The first plumbing and flush toilets in the US, as well as Atlanta, GA
In the mid-19th century, with the explosive growth of urban populations in the United States and scientists’ discoveries about the existence of germs and bacteria, the era of plumbing, toilets and bathrooms in the United States began. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries the true rise of flush toilets and flush-out water closets began. In the 1900s, as a result of public health reforms, wash-down siphon models became the standard. Good hygiene was now mandatory for the good health of the American and toilets with five to seven gallons of water rushing into the bowl to pull out waste began to be mass produced.
20th century: The “Golden Age” of the Toilet Bowl and the American Bathroom
In the early twentieth century, free-standing pedestal toilets began to displace earlier flush-styles in wood cabinets. The era of the modern toilet began. Industrial production of improved tearing toilet paper (patented in the US in 1892) also began.
By the turn of the century, few houses had indoor bathrooms and toilets. In the first two decades of the 20th century, the pedestal toilet bowl entered the bathroom and remained there as an integral part. Bathrooms in the United States are no longer a rarity and a luxury reserved for the wealthiest. Gradually, the bathroom with a toilet began to invade the interior of the American home. Art and architecture began to pay much more attention to it. Just like in Ancient Rome, the bathroom in the United States began its journey to becoming a fashion and a fetish.
Of course, it was initially necessitated by the American’s growing need for good hygiene in the megacities that have now taken shape all over the United States. Hygiene was also the key word in determining the type and even the color of bathrooms back then. They were mostly all tile-white.
1920-1940: The period between the two world wars
As modes of transportation evolve, American entrepreneurs gain regular access to Europe, Asia, and the resources of other continents. A variety of building materials appeared on the market, and new surfaces and new colors were coming into use. Bathrooms are no longer in boring white. However, the Great Depression has somewhat halted the process of bathroom development, and new materials and trends are only available to the very rich.
1945-1970: Postwar America and the Construction Industry Boom
Since the end of WWII, the US has become the leading world power. The economy experienced unprecedented growth. Families began to increase the number of their members.
The baby-boom led to a BOOM in the construction industry as well. More and bigger homes are being built. Quite naturally, the size of the bathrooms in Americans’ homes increased. In fact, in the middle of the last century, one bathroom was no longer enough. There appeared private bathrooms for mom and dad, a guest-only toilet, an on-suite bathroom for the kids, etc. The colours kept coming. But it’s no longer decoration that takes first place, it’s functionality. There is virtually no home without an indoor bathroom and toilet anymore.
1980-2000: Glam rock and luxury bathrooms
This is the period of the spa revolution. And it led to significant changes in the American bathroom. The first bathrooms with double sinks, whirlpools, bidets and televisions appeared. The nation is booming, the USA is the world’s dominant empire, and this can be felt in the American’s bathroom. Lighting is improving, building materials are also evolving, and the bathroom is becoming a sanctuary for the average American, where they can relax and unwind from the increasingly stressful lifestyle in big cities. The American is throwing more and more money at his bathroom, his personal temple.
The modern toilets and bathrooms
The rise of Custom Spas in Atlanta and across America continues. The only limits are the imagination and the thickness of the homeowner’s wallet. Smartphones have brought the social media generation into the homes of the richest and the celebrities, into the bathrooms of their idols. These are now the bathrooms of the future! Bathrooms with remote-controlled LED lighting, touch-sensitive water control, TV screens embedded in walls and mirrors that are triggered by a certain sound or movement. Add underfloor heating, mini-pools, and jacuzzis of all shapes, sizes and colours. Of course, shower cabins and bathtubs haven’t gone out of style yet. But there, too, the improvements are significant. Jets of water emerge under pressure and from jets built into the walls at different angles. And taking a bathtub is no longer just about hygiene, it has become a ritual. Special relaxing scents and bath foams are used to suit every taste. There are underwater massage jets built into the bathtub. Innovations in this industry literally “flow” daily. But not all of them are worth it. Especially when it comes to functionality and energy efficiency.
The right solution
So when you decide to have a new modern bathroom, consult an experienced plumber first on how best to make it happen. This will guarantee you:
- Proper design and execution of the project.
- Energy and water efficiency.
