ven though we spend as much as an hour a day there, most of us don't like to talk about our bathroom experiences. But our modesty hasn't deterred bathroom-appliance companies from dev eloping some creative amenities for those well-used rooms. From tech toilets to power showers, new appliances are making the bathroom a much more enjoyable place to be.

Jacuzzi has just released a shower with a built-in television set and remote control, CD player, AM/FM tuner and speakers. Equipped with two shower nozzles and eight separate body sprays that splash water onto your stomach, legs and arms, the J-Allure ($1 2,500) has a whirlpool bath and steam mode for extra relaxation. While audio installers have put speakers in bathrooms for years, this is the first all-in-one shower-entertainment system.

When it comes time to flush, Japanese toilet maker Toto goes all out to keep people happy. Its $699 Zoe smart seat warms up on cold nights, includes a bidet-like cleaning nozzle and kills odors through a sprayless catalytic process that starts the moment you sit down. Shown here in furniture designer and architect Dan Friedlander's San Francisco home, its stylish curves complement its handy functions. "I do a lot of reading on the toilet, and the Zoe's contoured seat is extremely comfortable," says Friedl ander. "It really takes the odor away."

Friedlander put the Zoe toilet seat in his guest bathroom, which invariably surprises his many visitors. But he saves the best part for himself. The remote flusher, included with every seat, is reserved for family use only.