The average family uses their kitchen faucet more than 40 times a day. That makes your kitchen sink and faucet the most often used part of your kitchen and an update will make a big difference! Would you like to simply replace what you have with little effort? Or, are you dreaming of a new farmhouse sink or a sleek new look for your kitchen? Perhaps you’d like a touch technology faucet or hands-free operation?
“There are so many wonderful sink and faucet options available today,” says Showroom Manager Wanda Garay at Frank Webb Home in Hartford. “We have customers who want classic and durable, others looking for the newest trends, and many focused on operational features. We have a wide array of options for every style and budget.”
A Little Advanced Research Saves Time When Replacing Your Kitchen Faucet
Would you like to replace your faucet, but keep your countertop? The best way to find the perfect replacement is to know your measurements. Reveal the holes in your counter by removing your faucet and any sprays or built-in accessories. Snap a photo of the hole pattern to take with you when visiting a showroom. This will allow your showroom consultant to guide you to the perfect replacement models, saving time and money. Also, take a photo of your sink and the surrounding countertop. In addition, take a few quick measurements of your existing sink so that you can discuss a replacement that fits into your countertop.
“Most homeowners who come to Frank Webb Home start with online research to get inspired,” says Garay. “Then they visit a showroom to see the products in person. That makes a huge difference. In our showrooms, you find working kitchen faucet displays, so you can see the way the pull-down works, feel the water pressure and spray patterns in various models. You can look at beautiful photos in magazines and online, but until you experience how you will use your faucet, it’s hard to make an educated selection.”
Quality Starts Inside
Selecting a kitchen faucet is tricky, as many may look wonderful. However, with faucets, the interior construction makes a big difference. You want to make sure you are getting a faucet that is solid metal with ceramic interior parts. Many have plastic interior pieces that make them less expensive, but you will pay down the road with leak repairs and early replacement.
Frank Webb Home offers an online resource page that includes interesting videos and free downloadable guides to help homeowners start their kitchen update.
What’s Trending in Kitchen Faucets?
The stainless steel high-arc pull-down faucet is still leading the way. The arch makes it convenient to clean almost any pot, pan or vase in your sink. The pull-down feature allows you to detach the sprayhead to easily direct the water.
Others prefer a touch-activated faucet, which allows you to start and stop the water flow with a simple touch of the faucet. This feature helps to save water and money. Taking that one step further, sensor or touchless faucets have a built-in sensor that turns water on and off when your hand simply passes by the faucet. Moms and home chefs like this option as it minimizes children putting messy hands on the faucet and reduces the risk of food cross-contamination when preparing meals.
“A lot depends on the style of your kitchen,” says Garay. “If you’re planning a modern farmhouse look, you may want to consider a bridge faucet, with separate hot and cold handles, to give more traditional styling to the kitchen.”
While stainless steel is still the most popular kitchen faucet finish, manufacturers are now offering everything from polished chrome and nickel to bronze, copper and matte black. If you’re looking for something very special, explore mixed metals, where you might find gold accents on a matte black faucet or a number of other combinations.
Narrowing Your Choices
Whether you are simply replacing your current kitchen faucet or designing a whole new kitchen, visiting a bath and kitchen showroom with friendly, knowledgeable consultants will help make the selection process easier. You’ll want to mention if you are working with an architect, designer or plumbing contractor, so that the showroom consultant can coordinate scheduling, delivery and any other details that will make your project go smoothly. To find a Frank Webb Home showroom near you, click here.
Brizo Artesso Polished Nickel Sink Faucet (right)
