Kitchen faucet favorites: gadgets, design ideas, shiny things.
My ideal kitchen faucet is:
-brass.
-two handles.
-bridge style.
-wall-mount.
-articulated (adds spout-reach and flexibility).
-pullout spray (in faucet head, not separate).
-touchless would be nice! But we can make ANY faucet hands-free by installing a foot-operated option.
I’d like a pullout spray integrated into the faucet itself– I do not like the look of a separate side spray; because there is literally nothing I do not have an opinion on.
My goal is to have everything OFF THE COUNTER– but, of course, my cleaning lady is very lazy… so your mileage may vary.
I mean, obviously, I like the LOOK of ALL THIS SHINY… because this is all brand-new and has never been touched… but once that’s all gunked up on sauerkraut day… ? Yeah, no.
Also:
everything nice is nine million dollars.
But even if we spend nine million dollars, we still cannot get EVERYTHING we need for the general-sink-area, without compromising on wall-mount.
I am talking about the reverse osmosis water dispenser.
THIS is the ONLY thing, that our kitchen MUST HAVE.
I have no idea how anyone lives without one.
And we are going to make it EVEN BETTER: by adding instant-hot-water THAT IS ALSO FILTERED!
I spend all of my life in winter, heating water for tea.
My husband’s brain melts if our house thermostat is set above 67°.
It used to be 66°.
The extra degree is a concession to my weak-spirited bloodline.
I am married to someone who believes it is LAZY to be cold.
JUST MARCH AROUND.
IT’S FREE.
So the idea of simply walking up to the sink and getting filtered, already-hot water? That? That is like… magic.
Also, FYI: if you run the water/pipe/stuff longer you can put the equipment elsewhere than under the sink.
BUT.
OBVIOUSLY.
I would like the filtered-water dispenser to also be wall mounted.
But.
Can you get a wall-mount that has the option to dispense two types of water?
No.
So I googled custom kitchen faucet… because I am EVEN MORE of a special snowflake than anyone knows.
But apparently, custom kitchen faucets do not exist… unless one of you has faced this and found a solution; we are going to have to deck mount.
So annoying to have THE OBVIOUS IDEAS and be forced to still do it a stupider way.
Also, don’t forget THE AIRSWITCH— it operates your garbage disposal without you having to toggle on/off— you push it, and some kind of hydraulic air pressure thingy runs your garbage disposal for several seconds.
Because what kind of peasant has to tolerate waiting around for their garbage disposal to be finished?
Here is some video I took when we were at the Wolf/Subzero showroom. Airswitch is at the end, but first is an INTEGRATED REFRIGERATOR… because I realized I meant to show you and forgot!
If you have not seen these? They are amazing!! Integrated is different than just plain panel-ready… (what we got because we are poors.)
Anyway.
Airswitch— CANNOT be wall-mounted. It MUST be deck mount… so we’ll probably forgo it because my priority is getting stuff OFF the deck!!
But you can see how great it is for islands and other places where a traditional switch would be tricky.
I cannot just say– well, the faucet detail hasn’t sorted itself out yet… let’s just keep moving and see where it takes us.
The faucet determines everything else.
Figuring out the countertop fabrication, backsplash, mirror, sink, shelving… requires that we know faucet, lighting— EVERYTHING else that also needs to be configured.
So.
I’m wandering around the internet looking at faucets.
Most of which cost more than the refrigerator.
ZERO of which are EXACTLY what I need.
Turning an antique grand piano into our kitchen island.
Pool table slate into kitchen countertops.
Do I REALLY NEED a range hood?
All kitchen posts.
June 19, 2018 @ 1:42 pm
Have you looked at wall mount tub faucets? They do generally have a faucet with a bracket support to hold a handheld shower head that would be your sprayer. Also, when we installed our garbage disposal, we used a wireless switch system. So where the disposal plugs in underneath the sink, you first plug in the wireless receiver, then plug in the disposal. It comes with a switch that can be mounted anywhere nearby since there are no wires to deal with. When you press it for “on” it sends the wireless signal to the receiver, like magic!
