A bridge faucet provides timeless appeal to any kitchen. Study all about this basic fixture design and if it may very well be the right addition to your own home.
Once I was planning our kitchen renovation, I knew I used to be designing my dream kitchen. I made positive to decide on items that have been basic, timeless, and that I knew I’d love for years to come back.
I wished each piece to work arduous and look stunning doing it. Luckily, in the case of taps there was an ideal resolution.
The bridge faucet is the last word instance of type meets perform. Not solely is the type stunning, however it’s a powerhouse within the day-to-day work of any kitchen.
I’ve an unlacquered brass faucet in my kitchen in our St. Louis residence, and I simply put in one in our lake kitchen, too!
For our extra conventional residence, I selected a design with delicate curves and conventional traces to match the extra basic, conventional type of the house.
On the lake, I wished one thing that was equally timeless however a contact extra fashionable, in step with the Fashionable Coastal type of our cottage.
I’m past thrilled with my faucet decisions for each of our properties. Maintain studying to see if a bridge faucet may very well be the right match on your house, too! And don’t skip the small print on our Quartz Counter tops should you’re taking a look at countertop choices.
What Is a Bridge Faucet?
A bridge faucet has two handles – one for warm water and one for chilly – which might be joined by a horizontal connector pipe. The pipe is uncovered above the countertop quite than beneath it. It types a “bridge” between the cold and hot water traces.
The tap spout connects up and off the middle of this bridge piece. In some designs, the tap intersects the bridge and goes by its personal gap into the sink. Because of this, one of these faucet can have both 2- or 3-hole set up.
My kitchen faucet was a 2-hole set up. You possibly can see that the spout connects to the bridge, however it doesn’t go all the best way to the marble countertop. I like the clear look that it provides beneath the bridge. Notice that I even have an identical hand sprayer that required its personal gap.
One other fascinating a part of the design is {that a} bridge faucet is a single piece, quite than a number of particular person items. Common taps might have two separate handles plus a faucet, every with its personal gap.
Since a bridge faucet is all one piece, it instructions consideration wherever it’s used. It’s an actual showstopper!
Historical past of Bridge Kitchen Taps
In fact, the concept of a taps isn’t something new. Historical Romans used lead pipes to conduct plumbing for his or her non-public baths and public bathe homes.
The earliest taps had two spouts – one for warm water water and one for chilly. In 1937, Al Moen invented the one stream faucet, the place the cold and hot water may combine and are available out of a faucet collectively at a most well-liked temperature. Moen taps are nonetheless a well-liked alternative as we speak, greater than 80 years later!
Bridge taps could also be standard now, however there isn’t something “fashionable” about them. They’re a basic design that dates again to the flip of the twentieth century. They’ve a timeless high quality that makes them excellent for conventional types.
With their reputation, nonetheless, bridge taps have developed to suit into any design type. In fact, they are going to all the time be at residence in conventional, farmhouse, or cottage kitchens.
Nonetheless, now you could find glossy, streamlined designs that look beautiful in fashionable and modern kitchens. It doesn’t matter what your aesthetic, there’s a bridge kitchen faucet to enrich it.
Execs
There are such a lot of causes to contemplate including a bridge kitchen faucet to your own home. Listed here are just some of them:
- Number of choices – There are numerous types to select from, in any end and to match any aesthetic. Plus they arrive in a variety of costs, relying on the design, end, and additional options you select.
- Counter house – The all-in-one design means one of these faucet can typically be narrower general. That leaves extra room to the aspect for a built-in hand sprayer or cleaning soap dispenser – or only a fairly vase of flowers!
- One half as a substitute of a number of – Little question about it, these taps make a press release. Their strong design has a timeless high quality to it that appears so stunning.
- Temperature management – By controlling the cold and hot water traces individually, you can also make small changes to get precisely the temperature you need.
- Further top – Having the cross pipe uncovered over the countertop (quite than beneath it) means further clearance on your faucet spout. A couple of extra inches are a gamechanger while you’re washing huge pots or filling tall pitchers.
- No deck plate – For the reason that traces are related by the bridge, there’s no want for a deck plate to relaxation on the countertop. Seeing the countertop provides a clear, recent look.
Cons
Each resolution comes with a flip aspect. Listed here are another points to contemplate earlier than making your alternative:
- Operation – Bridge taps aren’t arduous to function, however they do require a bit extra effort than single-handle taps. They require you to make use of each palms without delay (or one hand adjusting one deal with at a time). This takes some getting used to should you’ve been accustomed to the convenience of a single deal with.
