(ARA) - There are certain things you can always count
on this time of year -- warmer temperatures outside, birds
flying home after a long winter, more daylight and people
getting the itch to finally renovate that kitchen or bathroom
that’s been bothering them for years.
In fact according to Kitchen & Bath Business magazine,
more than $70 billion will be spent in 2004 to do just
that. People spend months (and thousands of dollars) drawing
up plans, shopping for appliances and fixtures, color
matching cabinets or countertops, picking out that oversized
corner tub and deciding which type of faucets and accessories
will best highlight all of the other decisions they make.
Today, there are thousands of choices in the faucet category.
Traditional styles, contemporary styles, and now, there
are even “transitional” styles that will look
good in either setting. As a shopper, not only do you
get to choose the style, you get to choose the finish.
There’s chrome, brushed chrome, nickel, brushed
nickel, satin nickel, chrome with satin nickel accents,
brass, brushed Brass, polished brass, and the list goes
on.
So why do manufacturers of these bathroom taps offer so many
choices in styling and finishes? “Personalization,”
says Jeff Pratt, vice president of sales for Danze, a
manufacturer of decorative plumbing products including
kitchen and bath faucets, bath accessories and shower heads.
“Years ago, there seemed to be a few standard finishes
and styles in both kitchen and bath faucets,” says
Pratt. “Now consumers expect -- and deserve -- a
variety of choices so they can bring their lifestyle and
individual personality into their home.”
According to Pratt, the ability to purchase decorative,
beautiful styles and finishes used to be more exclusive
to those who could afford to spend a lot of money on their
renovation or new construction project. But, with manufacturers
like Danze on the scene, high fashion and design are more
attainable for the mainstream homeowner.
“Everyone wants a beautiful faucet, bath accessory
or showerhead to accent the new environment they’re
creating, but not everyone can afford to spend thousands
of dollars on those components alone,” says Pratt.
“Danze can offer consumers both a unique style with
a gorgeous finish and a great price. We call it affordable
luxury.”
Luxury has definitely been a hot topic among consumers
doing kitchen makeovers in recent years. High-rise kitchen
faucets, over-sized pull-down faucets and pot fillers
have all seen a spike in sales across the country. Homeowners
at varying socio-levels are striving for the high-end,
commercial-grade kitchen.
Part of the commercial-grade residential kitchen includes
enhancing the functionality of the space, which often
means multiple faucets. It’s now common to see a
primary sink/faucet, a faucet behind the stove and a bar/convenience
sink either within the center island or in an alcove space
just off the main room.
But luxury isn’t limited to the kitchen. Bathroom
renovations have seen tremendous growth within recent
years. Whether it’s an elegant powder room or an
expansive master bedroom suite, bathroom faucets, accessories
and shower systems continue to lead the way in accenting
(or determining) a room’s personality.
As vessel lavatory sinks soar in popularity, so do their
companion faucets. These wall mount faucets provide simplicity
and uniqueness that can soon become the focal point of
any lavatory vessel sink environment.
Styling in the bathroom has also evolved over recent
years. “Transitional” styling has now complemented
the traditional and contemporary style offerings. “The
Danze Bannockburn Collection is the industry’s newest
introduction in transitional styling,” continues
Pratt. “It uses elements of both traditional and
contemporary styling, allowing it to be at home in either
environment. And, this latest collection showcases a new,
beautiful finish called brushed brass.”
So what should you keep in mind as you choose from the
thousands of decorative products available for your kitchen
or bath project? Here are a few helpful hints:
* Select faucets and accessories that are within scale
of other elements in the room. If you’re putting
in an over-sized integrated kitchen sink, be bold with
a high-rise pull-down faucet. If a large stovetop is in
your plan, install a pot filler on the back wall to make
filling pots or large pans easier.
* Carry the styling and finish throughout the entire
room. As you choose the faucet for your bathroom project,
make sure your bath accessories are available in that
same style and finish. It keeps the personality you brought
to the room consistent (not to mention it adds beauty
to even the smallest detail -- robe hook, toilet paper
holder, towel bars, etc.).
* Don’t sell yourself short in the shower. Unique
showerheads and shower systems continue to grow in popularity
and can also bring a bit of customization to your bathroom.
Watch for fun and interesting showerhead styles such as
spinning showerheads, ceiling mounts, large 10-inch downpour
showerheads and stylish hand-held personal showers. Again,
keep the styling and finish compatible with other fixtures
in the room whenever possible.
* Research a product’s quality. A pretty faucet
isn’t pretty if it leaks or doesn’t operate
smoothly. Find products that offer solid brass construction,
ceramic disc valves and other high-quality components
that ensure a long-lasting, reliable product. You don’t
want to renovate that same room next Spring!
* Compare prices. Luxury doesn’t have to mean high
prices. Shop around for the styling and finish that you
prefer and then compare prices with other brands that
offer a similar style. More manufacturers entering the
category means the affordable luxury mentality will bring
more value to consumers.
The choices you have available to you for that next home
remodeling project are endless. So bring out that personality,
extend it into your home and enjoy it. Because no matter
who you are, where you come from or what personality traits
you possess, we all want the same outcome at the end of
this process -- a beautiful room with great styling and
design.
For more information on the beauty and variety of the
Danze line or for a retailer nearest you, call (877) 530-3344
or visit www.danze-online.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information or additional
photography options, please contact Linda Bendt at (612)
747-3638.
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Courtesy of ARA Content
