A bridge faucet provides timeless attraction to any kitchen. Be taught all about this traditional fixture design and if it might be the proper addition to your own home.
Once I was planning our kitchen renovation, I knew I used to be designing my dream kitchen. I made certain to decide on items that had been traditional, timeless, and that I knew I’d love for years to return.
I needed each piece to work exhausting and look stunning doing it. Happily, on the subject of taps there was an ideal answer.
The bridge faucet is the final word instance of type meets operate. Not solely is the fashion 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 dwelling, and I simply put in one in our lake kitchen, too!
For our extra conventional dwelling, I selected a design with refined curves and conventional traces to match the extra traditional, conventional fashion of the area.
On the lake, I needed one thing that was equally timeless however a contact extra trendy, in step with the Fashionable Coastal fashion of our cottage.
I’m past thrilled with my faucet selections for each of our properties. Hold studying to see if a bridge faucet might be the proper match in 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 are joined by a horizontal connector pipe. The pipe is uncovered above the countertop relatively than beneath it. It varieties a “bridge” between the cold and warm 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 means of 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 possibly can see that the spout connects to the bridge, but it surely doesn’t go all the way in which to the marble countertop. I really like the clear look that it provides beneath the bridge. Word 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, relatively 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
After all, the concept of a taps isn’t something new. Historical Romans used lead pipes to conduct plumbing for his or her personal 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 warm water might combine and are available out of a faucet collectively at a most well-liked temperature. Moen taps are nonetheless a preferred alternative immediately, greater than 80 years later!
Bridge taps could also be common now, however there isn’t something “fashionable” 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 good for conventional kinds.
With their reputation, nevertheless, bridge taps have advanced to suit into any design fashion. After all, they may all the time be at dwelling in conventional, farmhouse, or cottage kitchens.
Nevertheless, now you could find smooth, streamlined designs that look beautiful in trendy and modern kitchens. It doesn’t matter what your aesthetic, there’s a bridge kitchen faucet to enrich it.
Professionals
There are such a lot of causes to contemplate including a bridge kitchen faucet to your own home. Listed below 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 a substitute of a number of – Little question about it, these taps make an announcement. Their strong design has a timeless high quality to it that appears so stunning.
- Temperature management – By controlling the cold and warm water traces individually, you may make small changes to get precisely the temperature you need.
- Additional peak – Having the cross pipe uncovered over the countertop (relatively than beneath it) means additional clearance in your faucet spout. A number of extra inches are a gamechanger once you’re washing massive 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 facet. Listed below are another points to contemplate earlier than making your alternative:
- 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 fingers 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 – Facet to facet these taps can save countertop area. Nevertheless, due to their additional peak they could be a bit cosy in kitchens with low hanging cupboards or cabinets above the sink. Be sure to 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 fashion.
Usually, bridge taps have been regarded as extra conventional in fashion. It’s straightforward to see why. Their traditional form and stylish traces have a easy, timeless attraction.
Because of this, they appear proper at dwelling in conventional dwelling 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.
Nevertheless, now it’s straightforward to discover a bridge faucet to swimsuit any dwelling aesthetic. The fundamental concept is similar – two handles related by a bridge – however the form and design fluctuate.
After all, you may nonetheless discover attractive, conventional kinds. However you may also discover easy, straight traces or smooth, streamlined designs for all the pieces from Cape Cod and Craftsman to trendy 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 presumably 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 current sink, measure rigorously to ensure your bridge faucet will match the present holes.
Take note of any equipment you might have considered trying, 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, make sure that to buy them to match.
In case your counter area is restricted, or in the event you identical to the look, bridge taps may 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.
In addition they require plumbing and valve work behind the wall. It’s finest to plan upfront for a wall-mounted bridge faucet or to go away the set up to the professionals.
Prices
Like with any fixture, the price 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, although 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 trendy options and high-end design with supplies like unlacquered brass. Purchase what you’re keen on, however do not forget that larger value doesn’t essentially imply higher high quality.
Ideas
In case you suppose a bridge faucet could also be good in your kitchen, listed below are some ideas of what to search for as you seek for the proper one:
- High quality & sturdiness – Relating to taps, seems aren’t all the pieces. After all, you need to love what you see, however you additionally want one thing that may 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 area you’ve gotten and the way excessive you need the spout. It could not seem to be a giant deal, however these taps look finest after they have room to shine.
- High quality end – It’s okay to like present tendencies, but additionally search for metals that will probably be straightforward to wash and keep. Matte black seems nice however it would present water spots. Brass is gorgeous, however bear in mind 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 a must have in any kitchen.
- Value – Greater value doesn’t essentially imply larger 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
Contemplate manufacturers comparable to Rohl, Perrin & Rowe and Newport Brass for prime finish taps that may 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 suppose? Would a bridge faucet improve your kitchen design aesthetic?
