A favorite of interior designers, the sparkling brass faucet is the star of most popular apartments. However, the time has come for his critics to sound the alarm. This display accessory must give way… A manifesto for the return of the chrome faucet.
For several years now, decorators have been taking us on a journey to the brass. It would be nice to be offered a return ticket from now on, just to reconnect with our good old chrome faucets that are so easy to live with. When and how did kitchens and bathrooms become a territory conquered by brass-finish mixers? It’s hard to say. They were slowly inspired there, as if nothing, barely a decade, the darlings of interior designers, no doubt enchanted by the so-called anti-microbial properties of brass and, above all, enchanted by the novelty, this unique shade and luxury. Photographed in scenic reports, their reflections evoking gold quickly caught the attention of scenery enthusiasts and rushed.
Faced with brass faucets, the black-coated faucets that also tried to break through around the same time period were no match. The dark side of the faucet has never been known. However, daily face-to-face contact with these bright handles and spouts has its limits. These glaring accessories end up damaging your eyes or even giving you migraines. When you get out of bed, in front of your sink, all you see is them against the white earthenware bowl. We would like to think about the blue sky, the plans, the beautiful day ahead… But no. A brass faucet that takes up the entire space boggles our minds. What about us, what about us? We still live there next to him. The faucet remains indifferent to our frustration. It continues to shine, eclipsing us in the early morning.
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Lead in brass
In the kitchen, the same cinema. While we’d like to have a leisurely breakfast, fill the kettle without a spotlight, it shines. It is impossible, then, not to miss our chrome faucet, this good friend without incident, who did not meet us with his presence, was reserved. Brilliant, sure, but without being overbearing. We could even twist in two, look at ourselves, admire ourselves partially and slightly distorted in its silvery metal.
In 2023, critics of the brass faucet claimed that it had lead in the sleeve; more precisely, 5% lead may be present in this alloy, which also contains copper and zinc. Legislation enacted that year limited lead levels in equipment that come into contact with water intended for consumption to 2.2 to 3.5%. This is without taking into account the ingenuity of manufacturers, who quickly remedied the situation by opening the door for faucets, especially brass ones.
Ticks and knocks
He seems to be mocking us. “Look how beautiful I am. I could be a treasure. She resembles these big necklaces that are too shiny, too heavy to wear. Simply brilliant. And not worth a penny because he is a scam. One of those knocks of home professionals who fall in love with wallpaper in the kitchen, terrazzo on all floors, arches on the walls; of these tics that charm for a while, then quickly annoy. So, just one word, avoid brass taps, because house money is enough to make us happy.
Source: Le Figaro
