Kitchen and Bath Faucets: Details by Jamie Goldberg
The Power of a Terrific Tap to Up the Style Quotient
Last month we looked at kitchen and bath lighting. This segment focuses on faucets. Never underestimate the power of a terrific tap to up the style quotient in your kitchen or bath. To see what I mean, try to imagine this bathroom with a plastic-handled, builder basic faucet.
Bathroom designed by Jamie Goldberg, AKBD, CAPS
Such a tacky, outdated fixture would totally downgrade the elegance of this traditional, remodeled bathroom. I visited the remodeled master bath of an acquaintance who had spent her whole budget on custom cabinets, stone tops and new floors, but opted not to replace her builder grade faucets. What do you think got noticed first? Yep, the out-of-place plastic knobs stuck out like a sore thumb. Here are some great faucets to consider for your kitchen and bath, even if you’re not planning a remodel.
This Traditional Triflow Faucet from Rohl features integrated water filtration. There’s also a bathroom version available so you can brush your teeth with filtered water, too.
This is Brizo‘s Talo faucet with SmartTouch Technology. One lucky reader won one of these from Gold Notes, The Decorating Diva, LLC and Brizo. Click here for details on the winning entry.
This strikingly-unique Italian-designed Wolo faucet has American (Elkay) and European (Webert) lineage.
I’ve long delighted in the breezy style of Danze‘s South Sea series, which may show up in one of my own bathrooms one day.
This graceful modern Stance Faucet by Kohler showed up at this year’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show.
Two Key Points About Bathroom Faucets
- If you’re considering replacing shower or tub faucets, you will most likely have to replace the valve behind the wall and below the deck, too, which means a larger project. If you stay within the same brand family, you may not have to. Check with a plumbing sales specialist for assistance.
- Bathroom sink faucets come in various configurations. Four-inch spreads are probably the most common. Be sure you know what you need before you order if you’re not replacing your sink or countertops.
Three Key Points About Kitchen Faucets
- If the faucet is the only kitchen component being replaced, consider how many holes you have in your sink or countertop and don’t exceed that number.
- If you’re planning on upgrading your countertops later on, look for a faucet that can be mounted without a deck plate, and find out whether an extension will be needed to accommodate thicker tops. Buy it now while the part is available and keep it in storage for your eventual remodel.
- If your sink is tucked behind a raised bar, consider the height difference if you don’t want your faucet to be seen from the next room.
Get more kitchen and bath faucet ideas at Jamie’s post, Details #2 Faucet coverage on Gold Notes.
And please check back next month when Details covers Fabrics and Fibers, including window coverings, towels and more.
ABOUT JAMIE GOLDBERG
Jamie Goldberg, AKBD, CAPS is an NKBA-certified kitchen and bath designer and a freelance design journalist. Her articles have appeared in Signature Kitchens & Baths Magazine, Fine Homebuilding, BobVila.com, KitchenBathIdeas.com and many others. She is also a regular contributor to Kitchens.com, where her Sensible Style blog appears each month.
Jamie currently lives and works in San Diego, California, where she writes her own Gold Notes blog and serves as the Design & Marketing Director for Italian Kitchen Design and Distribution, an importer of quality European cabinetry, based in the San Diego suburb of Escondido.
