While bathrooms are certainly functional above all, there’s no reason why they can’t be a source of beauty and style. Faucets are often the focal point for the entire bathroom and several manufacturers have come up with some fabulous new designs along with accompanying technology for added comfort.
Contemporary minimalism is the buzzword for the latest faucet styles introduced by Graff, a style that, Al DeGenova, vice president of global sales and marketing, says is spreading beyond cosmopolitan urban centers into suburban bathrooms. “A modernization of traditional looks using art deco aesthetics to create ‘retro’ bathrooms has also grown as a recent trend,” he adds.
Whether contemporary or traditional, Graff reports that the most popular finishes are polished chrome, followed closely by brushed satin nickel and polished nickel. European influences are woven into the designs, and that includes colors. Therefore, Graff offers Architectural Black and Architectural White on its newest line, Ametis and Sento, to reflect a European, more modern trend. Bronze and gold finishes are more likely to be associated with traditional bathrooms.
Graff’s faucet shapes also tend to be minimalist, sleek and small in diameter, with straight lines and angles, rather than curves. “Single handle, single hole faucet designs are more European and therefore, to American design tastes, more modern. However, the U.S. market continues to perceive two-handle faucets as higher end. So to meet these tastes, Graff offers a two-handle wideset faucet in its contemporary Sento and Ametis collections,” says DeGenova.
Whatever color or finish you choose, THG’s focus is on elegance. National Director Pedro Uranga says that true opulence and quality is in real metals. “It’s really all about the finish; while one finish can make something look more classic, another can make a collection look more contemporary or modern.” This year, he says, nickel is very popular as well as silver rhodium, a mixture of sterling silver and rhodium (a component of platinum), which results in a sterling silver look but with a high resistance to scratches and tarnishes. More contemporary choices proving popular are black nickel finishes, resembling gunmetal. “Still the core audience appreciates deep tones, and THG’s plating is very thick; twice the average of the industry, which produces a deep color. This special process gives our products luster, as well as longevity,” says Uranga.
Widespread faucets and clean lines are popular; THG produces sculptural designs, such as the Perle, which features an art deco-inspired design.
“Industry trends are skewing toward transitional styling as homeowners embrace blending traditional and modern elements,” says Travis Rotelli, Senior Interior Designer at Kohler Design Center, which he says helps create a more “individualized design aesthetic.”
Kohler is also seeing polished chrome as a mainstay, with brushed nickel and oil-rubbed bronze as popular finishes. “Matte colors continue to trend in the fashion world, and those are quickly reflected in the trends that surface for home design; our brushed nickel finish certainly reflects that,” says Rotelli.
In addition, striking, angular faucets with a single-handle design, such as Moen’s Arris Collection, are popular contemporary choices, while double-handle designs are appearing in traditional spaces.
“Geometric shapes, which can be seen in Delta’s Ara faucet, are making their mark in the contemporary design category,” says Allison McKinney, Delta Product Manager. She says that widespread or two-handle faucets still dominate, though single-handed designs are becoming more popular as consumers look to ‘right size’ their space by downsizing the clutter and streamlining their countertops. These are particularly favorites in urban spaces as they take up less room.
McKinney also says stainless steel remains the dominant finish choice, with polished nickel and bronze coming on strong. Interest in blending these substances has led to Delta’s warm Champagne Bronze and Venetian Bronze finishes.
As the world has gone digital, it was only a matter of time before bathrooms followed suit. “Touch-free faucets, programmable temperature controls and LED lights to indicate temperature are just some of those technologies. Graff now offers LED light indicators on its Ametis line which let users know the water temperature without risking scalding by putting hands in hot water,” says DeGenova.
Moen’s Method faucets are flow-optimized and allow water to flow at 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm) versus traditional aerators that flow at 2.2 gpm.
Despite all of the fantastic variaties available today bathroom styles will change, ebbing and flowing between contemporary and traditional, sleek and chunky, and vendors will continue to alter their designs to suit the age. Perhaps every brand will have a “green” option, maybe they’ll shy away from traditional materials and bring about something completely different, but no matter what they do you can be sure they won’t disappoint.