If I had a nickel for every time I entered the bathroom at my current abode and, in a state of slightly bemused relaxation, silently said, "if only I could move the sink over there, or relocate the tub to under the window, or rotate the shower stall 90 degrees," I'd have a good pocketful of nickels… Like minds can take solace in Toto's new Modular Home (MH) Series of bathroom fittings premiering next week at the London Design Festival-the collection offers easy (re)-location of elements, thus promising virtually endless flexibility.

Modular Home Series. Designed by Masahiro Maruhashi and Michael Stein. Manufactured by Toto.

Toto's MH Series Offers Functional Versatility and Aesthetic Panache

As manufacturer Toto says, the MH Series represents an auspicious collaboration between Germany and Japan, as designers Michael Stein and Masahiro Maruhashi teamed up to devise this cosmopolitan collection of toilets, bidets, bathtubs, washbasins, faucets, and storage elements.

Lest I forget the all-important Washlet, a European-inspired appliance that assures bodily cleanliness in all the right places… the MH Series comprises a comprehensive assortment of products for shower and bath: "the ideal solution for people who want to transform their bathrooms into custom-designed havens of well-being."

Attendees at next week's festival will be smitten with the array of options that the MH Series Offers. Furniture elements are vertically- or horizontally-oriented, with doors or open shelving; toilets, bidets, and washlets are slim and sleek, occupying just enough floor space to look well-proportioned but not an inch more; washbasins feature beautifully contoured edges and come in an array of styles (from deep vessels to subtle furniture models); and the stainless steel mixers are understated and elegant.

For me, however, the MH Series' bonafide modularity seals the deal. The components are designed with flexibility in mind, meaning it's easy to relocate the storage elements, washbasins, and faucets without costly alterations to existing plumbing: "Faucet and washbasin plumbing are neatly concealed behind slightly shortened drawers, allowing them to be connected behind the furniture. Thus, the washbasin and furniture can be positioned wherever desired, without existing plumbing having to be moved-particularly convenient when renovating a bathroom."

About the Manufacturer: If Japanese engineering is any indication, the denizens of that far-flung region know a thing or two about technology and precision. As it turns out, the same spirit that goes into the country's automotive industry has a place in creating ultra-functional and endlessly-attractive bathrooms. Toto's MH Series fulfills the company credo of "elevating the bathroom from the merely functional to the restorative and meditative." The new collection offers a contemporary look with high appeal and excellent flexibility.