Why You will Love a Bridge Kitchen Faucet
A bridge faucet provides timeless attraction to any kitchen. Be taught all about this traditional fixture design and if it might be the right addition to your property.
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 had been traditional, timeless, and that I knew I might love for years to return.
I wished each piece to work exhausting and look stunning doing it. Fortuitously, on the subject of taps there was an ideal resolution.
The bridge faucet is the final word instance of kind meets operate. 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 house, and I simply put in one in our lake kitchen, too!
For our extra conventional house, I selected a design with delicate curves and conventional strains to match the extra traditional, conventional type of the area.
On the lake, I wished one thing that was equally timeless however a contact extra fashionable, consistent with the Trendy Coastal type of our cottage.
I’m past thrilled with my faucet selections for each of our houses. Preserve studying to see if a bridge faucet might be the right match to your area, too! And don’t skip the small print on our Quartz Counter tops in the event 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 can be joined by a horizontal connector pipe. The pipe is uncovered above the countertop somewhat than beneath it. It kinds a “bridge” between the cold and hot water strains.
The tap spout connects up and off the middle of this bridge piece. In some designs, the tap intersects the bridge and goes via its personal gap into the sink. Because of this, this sort of faucet can have both 2- or 3-hole set up.
My kitchen faucet was a 2-hole set up. You may see that the spout connects to the bridge, but it surely doesn’t go all the best way to the marble countertop. I really like the clear look that it offers beneath the bridge. Word that I even have an identical hand sprayer that required its personal gap.
One other attention-grabbing a part of the design is {that a} bridge faucet is a single piece, somewhat than a number of particular person items. Common taps could 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 thought 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 might combine and are available out of a faucet collectively at a most popular temperature. Moen taps are nonetheless a well-liked selection in the present day, greater than 80 years later!
Bridge taps could also be fashionable now, however there isn’t something “stylish” about them. They’re a traditional design that dates again to the flip of the twentieth century. They’ve a timeless high quality that makes them excellent for conventional kinds.
With their reputation, nonetheless, bridge taps have advanced to suit into any design type. In fact, they are going to all the time be at house in conventional, farmhouse, or cottage kitchens.
Nonetheless, now you will discover 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 enhance it.
Professionals
There are such a lot of causes to think about including a bridge kitchen faucet to your property. Listed here are only a few of them:
- Number of choices – There are numerous kinds 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 area – The all-in-one design means this sort of faucet can usually be narrower total. That leaves extra room to the facet for a built-in hand sprayer or cleaning soap dispenser – or only a fairly vase of flowers!
- One half as an alternative of a number of – Little question about it, these taps make a press release. Their stable design has a timeless high quality to it that appears so stunning.
- Temperature management – By controlling the cold and hot water strains individually, you may make small changes to get precisely the temperature you need.
- Further peak – Having the cross pipe uncovered over the countertop (somewhat than beneath it) means additional clearance to your faucet spout. Just a few extra inches are a gamechanger once you’re washing large pots or filling tall pitchers.
- No deck plate – For the reason that strains are related by the bridge, there’s no want for a deck plate to relaxation on the countertop. Seeing the countertop offers a clear, contemporary look.
Cons
Each determination comes with a flip facet. Listed here are another points to think about earlier than making your selection:
- Operation – Bridge taps aren’t exhausting to function, however they do require a bit extra effort than single-handle taps. They require you to make use of each arms without delay (or one hand adjusting one deal with at a time). This takes some getting used to in the event you’ve been accustomed to the benefit of a single deal with.
- Area constraints – Aspect to facet these taps can save countertop area. Nonetheless, due to their additional peak they could be a bit cosy in kitchens with low hanging cupboards or cabinets above the sink. Ensure you measure your peak clearance rigorously earlier than buying.
The place to Use a Bridge Kitchen Faucet
The quick reply is anyplace! There’s a bridge faucet for any kitchen, regardless of the age or type.
Sometimes, bridge taps have been considered extra conventional in type. It’s simple to see why. Their traditional form and chic strains have a easy, timeless attraction.
Because of this, they give the impression of being proper at house in conventional house design – traditional French nation, Victorian, Colonial, Tudor, farmhouse, cottage, and extra. They usually have fluted particulars and curved spouts that lend themselves to conventional kinds.
Nonetheless, now it’s simple to discover a bridge faucet to go well with any house aesthetic. The essential concept is identical – two handles related by a bridge – however the form and design differ.
In fact, you may nonetheless discover beautiful, conventional kinds. However you can too discover easy, straight strains or glossy, streamlined designs for the whole lot 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 recent water, one for the chilly water, and probably one for the tap spout. In case you’re buying a brand new sink, you may select one to match your faucet.
In case you’re matching an present sink, measure rigorously to verify your bridge faucet will match the present holes.
Take note of any equipment it’s your decision, comparable 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, be certain that to buy them to match.
In case your counter area is proscribed, or in the event you similar to the look, bridge taps could be wall mounted. This implies they’re mounted on the wall over the sink as an alternative of on the sting of the sink or countertop.
Wall mounted taps have a better 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 go away the set up to the professionals.
Prices
Like with any fixture, the fee varies by high quality, materials, design, operate, and additional options like pull-down sprayer and touchless spray.
On common, count on to pay $400 to $700 for a good-quality bridge faucet. Don’t be tempted to pay lower than $150 for one, despite the fact that technically you will discover 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 price as a lot as $2,000 or extra for identify model fashions with fashionable options and high-end design with supplies like unlacquered brass. Purchase what you like, however keep in mind that increased price doesn’t essentially imply higher high quality.
Ideas
In case you assume a bridge faucet could also be excellent in your kitchen, listed below are some ideas of what to search for as you seek for the right one:
- High quality & sturdiness – In the case of taps, appears to be like aren’t the whole lot. In fact, you need to love what you see, however you additionally want one thing that can stand as much as a number of day by day use.
- Measure twice – Measure not solely how far aside the holes are, but in addition how a lot overhead area you’ve gotten and the way excessive you need the spout. It might not seem to be a giant deal, however these taps look finest once they have room to shine.
- High quality end – It’s okay to like present developments, but in addition search for metals that will probably be simple to scrub and keep. Matte black appears to be like nice however it can present water spots. Brass is gorgeous, however remember that it’s going to 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 price doesn’t essentially imply increased high quality, however you continue to shouldn’t purchase the most cost effective possibility you will discover. Plan on spending at the least $150 for a good bridge faucet, and that’s on the low finish of the spectrum.
Continuously Requested Questions
Contemplate manufacturers comparable to Rohl, Perrin & Rowe and Newport Brass for top finish taps that can match proper into your luxurious kitchen.
There are three fundamental kinds of taps – single-handle, center-set, and widespread. Wall-mount and bridge taps are rising in popularity, however usually 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 assume? Would a bridge faucet improve your kitchen design aesthetic?