|   Personalizing
Your Next Kitchen or Bathroom Makeover
(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 faucets
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 showerheads. "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
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