When choosing your faucets, sinks and countertops your choices are endless. Take your time & make sure the right decision is made based on your style & lifestyle.

Faucets can add luxury & charm to your kitchen or bathroom. The most important things to consider are buying a product that will stand the test of time. Here are some tips to consider.

Faucets

There are many types and styles of shower faucets to choose from. The most frequently used, is the type of shower faucet that is mounted to the wall and centred over the shower drain. Other shower faucets include faucets with longer arms coming from the wall, or even ceiling mounted faucets that cause a waterfall effect.

Once you’ve decided on a style; you need to choose your finish. Your choices include, stainless steel, nickel plating, porcelain, chrome plating, brass, bronze, white enamel, silver, gold, colour epoxy & platinum.

The most popular finishes for shower faucets are chrome mainly because they’re durable & easy to maintain. When choosing other finishes make sure that they can handle the test of time and ask if a varnish or sealant is needed to protect the surface.

When looking for bathroom & kitchen faucets go for quality products. This doesn’t necessarily mean more expensive. Make sure the faucet isn’t made with plastic, and look for faucets with a ceramic washer or enclosed valves.

We recommend talking to your plumber about which faucets will work with your pluming. Your plumber can also help you find faucets that are compatible with your home.

Sinks

Your sinks see the most traffic out of any place in your home, so choose wisely. It’s important to buy a sink that is easy to clean and is also very durable. You’ll want to find a sink that fits into your kitchen or bathroom and adds flare. The choices are endless; full of different sizes, shapes and materials. Due to the selection it’s such an easy part of your home design.

Pay a visit to your local showrooms, browse through some catalogs, and you will find something that’s durable and fits perfectly into your home. Another thing you need to consider is the type of mounting surface you’d like, would you like to see the top of the counter or do you want to mount your sink under the counter, this is when the sink’s not visible. These days it seems that contemporary looks are everywhere with funky kitchen sinks that look like old fashion washing bowls, yet made of marble and fine material. These types of sinks look both classy & sleek. This is a great look if you’re looking for a conversation piece. For your kitchen sink you may want to stick to a domestic, well functional sink made of stainless steel, this type of sink is durable and never goes out of style.

For my personal home designing I have one general rule. Spice up the smaller rooms with fun and exciting accessories and keep all the main rooms classic; with function as the main motivation for design. Take some time and find out what you’d like to get out of your sink before you purchase it. Other great choices for sinks are porcelain, marble, granite, copper or brass.

For an elegant & sophisticated look try copper. Copper sinks are made from heavy, solid weathered copper or dark brown copper sheets. Some have hand hammered details. Copper sinks are like people; they get more interesting as they age. More character is added with time, they are also very durable.

When you’re ready to purchase your kitchen or bathroom sinks, take into consideration the overall function & style.

Counter tops

When renovating your kitchen or bathroom; counter tops will be your first task. Kitchens & bathrooms see the most traffic, so your counters are a very important choice. With so many materials, colors, and styles to choose from, selecting the right counter top can be an overwhelming process, due to the amount of selection. From a positive point of view this is a good problem to have.

Kitchen counter tops come in a variety of materials. Selecting the right material is important to the functionality & style of your kitchen. You want a counter top to enhance the style of your home but it must still be durable enough to survive its everyday wear & tear. You can select between concrete, granite, wood, ceramic, limestone, slate, stainless steel, laminate, & marble.

Plastic laminates are the most common used material for kitchen counter tops. Plastic laminates are inexpensive, resistant to stains and grease, low maintenance, great at hiding scratches; however, sharp objects and hot pans can damage laminate plastic counter tops. Once these counter tops are damaged they are hard to repair.

Stainless steel is very easy to clean and is an excellent choice for anyone who plans on spending a large amount of time in the kitchen. Stainless steel kitchen counters add a modern or contemporary feel to your kitchen. The only downside to stainless steel counter tops is the expense and they are quite difficult to install.

If you’re on a budget, but would like a designer look, then try glazed ceramic and porcelain tile counter tops. They don’t stain, but you will destroy your counter top if you cut on these surfaces. For better durability try porcelain counter tops.

The strongest type of counter tops are granite slabs, these types offer you stain and heat resistance. If you’re trying to attain a more luxurious look; marble or granite would be your top two choices. These counter tops are very durable and have an excellent look. One thing to consider if choosing either of these; that is you’ll need to be careful with the oils in your home. Oil can discolor the surfaces of these counter tops. Granite & marble will also add value to your home.