vintage Style: High-Tank Toilets

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

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

Interior designer Lisa Gutow had 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

The designers at roomTen were 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.

Emilia Inc.

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

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

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

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

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

More: Step behind the scenes of a storied San Francisco Victorian

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on Google+

Share on LinkedIn