Replacing Our Almond Toilet with a Crisp White Fixture: A Bathroom Update

First, apologies for yet another post featuring toilets. We know most readers aren’t here for porcelain photos, but we’re genuinely excited to share our new bright white toilet. The almond-colored fixture that came with the house always felt dated and never looked as fresh as a white toilet, even after a thorough cleaning. White just reads cleaner and brighter—and it suits the mid-century character of our home as well as our recently refreshed trim and shower curtain.

That original almond toilet had a slightly space-age shape and, surprisingly, was actually a high-end Kohler model that retails for well over $1,300 (the almond finish even pushed the price higher than the white version). Still, after living with it for 15 months we kept dreaming of a classic white toilet that would feel right in the house and coordinate with our other bathrooms. Thankfully, comfort and style don’t always require a luxury price tag—our family wasn’t going to notice any functional difference between an expensive model and a modestly priced one.

Before buying, we rechecked measurements—especially the rough-in distance (the distance from the wall to the mounting bolts) and the door clearance. Our rough-in measured about 11.5″ (12″ is standard), but since the existing toilet was listed as a 12″ model we felt comfortable choosing another 12″ fixture. In this small room we also had to avoid elongated bowls because an elongated shape would have interfered with the door. We considered changing the door swing, but swinging the door into the bedroom would block the sink nook and interrupt the visual balance created by the chandelier and mirror, so we left it as-is.

Instead of repeating the full removal and installation steps (we covered those in a previous post), here’s a shot of the old one being removed. Since it was a one-piece design, Sherry helped carry it out—most toilets we’re used to come apart into tank and bowl for transport.

The old flange left a rust-and-wax outline on the floor, but that wiped up easily, and we were ready for the new fixture in short order. Our replacement was an $88 Glacier Bay model from Home Depot—practical, well-rated for flushing, and water-efficient (promising savings on water bills). We plan to add a small dual-flush conversion kit later to increase water savings even more.

The toilet included the necessary hardware, though we needed an extra-thick wax ring because the flange sat recessed into the tile. It was a cheap, easy extra purchase. We also tried a reader-recommended trick: sliding drinking straws over the mounting bolts to guide the bowl into place. That little hack made aligning the bowl much simpler, and it saved us from the usual jostling and re-adjusting.

We won’t rehash every install step, but installation went smoothly and we caught a neat late-afternoon moment where sunlight made the bowl glow. With the new white toilet installed the room instantly feels brighter and more cohesive with the white trim, curtain, and other accents.

The white toilet draws attention away from the beige tile and toward the lighter elements—trim, curtain, door, switch plates, and the artwork. It also better suits the mid-century ranch vibe and matches the other white toilets in our house, which oddly makes us surprisingly happy. The new toilet feels a touch taller and more comfortable—beneficial for tall users and appreciated by my shorter half as well. We’ll add the dual-flush conversion soon, but wanted to run it for a few days first to make sure everything functions as intended.

So our once-beige box of a room is slowly coming to life. There’s still more to do, but each change brings it closer to the look we want.

Our updated to-do list:

• paint the walls so they have some contrast
• replace the boob light
• paint the cream trim white
• hang some bathroom-friendly art
• craigslist the toilet and replace it with a classic white one
• add privacy treatment to the window
• remove and trim the bottom of the door to accommodate a rug or bathmat (and add a door stopper to protect the art)
• replace the border tile around the room (maybe in phase 2)
• center the blue pendant light in front of the window
• replace the floor tile down the road to break up the expanse

We’ve listed the old Kohler toilet on Craigslist; it’s a gently used high-end model and we’ve already received an offer. We’ll likely pass it along to someone who wants it and mentally apply any proceeds toward this mini makeover. Now that our bathroom is feeling more like us, we’re curious: have you ever swapped an almond or beige fixture for white or stainless? Any toilet or bathroom updates you’ve photographed or described on your blog? We’d love to hear about them.

Psst—If you want to follow this bathroom refresh from the beginning, check our previous planning, painting, light swap, and art/trim updates for the full story.