Fairest Faucet
Far from fickle, faucets function best when they’re running hot and cold. These modern fixtures prove their mettle by making it oh-so-easy to go with the flow.
If you follow your mom’s advice and wash your hands before every meal you’ll likely lather up tens of thousands of times in your life, but the plumbing essentials that enable your habit are rarely considered with the appreciation they deserve. The faucet, like its fellow hard-working and reliable bathroom buddies the toilet and the shower, is a fixture that gets a whole lot of action but very little love.
Cognitive scientist, design consultant, and avid “everyday thing” enthusiast Don Norman shares with us his passion for these practical pieces and outlines the tenets that matter most when choosing your faucet.
“There are only two things you care about besides the appearance,” he explains. “The amount of water coming out and the temperature.” This seemingly simple balance between image and duty is one that Norman understands implicitly. As an engineer his priority is making sure things operate properly, but as a psychologist he argues that there’s more to functionality than, well, functioning. “Emotions are really the most important part of life. Things have to work well, but they also should excite you.” With that in mind we check out the curves, handle the handles, and lift the levers to deter-mine which lavatory taps are tops.
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Xenon 3 Hole basin filler
Expert Opinion: This faucet includes the control for the drain valve, and from a functional point of view, it’s incredibly convenient to be able to open and shut the drain from above. If the faucet ignores that feature, you’re either going to have a drain you can’t operate, or it’s going to be one of those ugly manual ones. I think the lack of back plate is quite neat here. This faucet would look particularly nice on a granite countertop.
What We Think: Individually installed spout and hot and cold controls form a more perfect union with the surface of the sink without the need for an escutcheon intermediary. The slick round knobs would certainly be slippery when wet, but the small ridges make for a more secure grip between soapy fingers. We’re also fond of the umbrella-handle arc of the spout.
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Oblo wall-mount lavatory faucet
Expert Opinion: The form is elegant, and because wall mounts are much less of a hassle to clean than sink mounts, it would definitely maintain its gleam over time. Generally, back plates simplify the mounting (and sometimes allow for sloppy installation), but the single plate that links these elements really makes them into a harmonious single unit; it doesn’t feel like it’s covering up anything.
What We Think: Vertical orientation might be an effective way to free up space on your sink, unclutter your countertop, and make for an easy polish job, but we worry about wayward suds and splatters leaving a trail down the wall. We’re suckers for simplicity, though, and the minimal shapes and smooth gloss of Kohler’s piece outshine the competition. We agree with our expert that the Oblo is a stylish faucet with nothing to hide.
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Wosh single-lever basin mixer
Expert Opinion: I think that flow is a very important part of the faucet experience, and I love how the Zucchetti Wosh makes use of the water itself. Why on earth not have the stream giving both aesthetic and kinesthetic pleasure as it goes over your hands? The joystick is quite unusual but looks like it’s easy to use when your hands are soapy. It’s imposing, stunning, clean, and my personal pick for favorite of them all.
What We Think: Unconventional in both form and function, this is an ultramodern statement spout that declares its luxury loud and clear, a faceted faucet that resembles an oversized gem and stands up to the others in terms of sheer stature alone. We can appreciate the flattened flow of the water and unique geometry, but believe it would take quite an opulent powder room to complement the Wosh.
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Tara. single-hole basin mixer
Expert Opinion: Black is an unusual color for the bathroom, and it adds some visual interest to what is usually an all-white space. The spigot has an attractive arc, and the two old-fashioned, four-pointed handles provide a nice contrast and complexity to an otherwise sleek, direct formation. This is a truly striking faucet.
What We Think: X-marks-the-spot handles are easy to grasp and turn and the double-handled design wins points for originality. This is one of the tallest faucets featured, so the orientation of cabinets and mirrors above it would be a factor, as would decor that coordinates with something other than porcelain and heavy metals. We’re partial to polished chrome, but matte black gives the Tara. a modern edge that might just be daring enough to make us turn to the dark side.
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C-blu from the Bluprint Collection
Expert Opinion: I often use the bathroom in the middle of the night and don’t want to turn the bright lights on, so I want a faucet to work just by feeling. C-blu is easy to grip and move, and I believe it would function just fine in the dark. The chrome joint detracts some from the minimalist visual, but you can’t see it from above and I don’t actually mind it. I find the white clean, attractive, and a nice touch.
