flexiblefullpage -
Currently Reading

Faucets Flow to the Future

Advertisement
billboard -
Construction

Faucets Flow to the Future

Faucet manufacturers have been fighting the battle of form vs. function since the Romans. Never have the two been more intertwined than in today’s delivery systems. Take a look at the latest insights from Kohler and Delta Faucet Co. and see what the future may hold.


By By Nick Bajzek, Products Editor April 30, 2008
This article first appeared in the CB May 2008 issue of Custom Builder.

Available in both kitchen and smaller bar/prep models, Delta's Allora kitchen model balances form and function. It features a pull-down wand that switches from stream to spray with the click of a button. Photography by Delta.

The industry has watched kitchens evolve from purely work zones to an open area for families and guests. With that changes faucet design, and industry experts attest to the evolution of the fixture.

The challenge, according to Judd Lord, industrial design manager for Delta Faucet Co., is blending new minimalist trends with the demand for better functionality and low-flow or hands-free options. "There's only so many ways you can recreate a tube," says Lord. "We're really trying to touch those intangibles. How do people use faucets? How does it sound when the water hits the bottom of the sink? We look at all of that."

"You have wonderful designs that you find in bathrooms all over. While visually stimulating, once you bring them over to the kitchen you have obvious performance issues to handle," says Kohler's Les Petch, product manager for kitchen faucets. "And from a practical standpoint, if you have an intricate faucet it becomes difficult to clean and maintain in the kitchen."

The green movement has been equally vexing from a design standpoint. In bathrooms, designing an elaborate system is not a major problem because you can wash your hands and brush your

A quarter turn controls filtered water with Kohler's Karafe. Photography by Kohler.
teeth with a low-flow faucet and not really notice a thing, Petch says. "It becomes an issue in the kitchen, especially with side sprays that have traditionally relied on a high-flow rate." Style Watch

The minimalist European influence has firmly entrenched itself into both companies' design portfolios. Both are on the look out for the proverbial next big thing. "We have a dedicated design group that keeps their eyes on contemporary versus traditional styles. The minimalist, Scandinavian look has been prevalent on the European market for years," says Lord.

Step-in-step with these developments, Petch notes a more eclectic product selection in kitchens in particular, with consumers blending contemporary and traditional products. Stainless steel blended with Tuscan influences, or deep farmhouse sinks paired with high-arc, low-flow faucets are the norm. Figuring out how people mix-and-match and why is "perplexing," Lord says.

Other Perks

Both Petch and Lord agree conditioned, or filtered, water is big. "In part, maybe, because people are using more bottled water and are becoming more aware of the impact of the environment of all these billions of plastic bottles. We are definitely seeing demand for filtration systems that blend in with the design aesthetic," says Petch.

"For a lot of markets, there's a feeling of 'been there, done that.' So we'll see what the next big thing is," says Lord. In looking out for the next hot trend, however, manufacturers will continue the battle against consumer and industry demands on their products.

Related Stories

Custom Builder

Floodproof on a Floodplain

An impressive addition to the IDEA Home series, the NEWLOOK Experience Home is a master class in engineering and creative design, with builder Michael Freiburger out-thinking an exceptionally tricky lot

Custom Builder

3 Questions Answered About Reliable Energy in Home Construction

Energy expert Bryan Cordill makes a case for why and how propane is an answer to growing concerns about reliability and resilience in home construction 

Business

PERC Highlights Sustainability and Efficiency at IBS with 'Clean Build Conversations'

Hear from industry standouts Matt Blashaw and Anthony Carrino at this hour-long Show Village event

Custom Builder

Telling a Story That Preserves the Past

Custom builder and historic restoration and preservation expert Brent Hull walks us through the careful details of his Pennsylvania Farmhouse project

Business

Defining Outdoor Living in 2024

Residential experts weigh in on outdoor living trends in new report

Construction

How to Air Seal the Garage

A poorly sealed wall or ceiling between the garage and the main house can let harmful fumes into the living space

Business

Taking Advantage of Incentives Through Weatherization

Industry insider Kristen Lewis walks us through the basics and benefits of weatherization

Custom Builder

2023: A Year of Case Studies

A look back at the custom homes and craftsman details we spotlighted last year

Business

November Data: Custom Architects Weigh In, New Construction Trends, Contractor Confidence, and Material Price Changes

We've collected highlights from a number of data reports published throughout the industry in November

Business

Choosing Humanism, History, and Beauty Over Modernism

Celebrated architect Laurence Booth, whose career spans half a century, shares insights on modernism's flaws, the characteristics of beauty, his design process, and more

Advertisement
boombox1 -
Advertisement
boombox2 -
Advertisement
boombox3 -
Advertisement
native1 -

More in Category

Custom Builder

Floodproof on a Floodplain

An impressive addition to the IDEA Home series, the NEWLOOK Experience Home is a master class in engineering and creative design, with builder Michael Freiburger out-thinking an exceptionally tricky lot

Custom Builder

3 Questions Answered About Reliable Energy in Home Construction

Energy expert Bryan Cordill makes a case for why and how propane is an answer to growing concerns about reliability and resilience in home construction 

boombox4 -
Business

PERC Highlights Sustainability and Efficiency at IBS with 'Clean Build Conversations'

Hear from industry standouts Matt Blashaw and Anthony Carrino at this hour-long Show Village event

Custom Builder

Telling a Story That Preserves the Past

Custom builder and historic restoration and preservation expert Brent Hull walks us through the careful details of his Pennsylvania Farmhouse project

boombox4 -
Advertisement
native2 -
Advertisement
halfpage1 -