Why You will Love a Bridge Kitchen Faucet
A bridge faucet provides timeless attraction to any kitchen. Study all about this traditional fixture design and if it might be the right addition to your private 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 traditional, timeless, and that I knew I might love for years to come back.
I needed every bit to work exhausting and look lovely doing it. Thankfully, in terms of taps there was an ideal answer.
The bridge faucet is the last word instance of type meets perform. Not solely is the model lovely, 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 refined curves and conventional strains to match the extra traditional, conventional model of the area.
On the lake, I needed one thing that was equally timeless however a contact extra fashionable, in step with the Trendy Coastal model of our cottage.
I’m past thrilled with my faucet selections for each of our houses. Hold studying to see if a bridge faucet might be the right match in your area, too! And don’t skip the small print on our Quartz Counter tops if you happen to’re taking a look at countertop choices.
What Is a Bridge Faucet?
A bridge faucet has two handles – one for decent water and one for chilly – which are joined by a horizontal connector pipe. The pipe is uncovered above the countertop fairly 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 by means of its personal gap into the sink. For that reason, any such 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, however it doesn’t go all the best way 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, fairly 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. Historic 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 decent water water and one for chilly. In 1937, Al Moen invented the only 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 preferred selection in the present day, greater than 80 years later!
Bridge taps could also be well-liked 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 types.
With their recognition, nevertheless, bridge taps have advanced to suit into any design model. In fact, they may at all times be at house in conventional, farmhouse, or cottage kitchens.
Nevertheless, now you will discover smooth, streamlined designs that look beautiful in fashionable and up to date 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 private 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 further options you select.
- Counter area – The all-in-one design means any such faucet can usually be narrower general. 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 doubt about it, these taps make an announcement. Their strong design has a timeless high quality to it that appears so lovely.
- Temperature management – By controlling the cold and hot water strains individually, you may make small changes to get precisely the temperature you need.
- Additional peak – Having the cross pipe uncovered over the countertop (fairly than beneath it) means additional clearance in your faucet spout. A number of extra inches are a gamechanger if you’re washing large pots or filling tall pitchers.
- No deck plate – For the reason that strains are linked by the bridge, there’s no want for a deck plate to relaxation on the countertop. Seeing the countertop provides a clear, contemporary look.
Cons
Each resolution comes with a flip facet. Listed here are another points to contemplate 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 fingers directly (or one hand adjusting one deal with at a time). This takes some getting used to if you happen to’ve been accustomed to the convenience of a single deal with.
- House constraints – Aspect to facet these taps can save countertop area. Nevertheless, due to their additional peak they could be a bit comfortable in kitchens with low hanging cupboards or cabinets above the sink. Be sure you measure your peak 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 model.
Sometimes, bridge taps have been regarded as extra conventional in model. It’s straightforward to see why. Their traditional form and stylish strains have a easy, timeless attraction.
For that reason, 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 types.
Nevertheless, now it’s straightforward to discover a bridge faucet to go well with any house aesthetic. The fundamental thought is identical – two handles linked by a bridge – however the form and design fluctuate.
In fact, you may nonetheless discover beautiful, conventional types. However you too can discover easy, straight strains or smooth, streamlined designs for the whole lot from Cape Cod and Craftsman to fashionable and up to date.
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 present sink, measure fastidiously to verify your bridge faucet will match the prevailing holes.
Take note of any equipment you might have considered trying, comparable to a cleaning soap dispenser, hand sprayer, or ingesting 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 sure to buy them to match.
In case your counter area is proscribed, or if you happen to 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.
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 price varies by high quality, materials, design, perform, and further 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’ll 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 do not forget that larger price doesn’t essentially imply higher high quality.
Suggestions
In case you assume a bridge faucet could also be good in your kitchen, listed here are some ideas of what to search for as you seek for the right one:
- High quality & sturdiness – On the subject of taps, seems to be aren’t the whole lot. In fact, you need to love what you see, however you additionally want one thing that may stand as much as lots of every day use.
- Measure twice – Measure not solely how far aside the holes are, but in addition how a lot overhead area you may have and the way excessive you need the spout. It could not look like an enormous 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 can be straightforward to scrub and preserve. Matte black seems to be nice however it can 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 vital in any kitchen.
- Price – Increased price doesn’t essentially imply larger high quality, however you continue to shouldn’t purchase the most cost effective possibility you will discover. Plan on spending a minimum of $150 for a good bridge faucet, and that’s on the low finish of the spectrum.
Continuously Requested Questions
Think about manufacturers comparable to Rohl, Perrin & Rowe and Newport Brass for top finish taps that may match proper into your luxurious kitchen.
There are three primary types 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?
