In The Design Studio: All the Things You Never Knew About Kitchen Faucets

This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design company specializing in kitchen, bathroom design and furniture sales. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected]and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.

Faucets always seem to be the neglected child of kitchen design.

We spend hours selecting, touching and feeling our cabinets, countertops, backsplash and even hardware and making sure it’s just right. However, when it comes to faucets, the budget has run out and everyone is exhausted when they make a choice but there are so many to choose from.

style: There are 8 basic types of faucets that we are all familiar with.

Pulldown: This is the larger gooseneck type with a pull down sprayer.
Pull Out: A bit more like a traditional faucet, lower towards the sink as the spray pulls in your direction. The distance to the sink tends to be smaller.
Commercial: Check out the large industrial faucets with a flexible hose for a sprayer. These fit into a professional looking kitchen with modern touches. Pay attention to the size as they are large and can override a small kitchen and sink.
Single handle: A kind of gooseneck with the spray on the side
Two handles: can be attached to the sides of the gooseneck of a very traditional bridge faucet. These go well with a farm kitchen sink to complete the look.
Motion sensors: They are becoming increasingly popular because people don’t want to touch the faucet with dirty hands. These are also useful if you have people with limited mobility around the house.
Pot filler: Usually installed above the stove to make it easier to fill a large pot for pasta and soup without moving the pot around the kitchen.
Bars: This is usually a smaller version of the pulldown, but without the pulldown. We then often use in the prep pool area and not just in a bar setting. Note that they are smaller, so maybe too small for the sink.

Where and why to buy your faucet: Make sure you buy from a reputable plumbing dealer.

There’s nothing more annoying than a faucet that leaks after a few months or a pull-down sprayer that doesn’t slide back and is now just hanging there, making the faucet look broken and ugly. Look for well-known brand names with warranties and parts that can be easily swapped out if necessary. Look for metal parts, not plastic – these break easily and the finish fades quickly. Make sure the internal cartridge is made of metal or ceramic. Unfortunately, most of the faucets in the large store and in some outlets are made of plastic and they break very quickly.

Finished: There are so many amazing finishes available now that you don’t have to stick to just brushed nickel or brass. Combine the finish for a unique look!

Combine bold black for a modern look or brushed brass for a classic, traditional look. The quality of the finish improves enormously and most manufacturers offer a lifetime guarantee on the finish.

maintenance: The procedure is usually the easiest because you only have a large spout to wipe and finish. The commercial style is going to be a little painful due to the coil on the top making it difficult to clean underneath. In terms of materials, most of them are well made these days and should have a long service life. Most manufacturers guarantee the finish for a lifetime.

When you’re done with your dishes, quickly wipe the sink and faucet and you’re done. Do not use materials that will scratch the finish. If dirt or limestone builds up, use baking soda or white vinegar on a toothbrush to remove it. Daily cleaning helps to avoid this. Always use ammonia, bleach, and acid-free detergents – this is a good rule for all of our kitchen surfaces.

Only use Windex for oil-rubbed bronze with a soft microfiber cloth. Please remember to always ask the manufacturer what he recommends based on the finish.

Are you ready to rock your faucet? What is your favorite style and finish?

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