- Area constraints – Aspect to aspect these taps can save countertop house. Nonetheless, due to their further top they could be a bit comfortable in kitchens with low hanging cupboards or cabinets above the sink. Ensure you measure your top clearance fastidiously earlier than buying.
The place to Use a Bridge Kitchen Faucet
The quick reply is wherever! There’s a bridge faucet for any kitchen, regardless of the age or type.
Usually, bridge taps have been considered extra conventional in type. It’s simple to see why. Their basic form and stylish traces have a easy, timeless appeal.
Because of this, they appear proper at residence in conventional residence design – basic French nation, Victorian, Colonial, Tudor, farmhouse, cottage, and extra. They typically have fluted particulars and curved spouts that lend themselves to conventional types.
Nonetheless, now it’s simple to discover a bridge faucet to go well with any residence aesthetic. The fundamental concept is identical – two handles related by a bridge – however the form and design range.
In fact, you possibly can nonetheless discover attractive, conventional types. However you can too discover easy, straight traces or glossy, streamlined designs for every part from Cape Cod and Craftsman to fashionable and modern.
Set up
Relying on the tap you purchase, you’ll want two or three holes – one for the new water, one for the chilly water, and probably one for the tap spout. In the event you’re buying a brand new sink, you possibly can select one to match your faucet.
In the event you’re matching an current sink, measure fastidiously to verify your bridge faucet will match the present holes.
Take note of any equipment it’s your decision, equivalent to a cleaning soap dispenser, hand sprayer, or consuming faucet. Every of these will want its personal gap, so plan accordingly.
Additionally, in case your faucet doesn’t include the equipment you need, ensure that to buy them to match.
In case your counter house is proscribed, or should you identical to the look, bridge taps will be wall mounted. This implies they’re mounted on the wall over the sink as a substitute of on the sting of the sink or countertop.
Wall mounted taps have the next splash potential than countertop taps in the event that they’re not correctly measured or if their water stream isn’t angled correctly.
Additionally they require plumbing and valve work behind the wall. It’s finest to plan prematurely for a wall-mounted bridge faucet or to depart the set up to the professionals.
Prices
Like with any fixture, the associated fee varies by high quality, materials, design, perform, and additional options like pull-down sprayer and touchless spray.
On common, anticipate to pay $400 to $700 for a good-quality bridge faucet. Don’t be tempted to pay lower than $150 for one, though technically you could find one for much less. Any bridge kitchen faucet for a lot much less is probably going not constructed in a vogue that’s befitting long-term use!
They will value as a lot as $2,000 or extra for title model fashions with fashionable options and high-end design with supplies like unlacquered brass. Purchase what you’re keen on, however do not forget that greater value doesn’t essentially imply higher high quality.
Suggestions
In the event you suppose a bridge faucet could also be excellent in your kitchen, listed here are some suggestions of what to search for as you seek for the right one:
- High quality & sturdiness – In relation to taps, seems aren’t every part. In fact, you need to love what you see, however you additionally want one thing that can stand as much as a number of every day use.
- Measure twice – Measure not solely how far aside the holes are, but additionally how a lot overhead house you’ve gotten and the way excessive you need the spout. It could not appear to be an enormous deal, however these taps look finest after they have room to shine.
- High quality end – It’s okay to like present traits, but additionally search for metals that will likely be simple to wash and preserve. Matte black seems nice however it is going to present water spots. Brass is gorgeous, however bear in mind that it’ll patina – that’s a part of its pure magnificence.
- Ceramic valves – Taps with ceramic valves are topic to fewer leaks and drips. That’s essential in any kitchen.
- Price – Greater value doesn’t essentially imply greater high quality, however you continue to shouldn’t purchase the most cost effective choice you could find. Plan on spending a minimum of $150 for an honest bridge faucet, and that’s on the low finish of the spectrum.
Steadily Requested Questions
Take into account manufacturers equivalent to Rohl, Perrin & Rowe and Newport Brass for top finish taps that can match proper into your luxurious kitchen.
There are three fundamental types of taps – single-handle, center-set, and widespread. Wall-mount and bridge taps are rising in popularity, however typically require particular fittings and plumbing.
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Chesterfield
Newport Brass Chesterfield Kitchen Faucet with Sidespray (as seen in our St. Louis kitchen)
Georgian Period
Perrin and Rowe Georgian Period Bridge Faucet (as seen in our lake kitchen)
What do you suppose? Would a bridge faucet improve your kitchen design aesthetic?
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