Faucets in "retro" style: old forms in a new interpretation

Faucets in the "retro" style, made of bronze, copper, brass, look graceful and unusual. But in a modern kitchen with a familiar sink, these extravagant products will seem ridiculous. They belong in a room designed in a classic, vintage, romantic style, where the present is organically combined with the nostalgic past.

Choosing mixers in the "retro" style, you need to have an idea of ​​what this type of model is for. More often they are purchased for the opportunity to complement a stylized interior. Pay attention to the appearance, preferring models for an old telephone, "tulip" or "bamboo". In addition to visual preference, you should pay attention to the design, type of control and accessories. Under the old look of the models, modern functional plumbing is hidden.

Mixer shapes are available for different tastes: arcuate (curved in an arc), straight and rectangular (the spout forms an angle of 90 degrees). Spout types are divided into classic and cascading. The most common classic type consists of a tube of a straight or curved shape, it is angular, has triangular, round or square sections. Cascade models look beautiful, in action resembling a waterfall. Water enters through a wide gutter, has a high flow capacity.

Types of management:

• a single-valve mixer participates in the supply of cold or hot water, regulates the pressure, is equipped with one inlet;
• two-valve, has one spout and two taps, with water supply of different temperatures;
• single-lever (joystick), pressure and temperature are adjusted using a lever (mixers with ball valves are more difficult to adjust);

• the contactless model is more convenient and hygienic, water comes in when the hands are brought under the spout, the minus is the inability to regulate the process;
• mixers with two spouts serve ordinary water and filtered water;
• models with a shower have water-saving technologies, they are supplied with watering cans with an active diffuser.

• Wall-mounted: mounting is carried out on the wall.
• Horizontal: fixes the mixer to the tub wall.
• The recessed one is completely hidden in the wall, except for the spout and vents. In this way, space is saved, but it is not always possible to make a cut into the wall, pipes interfere.
• Floor fasteners are rarely used to implement special design ideas. The bathtub should be in a large room and separate from the wall. The mixer is mounted on a high rack fixed to the floor.
• The swivel spout is usually attached to the side of the bathtub, but it also serves the washbasin.
• Auto-switching from mixer to shower occurs automatically when one of the taps is turned.

When choosing a mixer, sometimes they focus on the shades of the product. Some people think that "retro" style faucets always have the color of copper or bronze, but in fact, their color range is much more varied. Tones of aged brass, copper or bronze with an oxidized effect, of course, are relevant in such a stylization, but you can find models of chocolate and even black shades that have an expensive respectable look. Natural tones of materials are very popular: pink with a pearlescent tint, pearl, greenish or brown with a reddish tint.

The main focus when choosing mixers is given to brands. Most of all in the production of sanitary ware the German companies Hansa, Grohe, Hansgrohe (Germany together with the USA), the Swiss concern Gustavsberg, the Bulgarian company Vidima, the Russian company “Varion” have proven themselves.

Retro construction markets offer products made from copper, bronze or brass. The use of metal in its pure form is impractical and rarely used; in most cases, alloys are used. Bronze is an alloy of copper with tin or other metals, brass is a combination of copper and zinc. The cost of faucets in the "retro" style of these materials is quite high (from 10 to 30 thousand rubles). Elite models, inlaid with precious metals and stones, have a higher price. As budget models, plumbing is offered, made with a spray that imitates aged non-ferrous metal. You can consider options for chrome-plated steel and silumin.

Bronze in faucets has a pleasant golden hue, looks antique, expensive and presentable. Not everyone can afford to buy a sink made of similar material. Bronze is durable and strong, products made from it come to us from the most distant ancestors. Copper looks great, is ductile and malleable, but does not have a strong enough structure. With daily use, it can lose its aesthetic appearance, since it is easily exposed to mechanical stress. Scratches and scratches will be noticeable on the surface of the product. In addition, copper oxidizes and requires special care.

Faucets in the "retro" style are also made from cheaper materials. For the manufacture of chrome-plated products, silumin is used - an alloy of aluminum and silicon, it does not oxidize, but does not have sufficient strength. But products made from this material are short-lived. Durable and more expensive materials include stainless steel. Zinc is a brittle, inexpensive metal that corrodes.

Granite looks beautiful, it is multicolored, can be easily matched to the interior, has an antibacterial composition, durable, corrosion resistant. The chrome covering the metal has an almost mirror-like appearance, does not oxidize, does not corrode, but fingerprints remain on the surface. Chrome with granite looks very attractive, it is used for different types of plumbing. For the "Retro Lux" models, the body of the mixer is covered with a yellow plating imitating gold. Fingerprints are visible on such products, but they are easily removed.

Bronze, copper and brass faucets have good reviews, they perfectly support retro direction in the kitchen and bathroom, but this effect completely disappears when combined with a stainless steel sink. Not everyone can buy a washbasin made of non-ferrous metal; a ceramic sink or stone products (or its imitation) will do well.

Faucets in the "retro" style stand out for their original look and distinctive color. To place them in the interior, you need to have good taste and imagination. A sink in a similar style enhances the accent. It would be nice to distinguish the mixer and sink from the general kitchen environment, and place them separately from the working area. You can also emphasize retro products with the help of light or finishing materials in the area of ​​their presence.

Even if you do not distinguish the mixer and the sink from the general environment, they will still attract attention with their mesmerizing appearance:

• the mixer is made in the form of an old telephone;

• variants of mixers in the "retro" style with a stylized sink;

• antique black bronze faucet;
• gold color, suitable for empire and classic styles;

• brass mixer tap with swivel spout;
• tall single-lever sink faucet;

• faucet in the "retro" style for the bathroom, suitable for the classic style, as well as "loft";
• original faucet made of bronze for the kitchen.

Retro style faucets are suitable for special environments; they are out of place in ultra-modern interiors. In the "retro" style, natural materials are used, which creates warmth and coziness in the room.

For information on how to choose a mixer, see the next video.