How to Choose the Right Coloured Tapware for your Renovation or New Project

Are you about to renovate? Or selecting fittings for your new project? Choosing the right coloured tapware may seem like an easy choice in the scheme of things. However, your selection is quite pivotal. From a design point of view, those accents can contribute to a sense of ease and understanding about your home’s design. If chosen poorly, they can make it feel quite fractured. From a practical standpoint, your choice of tapware impacts a whole range of other choices when it comes to the building and plumbing aspects of the project. And in turn, this will dictate other choices throughout your bathroom, further impacting your design. So, we’d recommend choosing well, and choosing wisely.

Here’s our 5-step process to choosing the right coloured tapware, and ultimately, creating the overall design you can’t wait to come home to.

1. Choose your basin.

You may already know what you like when it comes to coloured tapware. However, before you get too set on one offering, it’s important to lock in your basin and sink design. This is the foundation upon which all the other fittings build from. This rule applies not only in a design sense, but also in practical terms with plumbing configuration. Let’s look at the types of basins or sinks you could choose:

• Drop-in basin, sink or bath. This style is the most traditional, available as drop in bathroom basins, or as top-mount kitchen sinks or also as drop-in baths. The unit is dropped into the counter, with its own rim that sits over it. This style usually offers the most flexibility when it comes to tapware and can have a mixer hole or tap holes fitted into it.
• Under-counter basin or sink. This design is rimless, and the basin or sink is fitted under the countertop. You can have an under-counter basin in your bathroom, or in your kitchen, it’s known as an under-mount sink, It can also sit flush with the counter (flush-mount sink). This design offers a minimalist or modern look. It is also easier to clean. This design is best if you have plenty of storage space elsewhere, as this style reduces the storage space available underneath.
• Vessel basin. The vessel basin is incredibly popular in our modern bathroom designs. It is available in a variety of shapes - square, rectangular, oval, round, and bowl shaped. The vessel basin can be installed so that the bottom of the sink sits above the counter. It can also be recessed, where the bottom is set partially into the countertop. This style doesn’t come with standard tapholes.
• Freestanding basin or bath. The freestanding basin is also seen in the bathroom, and comes with its own frame. Both the basin and the freestanding bath create a focal point in your bathroom. Freestanding baths and basins are best for generous bathrooms, due to the space required around them. The exception to that, is the back to wall freestanding bath, which sits flush against one wall. 
• Wall-mounted basin. A real space saver, the wall mounted basin is popular in ensuites or small bathrooms where there isn’t room for a vanity. Some have an extended rim which acts as a countertop. The wall-mounted basin design enables your basin to squeeze into a tighter area.
• Vanity basin. The vanity basin is fitted directly into a matching vanity. Usually, the tap holes are fitted into the basin itself. This makes for a compact and thoughtful design with maximum room under the counter.

2. Decide where you will fit your taps

The next practical aspect to choosing the right coloured tapware, is deciding whereabouts you’d like to fit your taps. If you’re renovating, you may prefer to use your existing plumbing configuration. If you’re looking to make a change here, it would pay to check on the time and/or cost to do this with your plumber before making your final decision.

Where you fit your taps determines the length of the mixer and spout that is required. Depending on the basin, sink or bath you’ve chosen, you may need an extra-long mixer, or spout, or both.  These are important aspects to get right, to ensure your flow is right where you want it, without constant splashing. 

Here are your options:

1. A standard mixer which fits into a pre-cut hole in your sink or basin. This style is usually seen in drop-in basins or overmount sinks, vanity basins and wall-mounted basin styles.
2. An extended mixer. This style is usually fitted into a vanity or kitchen countertop. The extended length makes it suitable to sit over undermount sinks and under-counter basins. It is also an option to use with a vessel basin. You can also opt for an extra-long length with your freestanding bath.
3. Wall-mounted tapware. This tapware requires a little extra plumbing in the wall if it’s not there already but gives you maximum space around your basin or sink as well as the countertop. Depending on your chosen style of basin, sink or bath, you may require an extended spout with your wall-mounted tapware.

Once you have decided on your basin, and how the taps will be fitted, it’s time to choose your finish. What’s worth considering here, is a brand of tapware that offers universal bodies, such as Villeroy & Boch ColourChoice Collection. This revolutionary concept makes choosing coloured tapware an incredibly sensible decision. One body fits all finishes and designs across the ColourChoice range. This means that throughout the life of your bathroom you have the freedom to update your tapware, without complicated and costly repairs. If you’ve chosen wall-mounted tapware, the universal bodies sit behind the wall. When it comes time to restyle your tapware, you simply fit the new taps to the existing bodies. No carpentry, plumbing, retiling or waterproofing required!

3.Select your finish.

Now here’s the fun part. While coloured tapware is very much on trend, it’s important that your finish choices are capable of being replicated throughout your home. Villeroy & Boch tapware finishes have been heavily researched to ensure they are incredibly versatile, and cohesive across all products. As you would expect from this brand, their attention to quality is also second to none. The tapware, and especially the universal bodies are built to be durable and incredibly long lasting.

