Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Sorry for the delay in getting this post on here, but I'm working on a new, super-secret project that has been eating up my evenings. I'll be sure to put up a notice here when it is ready to launch.

I don't know about you, but when looking at a kitchen, my eye often goes right to the faucet, particularly when the layout features a sink on an island or peninsula. A humdrum fixture seems to me to bring down an otherwise well-appointed kitchen. To perhaps go a little too far, it acts as the jewelry of the counter. Those of us with what is showing itself to be a faucet fixation are lucky in that more and more offerings are appearing that combine form and function into beautiful, durable, efficient sculptures. Commonly available products in stock at most home stores are now much more attractive and often only slightly more expensive than the plain apartment standbys that still seem to be everywhere. Manufacturers like Kohler, Moen, American Standard, and Price Pfister have gotten much more creative.

But what if you want that really special piece for your kitchen or bathroom? In that case, you may still have to look to smaller European brands. One of my personal favorites is Grohe. Their kitchen faucets (a sample is pictured above) are considered some of the best you can buy. Their lines run the gamut from traditional, to industrial, to sleek and modern, but the quality is alway assured. Additionally, they offer something that is always a desirable feature: a ceramic plate system instead of a rubber washer. In this setup, 2 finely-ground ceramic plates slide past each other to turn the water on and off. They will never wear out or leak the way washers will, since even the best will inevitably deteriorate.

When it comes to the bathroom, a standout brand comes from England: Lefroy Brooks. Their traditional pieces are nice, but their ultra-modern XO line is really spectacular. Their site requires Flash and a bit of patience, but they have some incredibly creative fixtures on there.

Many of the more obscure brands can be ordered by your local home store, but the following Web sites have extensive online offerings:
- Faucet.com
- FaucetDirect.com
- Waterworks
- FixtureUniverse.com