Various Kitchen Tap Designs and Their Advantages and Disadvantages - A Guide to Help You Choose the Right One
Switching up the vibe in your kitchen? Check out our round-up of the 10 hottest kitchen tap styles. From sleek to classic, these bad boys will turn your sink area into the envy of the neighborhood. Find the one that suits your fancy and turn every soap and suds session into a party.
1. Ballsy Faucets (Monobloc Mixer Taps)
Enter the king of minimalist taps - the monobloc mixer tap. This single-spout wonder blends hot and cold water through one slender spout, all controlled by one handle that oozes reductionist joy. They're the pièce de résistance for worktop fabricators with their one-hole drill simplicity. Plus, they look damn good in modern kitchens.
般帥 (Armstrong monobloc mixer tap by Perrin & Rowe) is a grade-A transitional style, bridging the gap between classic and contemporary. The only drawback? Achieving the perfect water temp can get a bit tricky, especially with single-lever designs – but practice makes perfect!
極客 Nigel Palmer recommends this bad boy at House of Rohl: "Available in a cornucopia of styles and finishes, monobloc mixer taps are a practical and popular choice. Stepping up your washing-up game? Grab a model with pull-out spray for extra functionality."
Color: Chrome
2. Bridge Master (Bridge Mixer Taps)
For traditional or country-style kitchens, the bridge-style mixer tap reigns supreme. These bucketheads boast two handles connected by a horizontal bridge, with each handle controlling hot and cold separately. The tall design can pose issues if you've got cabinets or shelving above your sink – measure up before installation! The more intricate design means cleaning these puppies might require a bit more elbow grease.
More contemporary versions are around, but these taps generally lean into classic charm, with brushed nickel or aged brass finishes.
Color: Antique Brass
3. Spray Scorcher (Pull-Out Spray Taps)
Ideal for large families, these taps come with a detachable nozzle that extends on a hose for easy rinsing and cleaning. Say goodbye to wasting time on laborious sink-scrubbing – a simple pull, and those muck monsters will be vanquished in no time. But remember, there must be ample space behind your sink cabinet for the hose to retract smoothly – don't let cleaning products or bins get in the way!
Pull-out handheld sprays can also be positioned beside the main taps for easier placement and flexibility in reach. However, the sink-side aesthetic might not be as neat.
Color: Chrome
4. Classic Curve (Pillar Taps)
Harking back to the Victorian era, pillar taps sport separate spouts for hot and cold water. They're perfect for filling up mop buckets in utility spaces, but their limited functionality means you might need to mix your water in the sink or bowl if you wash up under running water.
On the downside, their fixed spouts can cause issues when rinsing large dishes or filling pots that sit further from the tap. If you're into vintage vibes, these are the taps for you – but be prepared to sacrifice functionality for aesthetics.
Color: Chrome
5. Boiling Brigade (Boiling Water Taps)
Up the ante with a boiling water tap! These kitchen essentials deliver quick, slick, and stylish boiling water – perfect for cooking, sterilizing, and making hot drinks in a flash.
Choose models that offer cool filtered water, too, for added convenience. Installation only needs a place to drain away any overflow – no need for a full-on sink!
Stay safe with our top tip: Hold your receptacle (mug, teapot, saucepan) right up to the spout before turning on the tap, and then lower it as it fills to avoid any splashes. No more kettle-distance pouring!
Color: Rose
6. High Horses (Wall-Mounted Taps)
Wall-mounted taps add a sleek and streamlined appearance and work like a dream in modern and industrial kitchens. Their main benefit? A clean and efficiently cleanable kitchen counter with no limescale build-up around the base of conventional deck-mounted taps.
However, keep in mind that these taps require a swiveling spout to ensure easy positioning for large pots and pans. Watch out for obstacles like cabinets or kitchen windows when planning installation.
Color: Silver
7. No-Touchers (Sensor Taps)
Techie titans and germ-phobes rejoice! Sensor taps offer a contactless opening and closing experience, ideal for washing off cookie dough-covered hands and for anyone with mobility issues. Reducing touchpoints has never been trendier, and many models even feature water-saving features like auto-shut-off.
