Taking on a kitchen makeover means answering a lot of design questions, and sometimes it’s the little decisions that can trip a person up. If you’re having a hard time picking out the right faucet for your kitchen, use these tips to match your faucet to your countertops.
Decide on a design style
Before you start shopping for countertops or faucets, ask yourself a simple question: “What style kitchen am I designing?” Knowing in advance whether you’re designing an ultra modern, country rustic, industrial or old-world traditional kitchen will help you pick out faucets and countertops that look cohesive with your overall design. It’s way too easy to pick out separate items just because you like them without thinking about how they’ll fit together with the rest of your kitchen design.
Decide on proportions
If you’re inclined toward thicker, square-cut countertops that have a starker, more masculine appearance, you need a faucet that will be similarly bold and substantial. Look for thicker faucets with sharper angles and minimalistic details. On the other hand, if you prefer thinner countertops with curved edges and a softer appearance, faucets with curves and details may be more appropriate. In either case, you want your faucet to match your countertop in overall proportion.
Play up the details
Look carefully at the details in your countertops to help you decide on the details you want to carry over into your faucet decision. For instance, Chicago-based interior designer and owner of the design studio EDYTA&CO Interior Design suggests, “Think about the story you are telling. Veining in marble countertops could be very classical and lends itself to an ornamental look, so choosing a classic style faucet would play beautifully with it.” Similarly, if you choose a granite countertop with flecks of bronze or black, you may want to choose a faucet that plays up those colors with a Venetian or oil-rubbed bronze finish.
More expert tips
While it’s important to choose a faucet and countertop that work well together, Gina Samarotto of Samarotto Designs notes that “Almost any counter will work with almost any faucet; the trick is to make sure the metals apparent throughout your kitchen are cohesive.” So, if you fall in love with a Venetian bronze faucet but your drawer pulls and appliances are all stainless steel, chances are your kitchen will look a little disjointed. Make sure the finishes you choose match well with the rest of your kitchen design.
Finally, remember that the faucet must be functional. Cathy Hobbs, a celebrity interior designer and creator of Design Recipes, a residential interior design firm points out that, “A high spout can be great for aesthetics but not purposeful for shallow sinks as the water with bounce back. Also, for particularly deep sinks a long spout is needed in order to allow ample room for hand washing.”
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