Plumbing dates back hundreds of years. An early model of a modern toilet, complete with flushing, was installed in Richmond Palace in 1600. Queen Elizabeth I refused to use it because she thought it was too noisy. Modern toilets are quieter than they used to be, and are also more efficient.

Modern toilets which are pressure assisted tend to be more expensive than toilets which are gravity based. However, the pressure assisted toilets do a better job and use less water. Another modern fixture that is appearing in bathrooms across the United States is the walk in tub. Walk in tubs are ideal for people who have difficulty getting in and out of a standard bathtub. Elderly people and those with limited mobility often enjoy the benefits of walk in tubs, which have doors that make them easy to walk into and out of.

Bathrooms that have two different doors which open into two different rooms are becoming more and more popular. This style is called a Jack and Jill bathroom. Modern designs, water efficient toilets and walk in tubs are all a part of modern plumbing, and of bathroom remodeling.