Kohler Memoirs Toilet Review – Will This Stately Toilet Add Some Style To your Bathroom?
The stately Kohler K-3817-0 Memoirs from the Memoirs Collection is a two-piece, comfort height, water efficient toilet. Will it add some style to your bathroom? It looks great but is it good value? How does it compare to other models? We hope that this Kohler Memoirs Toilet Review will answer these questions and more.
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Design
Of course, choosing a toilet design is a personal decision. Having different shapes and sizes of toilets allows you to choose a specific type of model to suit your bathroom style. This specific model has a classic look to it. It is called Memoirs, ‘Stately’ and it does have a regal look to it. The tank lines are sharp, the tank is square and is crowned with an attractive wide lid. I think this design definitely does give a good first impression.
Memoirs Stately Comfort Height
The front of the toilet also has a solid square shape that is quite different to many round shaped modern toilets. The Kohler K-3817-0 is a comfort height toilet which means it is ADA compliant and suitable for people with disabilities. A comfort height toilet is roughly two inches taller than a standard height unit, therefore a good choice for not only tall people but also for people that find it difficult to stand up and sit down. However, a comfort height unit may be a little less suitable for very short people and young children.
Two Piece/Elongated
This model is a two piece, with an elongated shaped bowl. A two piece toilet will need extra cleaning over time compared to a one piece because dirt will find it easier to accumulate in crevices. However, two piece toilets are usually cheaper that one piece. The elongated bowl is bigger than a round bowl, which will be more comfortable for larger people. An elongated bowl may not be the best choice for very small bathrooms as it will take up a little more space.
Overall, this Kohler toilet is a great looking model, that will certainly add a stately stylish look to your bathroom. Now let us see how it performs.
- Color: Almond, Biscuit, Black, Ice Gray, Sandbar, White
- Dimensions: 30-3/8 x 18-7/8 x 31-1/6 inches
- Seat Height: 16-1/2 inches
- Shape: Elongated
- Material: Vitreous China
- Weight: 105 lbs
- Flush: 1.28 GPF
- Handle: Left-Side
- Certification: WaterSense
Flushing System
Firstly, this unit is very water efficient. It uses 1.28 gallons per flush (GPF), which makes the Memoirs WaterSense certified. Comparing this to a modern 1.6 GPF toilet, this unit will use 20% less water per flush. However, if you are upgrading from an older standard unit that uses on average 3.5 GPF, then this Kohler model will save you up to 16,500 gallons of water per year. These water reductions will help the environment and will also be fantastic for water bill savings.
WaterSense Certified
Kohler AquaPiston Flush Technology
This efficient usage of water does not prevent a powerful flush. The Kohler AquaPiston flush technology allows water to flow into all sides of the bowl and rim (360°), making sure that the whole bowl is receiving a good cleaning per flush.
The canister is also flapperless, meaning no leaks and also it provides 50% more rinse than previous Kohler models.
Have a look at this short video to see how great this stately toilet looks and also see how well it performs:
Installation
If you have some experience with DIY or are brave enough to give it a go yourself then you should be more than capable of installing this unit. It has a standard 12″ rough in and it is easy to connect the tank to the bowl.
What better way to see how simple it is to install this toilet than watching a short video demonstration:
How Does This Kohler Memoirs Toilet Compare To A leading Competitor
To find a leading competitor that will compare well to this unit, I found a model that looks quite similar and matches well performance wise. The toilet I have chosen is the Toto Promenade II.
Similar Design
I believe the Kohler Memoirs Stately design is quite distinctive compared to many other models. Its square regal style is very different to most other modern toilets that usually have a more smooth round design. The Toto Promenade II has a similar look to it and also has a squarish design. Both are very attractive toilets.
Similar Measurements
Both are ADA compliant and have similar floor to seat measurements. The Kohler has the patented Comfort Height Seat, where as TOTO has their patented Universal Height Seat. The Comfort Height and Universal Height are suitable for the elderly, disabled and for tall people.
Both Are WaterSense Certified
Both toilets only use 1.28 GPF making them both highly efficient and WaterSense certified. The Promenade II uses the Tornado Flush System and the Memoirs uses the AquaPiston Technology. Judging by customer reviews, both toilets perform well and have good flushing power.
The Difference….
One main difference between these two is that the Promenade II is a one piece toilet and the Memoirs Stately is a two piece. This would normally make a difference in price, cleaning, leaking and installation.
However, when it comes to leaking and installation, as you can see in the first video above, the Kohler durable canister has 90% less exposed seal material compared to a 3-inch flapper, providing a leak-free performance.
Also, the second video demonstrates that this toilet is very easy to install.
No Leaking But Added Cleaning
That being said, two piece toilets will have more crevices for dirt and bacteria to grow, therefore it will need more maintenance to keep clean compared to a one piece.
Also, as expected this Kohler Memoirs Stately two piece toilet is cheaper compared to the Toto Promenade II one piece toilet.
And The Winner is…
Overall, these toilets are great toilets and will definitely add a classic look to any bathroom. Both perform well and are of similar size and shape. If you can’t choose between the design and you don’t mind having a two piece toilet, then the Kohler stately is the less expensive option. If you would like to see what the TOTO Promenade II looks like, then check out the full review.
Final thoughts
The Kohler Memoirs Stately Toilet is a classic looking model that will add a bit of royal class to your bathroom. Its comfort height measurements and elongated bowl make it a lot more comfortable for more people, especially for people that find a standard height toilet seat difficult to use.
It is also a very efficient toilet and only uses 1.28 GPF. It is WaterSense certified so will be good for the environment and save you money on water bills.
Overall, this toilet is definitely one to consider for your bathroom. I hope that this Kohler Memoirs Toilet Review was able to answer any questions you had about this particular unit.