June 19, 2018 @ 1:49 pm
I would’ve thought you’d be a composter whatwith all the gardening and thus would have no need for a garbage disposal. I’ve never really understood them…
June 19, 2018 @ 3:18 pm
I compost everything for my 1 acre garden, but still have a garbage disposal and use it. Whilst taking out the literal pounds of compost that I do, I do not need to scrape down my sink for every last tiny speck of material and add it to the compost; I can remove the bulk of the scraps and then simply rinse the sink. Much easier.
June 21, 2018 @ 9:35 pm
Exactly! Same here.
June 19, 2018 @ 7:06 pm
Not everyone can compost, we have to worry about bears and raccoons getting into stuff. A garbage disposal is an easy solution.
June 20, 2018 @ 1:33 am
We like attracting raccoons because they rip our many hornets nests to shreds! I can’t speak to the bear issue, though…
June 21, 2018 @ 9:41 pm
We live in the woods, in the country. Plenty of critters, and they have never gotten into our compost bin. Even the armadillos tried and failed to dig under. Sorry. No excuse for not having a garbage disposal system under the sink in my opinion. We have had the same one for early 20 years. Take care of it and your septic system and you will be fine. There are just certain things you never ever bulk feed down a disposer no matter where you live.
June 19, 2018 @ 1:49 pm
Just a stray thought, but, what is under the shiny chrome that decorates most faucets? Could the chrome be stripped and be plated with brass?
June 19, 2018 @ 2:23 pm
My garbage disposal switch is mounted out of sight in the cabinet below the sink. Its hard to describe but when I open the under sink cabinet doors, the switch is upside down as if its under the sink, but actually in the frame of the cabinet. Its easy to use and out of sight.
As for the reverse osmosis, can you have a coffee/tea station with a faucet? Most people will say you need a sink, but pot fillers above stovetops do not have sink basins. And you strike me as the type that doesn’t listen to naysayers. Or kitchen rules. Go crazy, put it inside a drawer or cabinet where you keep your glasses and mugs. It’s your kitchen.
June 20, 2018 @ 1:37 am
Genius.
June 19, 2018 @ 2:36 pm
Having to put the water in the kettle, put the kettle on the stove and turn it on and march around while waiting is how you stay warm at 66 (and I’m guessing 67) degrees!
I vote whole-house water filtration system!
June 19, 2018 @ 3:06 pm
I am beginning to think you’ll have the perfect kitchen …when you are 70 years old. Because wow, such a long process. So hopefully you live a long life after that to enjoy it. 🙂
June 21, 2018 @ 9:42 pm
No kidding! Way over-thinking every single thing. Analysis paralysis.
June 19, 2018 @ 3:42 pm
Our switch is not wall/deck mounted either; it’s also just under the sink, mounted to a block of wood or something. Good luck with the decision making!!!!
June 19, 2018 @ 4:07 pm
How would you feel about something like this for you hot water needs? It’s not high-tech, but it is FANCY 😂
https://moorabool.com/product/victorian-brass-spirit-kettle-on-fancy-copper-stand-milk-glass-handles-c-1895/
June 19, 2018 @ 4:52 pm
Well, some of these are just to cluttered for me. Also, I don’t want to have to tape the directions next to the faucet so I can use it to fill the kitties’ water bowl. Not to mention in order to help any guests I might have (cat sitter) who want to fill their water bowl.
June 19, 2018 @ 5:44 pm
We had a hot water dispenser in our last house (w/gas cooktop) but opted to omit it in current home which has the induction cooktop. It literally takes seconds to boil a cup or two of water with the induction.
June 19, 2018 @ 9:16 pm
Here I was all “oh, Elizabeth is going nuts over all this tapware!” and then you post a tap (fawcet) with a WHEEL! OMG, all my steam punk tendencies set on fire…..
Be careful about the instant hot water. My sister actually took hers out recently (and she’s well off) because it cost a bomb in electricity. Still, you may have cheap power over there. Just a thought.
June 19, 2018 @ 10:32 pm
Words of Warning: Make sure that you DO NOT get a faucet that has ceramic washers. Many (most?) of those gorgeous faucets have *ceramic washers* as apposed to rubber washers like modern faucets have. The ceramic washers will break or crack over time (and I mean like as quickly as a coupe of years)…and most plumbers DO NOT know how to replace those.
I know this because I have one of those fancy brass retro faucets, and I have not been able to find a plumber who could replace the washers. AND…I have rental property I lease to a plumbing company who specializes in renovating Victorian houses. Even THEY could not figure out how to replace the ceramic washers. So we ended up with a really ugly work~around lever switch until we could change out the faucet entirely.
