Despite being just small fixtures, faucets play a big role in the overall layout of a bathroom. Lavatory, shower and bath fittings assume a distinct personality when faucets are added to the mix. Bathroom faucets are selected based on mounting, construction, finish, handles and materials.

For lavatories, faucet mounting depends on the type of sink that will be installed—wall hung, pedestal, under mount or console. There are single handle faucets that combine a spout and handle for a one-handle operation.

Widespread bath faucets have a center spout with adjacent separate handles to regulate hot and cold water. The spacing of the water valves and the spout are at least 8 inches. Mini-widespread faucets have about four inches of space between them. Widespread faucets are normally designed to accommodate pre-drilled sink holes between 6” to 16.” Centerset faucets feature a spout with either one or two handles. This makes the spout and the hot and cold valves or handles a single unit. They are constructed for sinks that have a pre-drilled, 4” three-hole configuration.

Wall-mounted bathroom faucets are used for freestanding vessel sinks. The spout extends further out to clear the sink walls and reach for the center sinkhole.

Bathroom faucets constructed from solid brass are durable and should conform to the standards of the Safe Water Drinking Act. Today’s bathroom faucets are also available in numerous finishes: antique nickel, chrome, satin nickel, polished brass, oil rubbed bronze, matte chrome, pearl nickel, wrought iron, polished chrome and Venetian bronze. A hallmark of a good finish is when the faucet is immune to corrosion and tarnishing while remaining pristine and shiny.

Faucet handles must be chosen so that they coordinate properly with the spout and sink. For example, a metallic cross handle might not work well with a colored glass vessel sink and spout. Clear knob handles, cross handles, lever handles and twin blade handles cover the most popular handle designs.

But who really needs handles nowadays?

Automatic sensor faucets will guarantee your bathroom a contemporary touch. These electronic faucets protect against bacteria and germs because there is no contact with the handles. The principle is an infrared sensor that triggers the water flow when it detects the users’ hands. Once the hands are out of the sensor’s range, the water flow is automatically shut off. With no buttons to push or handles to turn, multiple users have no fear of spreading germs. This sensor-activated hands-free control also helps to conserve water.

The most popular and stylish bathroom designs are created by some of the most trusted and established brands such as Kohler, Moen Faucets, Delta Faucets, American Standard, GROHE faucets, Price Pfister Faucets and Hansgrohe Faucets. MAC Faucets, Delta and Air Delights are leaders in the manufacture of luxury automatic faucets.

American Standard’s bathroom faucets have a ceramic disc valve that will keep the faucet drip-free. A hot limit safety stop feature also protects from accidental scalding. Wisconsin-based Kohler Company takes pride in its anti-corrosion finish, solid brass construction and ADA compliant levers. Moen has over 100 bathroom faucet designs covering one handle and two handle models with drain assembly. These models are for both center set and widespread configurations. Their finishes include pewter, brushed nickel, hammered nickel, platinum chrome and wrought iron. Moen is unique because of a patented common valve system that makes faucet replacements easy. Faucet handle and spout are unscrewed, lifted and replaced with new faucet implement.

The forte of GROHE lies in luxury bath faucets that are beautifully designed using the latest technology and carries a European-inspired minimalism. Its patented SilkMove technology has created the smoothest swivel action for a lever within a wide operating angle. The result is a precise and effortless control of the water flow from faucet to sink. GROHE’s StarLight chromium finish will leave the faucet virtually unspoiled, untarnished and practically unsoiled.

Delta’s faucet valves use a special Diamond Seal Technology that will make it last up to 5 million uses, or 10 times longer than the industry standard. A special diamond coating construction, waterway and coating keeps the water free from potential metal contaminants.

Its handle limit stop covers the complete range of motions from full flow to a balanced 50/50 hot-cold water mix. Delta also boasts that its e-Flow is the first hands-free electronic faucet specifically for homes. The e-Flow centerset electronic faucet comes in six colorful interchangeable temperature-control handles to match any bathroom motif. A sensor with a preset 30-second maximum flow time prevents unnecessary water waste.

So just like the other bathroom fixtures and accessories, faucets demand the same attention to detail before purchased. They are included in the bathroom design or remodeling plan that involves vanities and sinks. The choices of levers, finishes and material will determine how exactly you want the water to flow in and out of the sink. Faucets may be small compared to the other major bathroom accessories but remember they control the most important natural element—water.

Walk-in Steam Shower

This is a prefabricated walk-in steam shower / steam room that features ceiling rain with a vitamin C showerhead / chlorine filter, hand shower, iPod connection, in-line water heater with thermostat (when you turn it on, no drop of water hits you until it is the temperature you specify, which the shower remembers, etc).  It’s simply an amazing shower.  The walls are made from black glass.

I’ve always been a fan of Pegasus Bathroom Faucets.  They aren’t as well known as the other brands, but their style always fits into my bathroom designs.

Moen faucets – available in all sorts of contemporary styles. 

Delta faucets are basically the industry standard.  They probably sell more faucets than anyone else combined, and frankly, they are gorgeous.  Here is a picture from their website.

I first saw this steam shower at a Wasauna showroom in Scottsdale, AZ.  Gorgeous!  I didn’t have a good picture of it at the time so I couldn’t post it online, but I found this one in the Phoenix Business Journal this week.

Blanco Sinks is another of the world’s largest stainless steel sink producers.

A nice illustration of why Toto Toilets are so great. 

Elkay is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of kitchen and bathroom sinks.  They have a ton of stainless steel sink designs.