We are big fans of old plumbing because, for the most part, it’s better made — and prettier — than new pluming. We’re particularly fond of nineteenth-century marble bathroom sinks and early twentieth-century toilets.
Old toilets are illegal in some jurisdictions because they use so much water. But new toilets waste more water because they often demand many flushes to do their job. You can half-flush an old toilet to save water, for instance. Also, you can easily adjust the water level in an old toilet tank. Here’s the acid test: we have never, EVER, had one of our old toilets overflow. And when we did an energetic flush, they come through every time.
That said, we do not mess with old faucets and fixtures. They are too big a hassle. New plumbing fixtures in vintage styles is widely available.
The third floor bathroom is officially Ron’s. Jill gets the second floor bathroom. Ron doesn’t seem to mind climbing up another flight of stairs because the third floor is where his office is — and the library.
Here’s the third floor bathroom in its transitional phase, with a Depression-era sink.