Appreciate the replies about toilets and am checking out all the suggestions. The options for low flow toilets with a strong, but not pressurized flush are much better than when we last replaced ours. People seem either exceptionally happy or occasionally quite disappointed in their choices. We are reading lots of reviews and will let you know where we land. The Gerbers stocked by the plumber don’t seem great, so we are checking out other brands.
When installing a new toilet, consider adding a bidet toilet seat. But whatever you do, don’t buy a non-electric version unless the idea of a blast of cold water to your nether regions sounds appealing.
One important consideration - the roughin size. Most toilets installed nowadays have a 12" rough-in. However, some older baths come with a 14", and some small tight spaces have a 10". If you put a 12" into a 14" space, the toilet will be sitting further from the wall by a couple of inches. Toto makes adapters for roughins:
Thanks, @BunsenBurner. House is 24 years old. Hoping it will be a non-issue. Interesting how toilets don’t have an immediately clear front-runner. We’ll be looking into options,
Thanks!
http://urbanore.com/1758-5-sink-or-swim-toilet-measurements/
You can easily measure the roughin with a ruler. Agree that there is no single model, but there are a few brands that are definitely in the lead when it comes to toilet design. Like Toto and Kohler. Another thing to consider is the weight. If you are installing a one piece toilet, be prepared to do some heavy lifting. Mister and I had no problem carrying our Aquia upstairs, but we are in good shape. Two piece toilets by definition can be carried piecemeal. 
Hello all!
I’m new on this thread and have been reading for a few days.
H and I are in our “forever home.” When we relocated we downsized to a house that will be comfortable when the kids are gone. It’s our third house but the first in which we have done any renovations. We changed out the master bedroom shower/tub combo for a large shower with rainfall / spray / body jets, then updated the other hardware to be equivalent. The amount of pleasure I receive using my lovely new faucet is amazing!
Now we’re replacing the original builder-grade frieze carpet and laminate. Everything but the tiled areas (kitchen and two of the baths) will be changed out. I placed an order for LVP for the first floor and carpet on the stairs and second floor. Now I’m just crossing my fingers that it looks as good in person as in the samples and photos.
There are several other things we’d like to do, including converting our deck to a screened porch, replacing the kitchen appliances and counter tops, and doing something to improve the world’s ugliest fireplace. In time…
Sounds exciting, @NerdMom88! We too finally got our first old house after owning two brand new houses. Slowly chipping away at a lot of deferred maintenance the previous owners sat aside. And simplifying the “irrational exuberance” the owners before them created. Like sprinkler system that was watering the wetlands (why?!) replacing external quality doors that were put in all bedrooms and closets (why?), removing multiple programmable timers from light circuits (why?! a light sensor switch is sooo much more convenient), and so on. We love the place, and if our health allows it, we can see us retiring here.
Today, we painted the trim on two sides of the house. Tomorrow, we are painting the siding! I am debating whether I want to hire someone to finish the rest (2.5 stories high) or tackle it ourselves. Mr. B is dead set on this being a 100% DIY project. Yikes. It will be a loooong August. 
Meanwhile, BB, they are still painting my house. All four sides are now primed. I’m wondering if they’ll finish in August. It does look great, so far.
The progammable light switches are often for security.
FWIW, I remember seeing coralbrook mention that if she could bundle her purchases at HD to reach a certain threshold she could save money. A combination of exceeding that amount (and being offered the discount) and going over our original quote line-by-line with the assistant manager, correcting small errors, saved us a total of 13%.
“The progammable light switches are often for security.”
So are light sensors. No need to reprogram when the sun sets at 5 pm or 9 pm.
Ok, thought you meant internal.
Oh, there is internal stuff, too. Not timers thank goodness. So. Much. Stupidity. Every room has speakers wired into the walls and sound control knob. I understand that is was the on thing in the past. But does every resident of this house need to listen to the same music in every room?! silly. We are leaving those speakers in… too much drywall patching.
Epic fail. Stupid weatherman. Promised it would be only 92, but it hit 93 while we were painted! We capitulated and hid in the shade. Drinking Sapporo on the deck now. Phew.
Just to add my 2 cents about toilets – we replaced two a couple of years ago. One was an American Standard, the other was a Toto. The Toto was more $$$ but there is just no comparison between them. The Toto is just so much better - both at flushing and staying clean. It has a “Sanigloss” finish to the porcelain, and I’m not sure if that is a standard feature so you should definitely specify it if you get a Toto.
Yes! That is the standard feature on higher end Toto. I love it. Throw whatever stones at me, but I scrub it only once a month. Seriously, it looks so clean I just do it because I have to not be a it looks ewww.
Yes. And our American Standard is stained from minerals in the water and looks 20 years old already. No matter how much I clean it, it doesn’t look clean!
P.S. - taking advice for how to clean those mineral streaks… and how to fill the bowl with more water for cleaning purposes, without it all immediately leaking away…
Greenwitch - turn the water supply off. Flush the toilet. That will leave the bowl almost empty. Sprinkle a generous amount of Barkeeper’s Friend into the bowl. Rub hard! Turn water supply on. Flush. Bowl looks like a champ!!!
My plumber recommended Toto. She knows toilets. (Yes, “she.”)
We put in two idential dual flush Totos - one is fabulous, the other one is a little cranky - it’s been very hard to get it adjusted just right so that it flushes easily (you don’t have to hold the button down longer than comfortable) and it doesn’t keep running. Right now it’s fine. We do have to use the toilet brush on it from time to time. It’s definitely one of their less expensive models. I like it much better than the Kohler which is in the third bathroom. Our basement bathroom has something very inexpensive from Home Depot which so far also works fine, but it doesn’t get much of a workout.
When buying kitchen appliances have you checked features, prices, etc., and gotten different brands or did you purchase a suite of appliances to keep the look consistent?