A bridge faucet provides timeless attraction to any kitchen. Be taught all about this basic fixture design and if it could possibly be the right addition to your own home.
After I was planning our kitchen renovation, I knew I used to be designing my dream kitchen. I made certain 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 laborious and look stunning doing it. Luckily, in terms of taps there was an ideal resolution.
The bridge faucet is the last word instance of kind 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 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 basic, conventional fashion of the house.
On the lake, I wished one thing that was equally timeless however a contact extra fashionable, in line with the Trendy Coastal fashion of our cottage.
I’m past thrilled with my faucet selections for each of our houses. Preserve studying to see if a bridge faucet could possibly be the right match in your house, too! And don’t skip the main points on our Quartz Counter tops for those who’re 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 varieties a “bridge” between the cold and warm 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 way 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, 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. Notice 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, quite 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 thought of a taps isn’t something new. Historic 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 warm water may combine and are available out of a faucet collectively at a most popular 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 good for conventional kinds.
With their recognition, nonetheless, bridge taps have developed to suit into any design fashion. After all, they are going to at all times be at house in conventional, farmhouse, or cottage kitchens.
Nonetheless, now you could find glossy, 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 enhance 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 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 further options you select.
- Counter house – The all-in-one design means any such faucet can usually be narrower total. 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 an alternative 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 stunning.
- Temperature management – By controlling the cold and warm 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 (quite than beneath it) means further clearance in your faucet spout. A number of extra inches are a gamechanger if you’re washing huge 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 aspect. Listed here are another features to contemplate earlier than making your alternative:
- Operation – Bridge taps aren’t laborious 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 for those who’ve been accustomed to the convenience of a single deal with.
- House constraints – Facet to aspect these taps can save countertop house. Nonetheless, due to their further 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 rigorously earlier than buying.
The place to Use a Bridge Kitchen Faucet
The brief reply is anyplace! There’s a bridge faucet for any kitchen, regardless of the age or fashion.
Sometimes, bridge taps have been regarded as extra conventional in fashion. It’s straightforward to see why. Their basic form and chic strains have a easy, timeless attraction.
For that reason, they appear proper at house in conventional house design – basic 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 straightforward to discover a bridge faucet to go well with any house aesthetic. The essential thought is similar – two handles linked by a bridge – however the form and design differ.
After all, you’ll be able to nonetheless discover beautiful, conventional kinds. However you may also discover easy, straight strains or glossy, streamlined designs for every little thing 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 recent water, one for the chilly water, and presumably one for the tap spout. In case you’re buying a brand new sink, you’ll be able to select one to match your faucet.
In case you’re matching an current sink, measure rigorously to verify your bridge faucet will match the present holes.
Take note of any equipment it’s your decision, akin 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, make certain to buy them to match.
In case your counter house is proscribed, or for those who 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 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 fee varies by high quality, materials, design, operate, 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 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 price 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 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 suggestions of what to search for as you seek for the right one:
- High quality & sturdiness – In terms of taps, appears aren’t every little thing. After all, you wish to love what you see, however you additionally want one thing that can stand as much as loads of each day use.
- Measure twice – Measure not solely how far aside the holes are, but additionally how a lot overhead house you’ve and the way excessive you need the spout. It could 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 tendencies, but additionally search for metals that shall be straightforward to scrub and keep. Matte black appears nice however it’ll present water spots. Brass is gorgeous, however remember 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.
- Value – Greater price doesn’t essentially imply larger high quality, however you continue to shouldn’t purchase the most cost effective possibility you could find. Plan on spending at the very least $150 for a good bridge faucet, and that’s on the low finish of the spectrum.
Regularly Requested Questions
Take into account manufacturers akin 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?
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