Announcement of winner

So a few weeks back I posted a competition to send in your pics with some unique and interesting designs of commode toilets. Thanks for the all you entries. After much careful thought I decided the winner is: a Mr Cook from Derbyshire, UK. Thanks very much I'll post his submission next week.

In the meantime, I'd like you to post suggestions of future competitions I could run on this blog to billythekid98@yahoo.co.uk.

Thanks.

Antique commode designs

So I've posted some pics of some modern commode toilet designs on the blog. I'd thought this week, I'd go for the opposite end of the spectrum and post a look at some interesting antique commode toilets. I firmly believe that antique commodes still have their place in the market, although perhaps only appealing to a certain percentage of the market. If you are an avid collector of commode toilets, I recommend going to your local antiques shop or attending an auction house as usually some real gems will turn up.

Although quite rudimentary in design, this commode toilet would have served its purpose very well in Victorian times and earlier dates in history. I found this image on a catalogue auction site in canada, sadly bidding has ended for this item. If i was in canada and had seen this, I might have been tempted to make a bid on it.

Probably my favourite antique commmodes are the French vintage commodes that would have been used during and after the reign of Louis XVII. You can imagine such a commode taking its place in a fabulously elegant chateau:



Although, you can see from the image the paint has been chipped away slightly, it still remains in pretty good condition. These kinds of commodes would really be used for their subtlety and blend in well with the interior decor.

If you have any pictures of great antique commodes, please send them to me.

Do you find buying commodes embarassing?

Some people will be worried about potential embarrassment when it comes to buying commode toilets. After all it's not an everyday purchase, and it can be hard enough just finding a commode that matches our requirements. Of course the net helps eliminates any possible social awkwardness that may occur. Here's some helpful tips to think about and prepare you for when you go into the shop:

1. Choose something that is stable and comfortable.
This is probably the most important, but many people will neglect this aspect and rank number 3 as the most important. You want to choose something that is easily maneuverable, can be put away easily and inflexible

2. Lightweight. The material from which the chair is made from should be lightweight, something like aluminum steel, reinforced by acrylic plastic is perfect. The stuctural composition will lessen the overall weight, and make it easier for incontinent patients or elderly people who struggle moving objects.

3. Price matters. There are a variety of price comparison websites you can use to aid you in your purchase and getting a competitive price.

4. Easy to clean. It's no good buying something that's impossible to clean, you should aim to choose materials that are friendly towards cleaning agents. A lot of the time commodes will have been coated with non-stick paint, so that dirt and grease won't stick to it as easily. If your choice is not coated with this kind of paint, consider giving it a lick of paint.

5. Sanitary Engineering. There are many designs out there on the market that incorporate the latest flush systems to remove stools. There are others that will add a chemical agent such as bleach to the waste to neutralize the foul smell. So make sure you inquiry about the different options.

6. Operational Flexibility. Ideally you want to go with something that is extremely versatile, for example a stand alone structure but with the option of adding wheels to make it more mobile.

Considering these pointers, you will be sure to find something that will match your requirements and certainly cause you little embarrassment in buying