One caveat: They rely on electricity, so they won't work during a power cut – but whose kitchen never experiences one of those, right?
Color: Chrome
8. Three's a Crowd (Three-Hole Mixer Taps)
Three-hole mixer taps are defined by three independent components: the spout plus hot and cold controls, all connected with pipes beneath the counter. Their main advantage? A stylish appearance – think of them as kitchen jewelry for your sink. Intricate designs can become a conversation starter for guests, with soap pumps, handheld sprays, and hot taps joining the line-up.
The spread-out design can pose challenges in small spaces, so consider your kitchen's dimensions before making the splurge.
"Three-hole taps can offer more flexibility in terms of positioning, like placing both controls on the same side for a more modern, unexpected look," says designer Ben Hawkswell at Roundhouse.
Color: Brushed Brass
9. Pot Mavens (Pot Filler Taps)
Designed for keen cooks, pot filler taps are mounted on walls near the hob and deliver hot water for filling large pots and pans, making cooking faster and easier. But they're not without their drawbacks: they typically deliver only cold water and installation requires new plumbing lines, making them less suitable for kitchen revamps and more common in full renovations.
10. Chef Chic (Chef-Style Taps)
Also known as professional or commercial-style faucets, chef-style taps bring the functionality and aesthetic of a professional restaurant kitchen into the home. These versatile taps offer high reach and flexibility with a spring-coiled spout that rotates extensively, making rinsing vegetables, filling pots, and cleaning oversized cookware a breeze. Adjust between a steady stream and a more forceful spray with the press of a button, and prepare to elevate your sink game in the most dramatic way possible.
Color: Brushed Steel
FAQs
How Do I Know What Type of Kitchen Tap I Have?
Identifying your kitchen tap can be easier than you might imagine. Start by checking the handle configuration – is it one handle for both hot and cold (known as sequential), or separate handles for each?
Next, check out how the tap is installed. Has the countertop been drilled once, twice, or three times? Is it mounted by the sink, or does it come from the wall? The design of the spout, whether it's fixed or pull-out, can also provide clues about its general type and functionality. If there's a boiler connected in the cupboard below or nearby, you're looking at a hot water tap.
Often, there's a model number or branding/logo somewhere on the tap that you can search up online for more details. Using Google's photo search tool can also provide quick identification. If you're still scratching your head, snap a quick photo and share it with staff at your local hardware store or plumber for that definitive answer you're after.
Tap buying can seem intimidating, but exploring different options will help you find a design that balances form and function and takes your kitchen from drab to fab!
- Monobloc mixer taps, such as the Armstrong model by Perrin & Rowe, embody a transitional style, combining sleek design and minimalist aesthetics in modern kitchens.
- Bridge-style mixer taps, with their two handles and horizontal bridge, tend to lean toward traditional or country-style kitchens and come in finishes like antique brass.
- Pull-out spray taps offer extra functionality with a detachable nozzle for easy rinsing, making them ideal for large families, but require adequate space behind the sink for the hose to retract smoothly.
- Pillar taps, a throwback to the Victorian era, come in separate spouts for hot and cold water, although their limited functionality may sacrifice convenience for vintage aesthetics.
- Boiling water taps provide quick and stylish boiling water, perfect for cooking, sterilizing, and making hot drinks in a flash; some models even include cool filtered water.
- Wall-mounted taps offer a clean and efficiently cleanable kitchen counter, making them suited for modern and industrial kitchens, and need a swiveling spout for easy positioning with large pots and pans.
- Sensor taps utilize motion-activated technology to provide a contactless cleaning experience, ideal for reducing touchpoints and conserving water with auto-shut-off features.
- Three-hole mixer taps are designed for modern kitchens with intricate designs and may require more space due to their spread-out components.
- Pot filler taps provide hot water for filling large pots and pans near the stove, but typically deliver only cold water and require new plumbing lines for installation.
- Chef-style taps, or professional faucets, deliver the functionality and aesthetic of a restaurant kitchen, offering high reach, flexibility, and a variety of settings for everyday use.
FAQs:To identify your kitchen tap, consider the handle configuration, installation method, spout design, and look for a model number or branding/logo for more information. If you're still unsure, take a photo for help from your local hardware store or plumber.