The ColourChoice range has been developed with a deep understanding of what is being applied within the rest of our homes, and what will stand the test of time. Their range includes additional coordinating accessories to tie in the finish.

Choose from these five finishes:

• Matte Black is soft and velvety, contrasts well with white and looks very contemporary.
• The stone-like blue-grey hue of Gun Metal can enhance a naturally-inspired design, and also looks perfect in an industrial style home.
• Brushed Gold is a lovely choice to bring about a feeling of luxury and elegance.
• Brushed Nickel is a softer low-sheen silver which is very understated. This means it feels equally at home in a modern or traditional style of kitchen or bathroom.
• Chrome is a classic high-sheen option which is versatile in any home design, but particularly suited to a contemporary design.

So what finish is best for your home? The beauty of ColourChoice, is that the universal bodies make your chosen finish interchangeable through the design process. So, if you feel like you’ve got it wrong, your look is easily changed.

4. Select your design.

When it comes to coloured tapware, the style can also speak volumes throughout your home. It’s best to echo elements you already have working for you throughout your home. Here are some of the lines to keep in mind when choosing your coloured tapware:

Square. If you’re after an edgier look throughout your design, then you may prefer to lean towards squarer shapes in your tapware. This suits industrial and modern designs.

Curved. Soft shapes are well suited to contemporary homes with curved lines and sleek shapes. Curved tapware is also a great choice for traditional or historical aesthetics with lots of soft furnishings and curved, ornate edges.

Straight. For ultra-modern settings, you may find that very straight lines bring that wow factor that echoes the rest of your home’s aesthetic.

Villeroy & Boch have been developing tapware for the past 270 years. They draw on this rich tradition to produce quality and diversity in their designs which can suit a multitude of aesthetics. Here are some of the Villeroy & Boch tapware designs that you might like to consider, particularly if you’re already sold on universal bodies:

• O Novo Range. This selection of basin mixers is strikingly restrained, with a sleek design and minimalist profile for the contemporary bathroom. O Novo Basin Mixers are defined by thin, flat surfaces and soft rounded edges, speaking to an understated luxury. Available in wall mounted, standard and vessel styles.
• O Novo Style Range. This range continues the idea of the minimalist profile, with thin flat surfaces and lightly rounded edges that finish in straight lines. This offers an overall squarer finish, for your modern bathroom design. Edges are lightly rounder, and overall the O.Novo Style range is both delicate and durable.
• Architectura Range. This range is available right throughout Villeroy & Boch products. It is classified by clean lines and timeless elegance. The Architectura Kitchen Mixers are linear, authentic and modern. Choose from Gooseneck, S shaped or Square Profile to compliment and echo the lines in your home. The Architectura Basin Mixer Range is also classified by sleek lines and modern finishes in wall-mounted, vessel, and standard mixer styles. This range is also complemented beautifully by the Architectura Shower Range and Architectura Accessories.
• Vita Range. Smooth curves and gentle slopes encapsulate the Vita Basin Mixer range, perfect for traditional homes and those that offer curved lines and natural elements elsewhere. The thin rounded levers and spouts mimic a water droplet. The Vita Kitchen Mixer also echoes the curved lines, in a beautiful Gooseneck design. This mixer has 360-degree swivel capability and two spray patterns for water efficiency.

Again, the beauty of Villeroy & Boch universal bodies is that you can swap out your tapware design as needed if you feel you’ve made a mistake with the shape.

Coordinate your choices

If done well, coloured tapware can be harmonising and inspiring in our homes, giving our kitchens and bathrooms a sense of definition. However, it can all quickly look disjointed if your chosen finish and design isn’t replicated throughout your entire home. Coordinating accessories may seem like an extra luxury that could be ignored, but in reality, this subtle mirroring can make the world of difference to how the look finishes.  If you’ve chosen Villeroy & Boch ColourChoice tapware, you’ll be able to tie in accessories seamlessly in the five finishes. Here are some areas you may want to consider to do that:

Shower. Coordinate your coloured tapware with your mixer, rail set, handpieces, overhead shower heads, ceiling dropper or shower arm.

Bathroom accessories. Matching in your towel rail, handles, toilet roll holder, robe hooks and hand towel ring is an easy way to carry through your tapware design.

Laundry. Match in tapware for your laundry tub, and coordinate Accessories here too. You could choose a kitchen mixer or use a standard laundry mixer. Your laundry may be far from your bathroom and kitchen, but it’s those small touches that make a difference overall.

Kitchen accessories. Tie in your tapware by matching drawer handles and towel rails. You can also subtly echo your tapware finish through your choice of kitchen appliances.   A flash of the finish in your kitchen mixer or kettle can also be a lovely way to accent your tapware. Attention to accessories in your kitchen can really enhance your tapware and make the whole look feel considered and stylish.

Go forth in colour

We hope you feel inspired and confident to embrace coloured tapware for your next renovation or your new project. When done well, the look is subtly striking and incredibly attractive. When choosing a quality product like Villeroy & Boch ColourChoice tapware, showers and accessories, coloured tapware becomes so much easier.

Find your nearest Villeroy & Boch retailer in Australia. Ph 1300 364 748 or contact us by email here.