NEW YORK—Recent trends in bathroom faucets indicate a tilt toward cleaner lines and finishes, even for properties outside core city centers. Whether sleek lines make cleaning easier or just give a sense of more vanity-top space, hoteliers are embracing the look.
According to California Faucets, graphite has become a chic color for industrial-style faucets, noting the gun metal tone lends itself well to modern designs.
An environment-friendly physical vapor disposition (PVD) process enhances the look and helps pieces resist tarnishing and wear, according to the company.
“Graphite (PVD) was just recently introduced, so it is not yet installed in a hotel; however, there has been significant interest from the design community…,” said Noah Taft, svp/marketing and sales for California Faucets. “The contemporary, yet industrial tones of the finish give a unique twist for projects that want to creatively move beyond the same old chrome or satin nickel look that graces most hotels. Moreover, since our Graphite finish is PVD, it offers extra durability compared to other types of decorative finishes.”
PVD infuses color by molecularly bonding the finish to the faucet and highlights its metallic properties. In the case of Graphite it exhibits gun metal characteristics and a bluish-gray tint.
“The trend toward ‘shower only’ bathrooms continues, and given the extra durability of Graphite (PVD), it opens up a fresh decorative finish option for those tired of the usual chrome suspects,” said Taft. “Graphite is especially suitable for urban-style hotels that seek to convey a contemporary or neo-industrial mood, ala Fritz Lang’s futuristic 1927 film, ‘Metropolis.’ In addition, Graphite’s dark textured tones lend an earthiness and depth, yet because it remains within the gray color spectrum, it is familiar enough not to overpower the overall design of the bath”
Black is a staple of contemporary design and when used in a matte finish in a faucet from Graff’s Solar Collection creates a strong look and feel.
“I definitely see an uptick in contemporary styling being used in hotels,” said Jody Rosenberg, vp/sales and marketing at Graff. “Using single-hole faucets is not only a cleaner look but also easier for the cleaning staff.”
The collection is available as a single-hole, widespread, wall mount and floor-mount vessel faucet.
Rosenberg considers chrome a durable finish that “also lends itself to more-contemporary design.”
While good looks are important, key today for hoteliers is water conservation. Flow rate on the faucet is 2.2 gallons per minute (at 60 psi) and is available on an optional water-saving aerator that reduces water flow to 1.5 gallons per minute.
Rosenberg noted product is slated for Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort outside Phoenix in Maricopa, AZ, which broke ground last summer on an expansion that will feature a five-story, 152-room hotel tower.