Also…if you go brass, get a faucet that is sealed or you will be polishing it constantly…unless you like a dreary patina that develops in the most unsightly way.
And I do not mean to rain on your parade. (*Lover’s of Giant Fancy Things…UNITE!*) But I thought you might like a heads up on the *ceramic washer* thing.
Good luck! I love all your decor decisions. If only you lived on the West Coast. You and I would be grat friends. Love your style and your thinking!!
June 19, 2018 @ 10:48 pm
We moved to a house that has a septic tank and the home inspection guy said garbage disposals are not recommended for septic-so for four years we have not had one and I can count on one hand how many times I’ve wanted to use one. It’s not hard to give up. All your pictures of faucets just confused me-ha! They all look so different! I can’t understand the rationale behind the big tall faucets, though. It looks like it would only be practical if you are wanting to just spray the whole kitchen down. Depends on the level of your sauerkraut splatter I guess 😁.
June 19, 2018 @ 10:56 pm
Maybe by 2062 you’ll commit to a kitchen 🙄. A 4’ tall faucet is hideous.
June 19, 2018 @ 11:00 pm
We love our RO so much we moved it to our new house. Because we knew we would renovate the kitchen we had it mounted in the laundry room below the kitchen. The pressure is not as good when you mount the actual dispenser either that far away or under where your faucet is. It is still the best thing ever it just takes longer to fill. Also having the cabinet under the sink is worth having slow but awesome water. Just FYI:)
June 19, 2018 @ 11:02 pm
I’m a hooligan a ND happily exist without a garbage disposal. It can be done.
June 20, 2018 @ 1:00 am
My tea drinking sons and I are obsessed with this Kitchenaid electric tea kettle. Different teas require different temperatures and this kettle takes care of that for you. We used to put a thermometer down the spout of my Mom’s old tea kettle to find the temperature. This kettle has a pleasant chime when it has reached the correct temperature. I bought mine on impulse at Costco for about $80. We also use it to boil water for pasta since it is much quicker than my gas cooktop.
https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KEK1322SS-Electric-Glass-Kettle/dp/B01FSLQL4E/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1529470638&sr=1-4&keywords=kitchenaid+electric+water+tea+kettle
June 20, 2018 @ 1:09 am
I got a used Perrin and Rowe/deVol gold plated faucet on eBay for $265 (shipping included). No it wasn’t my dream wall mount faucet, but we poors must settle sometimes. As for garbage disposals, I say “ew!” Nasty things. Things are always falling in and then you have to put your hand into the muck down there and feel around. Shudder. That said, your kitchen will be epic no matter what you choose! Because all your above possibilities are in fabulous taste,💕💕
June 20, 2018 @ 9:03 am
Recent remodel and have an air switch for the garbage disposal, mouted on the opposite corner as faucet. The way your wrote things, it sees that you believe it magically goes off after a few seconds – not ture for mine – I push it to turn on, then pust again a few seconds later to turn off. Only real advantage I see for this type of switch is that it is less obtrusive than a regular switch….
June 20, 2018 @ 11:35 am
People have different body temperature regulation or preferences. I do not work for cozywinters.com but they should send me a fat check, because I send a LOT of people their way. the Mr will be sitting around in his boxers on his cold leather recliner and I will be wearing layers under a blanket on a velvet sofa – so believe me when I tell you that their stuff is awesome.
Also we have one of these: http://www.republicoftea.com/glass-candle-warmer-with-candle/p/v00928/dpn/25321/?gclid=CjwKCAjw9qfZBRA5EiwAiq0AbXkMqE2wmy_wDaENmrI8N2LJH1PYkfECnuKOYSRWuDyro3OQsLJ2cBoC910QAvD_BwE for our glass teapot, which is awesome for keeping the tea warm, and also pretty.
do your elementary school have foot pedal operated sinks? so much better, those touch ones always break. food pedal valves arent common, but are available – though I dont know much about the pretty factor: https://www.chicagofaucetshoppe.com/Foot-Pedal-Valves-s/2515.htm I just call for the Mr, since I cook, he can come fetch and do. I often make him reach up for things and open jars just because Im like that.