What We Think: We imagine c-blu would make an attractive silhouette on a pristine porcelain sink, but wonder whether the matte white would withstand consistent smudging from our fingertips. The compact shape is almost quaint in comparison with some of the larger, more elaborate designs, but we feel this is a strong choice for a smaller faucet.
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Axiom EcoPower sensor faucet
Expert Opinion: Hurrah for the unusual rectangular shape! I love the right angles and simple, solid cross section, but the technology behind the design is where Toto truly shines. I’m a big fan of the antiscalding control, and the self-generating electricity means I won’t have to worry about the battery for ten years. As an all-purpose piece it has many limitations, but if you’re just coming in quickly, rinsing your hands, and leaving, it’s perfect.
What We Think: If the thought of using a sensor faucet seems more airport layover than home hospitality, the Axiom might change your mind. This spout would sit best in a guest or secondary bathroom for a hands-off approach that offers a no-fuss take on washing. Set the temperature for a standard sluice and never worry about running water or post-teeth-brushing drip.
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Axor Citterio M single-hole faucet
Expert Opinion: I like the single-lever faucets because you’re controlling directly what is of psychological importance—–one direction in charge of amount, and the other temperature—–so in principle, it’s a better design than those with individual hot and cold controls. With this particular faucet, though, I don’t see anything going for it aesthetically. If I were looking for something for my home I would skim over this one.
What We Think: Designed by Italian architect Antonio Citterio and winner of an International Forum Gold Award in 2008, this single lever has some serious street cred even if it didn’t catch the eye of our expert. We like the contrast between the rounded shapes and square base plate and think its sleek lines would befit a well-kept contemporary bathroom.
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Comments
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So, which comment is Don, and which isn't? Given the use of pronouns and the style of writing, I'm guessing the first is Don and the second is editorial, but you might want to fix the labeling! Interesting insights, though - I'd love to hear Don's opinions on other common bits of the household..
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Helpful reviews but it would be even better if they included environmental issues such as lead content and fixture flow in gallons per minute.
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Don is the one to whom the "expert opinion" belongs. To be honest, I was expecting a more critical review of each item, and perhaps a short video clip of each faucet in action, so that we could judge them too. I am a little bit disappointed, because in neither case we've seen real action with obvious flaws showing up at the surface. On the other hand, this could mean that the faucets are really good.
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Yeah, this sounds like ad copy more than a review.
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You either want cold water or have to wait for hot water to warm up. Either way you only turn on cold or hot. You want a tap you don't have to grasp to turn off. You don't want a tap where you wonder which axis is hot or cold. So the Chicago Faucet blade taps are unquestionably the best ergonomics, that's why they're in hospitals and ADA restrooms. But they don't suit modern decor. Fortunately as well as the illegible but famous cross-shaped Tara handle, Sieger Design also designed the Tara Classic for Dornbracht, all the ergonomic win of blade taps and the beautiful design and finishes. Nothing else comes close. More at my link.
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Good day! It is our plassure to get your information. We, T.A.P. (Taiwan Aqua Professionals) repesents some of the best developers, manufacturers and producers of bathrrom and kitchen products in Taiwan. The goal of T.A.P. is to provide free sourcing opportunities to international businesses that want to trade directly with Taiwan. T.A.P.. Some members of T.A. P. are listed below. Chang Yi Shin is certified with UPC, CE, FCC, CSA and UL 1951. YO Bronze is certified with DVGW and CRN. Please visit our website at www.taiwan-tap.org for more information about our services. We look forward to establishing a long-term and mutual beneficial partnership with you in the near future. Shall you need any further information, please feel free to contact us. We'll do our best to assist. Your reply will be greatly appreciated! Best Regards, Jean Zhuang International Trade Agent T.A.P. (Taiwan Aqua Professionals) TEL: (886)-4-7715071 FAX: (886)-4-7714702 WEBSITE: www.taiwan-tap.org
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Good job. I thing you should work for better company!
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Having owned and been involved in many houses and apartment buildings over the years, and as stated, facets experience high usage due to traffic. Because of this they exhibit the highest maintenance costs in terms of repairs, replacements, leaks, etc. Thus from an owners perspective reliability, costs, ease of maintenance are more important. An alternative approach is in usability are the new touch faucets http://dvice.com/archives/2009/07/delta-touch-fau.php
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