BATHROOMS & SHOWERS
THAT SINKING FEELING HITS KITCHEN DESIGN
Sinks and taps are now the starting point of the way a kitchen is designed, as BMJ finds out.
T
he way we use our kitchen space has changed over recent years, accelerated even more so by the events of the past six months.
What was once a functional room is now an extension of our personalities and lifestyle. It has taken centre stage as the heart of the home: it’s where we eat, cook, socialise, relax and more recently, work.
Alongside this trend, the kitchen sink and tap has become one of the hardest working aspects of our kitchen design. An increased scrutiny on hygiene, sustainability and interior trends have all contributed to the new era of sink and tap design.
GROHE UK category manager Elina Enqvist- Twomey says the company has identified that sinks and taps are the new kitchen centrepiece. “The kitchen sink area is in constant demand in the home; from making drinks to washing dishes, filling saucepans to rinsing vegetables,” she says.
In recent years, the design focus has shifted; the sink is now a highlight, whereas previously it would have been designed to blend in and remain inconspicuous. “Now things like granite grey and black composite sinks are being increasingly favoured over stainless steel, a kitchen staple that has dominated the space for decades,” she adds.
Touchless control and smart technology are rising in popularity because they are more hygienic and convenient. Enqvist- Twomey says: “The concept of alternative
operation for kitchen taps first began to emerge several years ago, designed to help those in busy kitchens who always had their hands full and to facilitate better hygiene practices, particularly when using the sink after preparing raw meat. However, hygiene is now at the fore of kitchen tap design and will continue to be a key priority for consumers for years to come.”
GROHE UK has a range of kitchen taps and features that provide alternative operation which reduce direct contact with the surface of the tap, thereby lessening the risk of cross- contamination. With GROHE FootControl, taps can be turned on and off with a gentle tap of your foot on the base unit, leaving your hands free and your tap spotless at all times. “Meanwhile, the SmartControl range removes the need for a lever at all, replacing this with a button at the end of the spout which activates water flow and can be easily pressed with the wrist or elbow. Similarly, our EasyTouch technology which features in some of the Minta and Zedra models, does away with the need to twist a lever by allowing water flow to be activated via a touch of a wrist, forearm or back of the hand on the tap’s spout,” Enqvist- Twomey says. GROHE UK’s research found that. in the modern kitchen, a simple on/off water flow controlled by a lever is rarely enough to meet the consumer needs. “Consumers want more and more from their products and instant results too, and the tap is no exception.
Many kitchen tap best-sellers are equipped with pull-out hoses and multiple spray types, favoured by homeowners for their ability to make everyday life at home that little bit easier. Pull-out hoses are ideal for cleaning the area around your sink, filling vases and even washing vegetables. Meanwhile, multiple sprays such as additional powerful Jet sprays, found in ranges like GROHE Zedra, can help to quickly remove tougher stains, grease and grime, saving unneccessary scrubbing and water wastage too.”
Whilst consumers are expecting more from their kitchen taps, they actually want them to offer less when it comes to water consumption and sustainability, Enqvist- Twomey believes, which is playing an increasing role in consumer purchasing behaviour. More and more kitchen taps are incorporating Eco modes and buttons into their designs, to give consumers the choice to choose ’green‘. Models like GROHE SmartControl deliver flow rates as little as four litres per minute when in Eco mode, whilst the new BladeSpray spray pattern in the Zedra range can reduce water consumption by up to 70%.
“Many will be familiar with the kitchen- cum-home-office that has created an additional dimension and challenge to the kitchen space over recent months. Working from home has been an abrupt behaviour shift for many workers which has also impacted eating and drinking habits. As a working from home lifestyle looks set to become an at least semi-permanent change for many, there will likely be increased investment in our living spaces,” she says. “Products such as kettle hot water taps for instant hot drinks and chilled, filtered and even sparkling water taps for all-day-long hydration will be more popular, seeing a move away from single-use plastics with long-term cost benefits too.” In anticipation of increased interest in its Red, Blue Home, Blue Professional and Blue Pure WaterSystems, we launched a £75 cashback promotion for consumers across 39 different
models.The new promotion runs until 31st January 2021 with all cashback claims to be made by 28th February 2021. BMJ
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www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net October 2020
KITCHENS
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