One of the best additions that you can have in the kitchen sink area is a soap dispenser.  How many times have you gone to the sink to do something, only to remember that you need to wash your hands first?  With the swine flu, bird flu, H1N1, and a host of other illnesses floating around, washing your hands has become more important than ever.  Although many kitchens just have a bar of soap sitting on the sink, this causes a messy pool of gooey stuff to form under it, since it is always getting wet.  I know some people just use a squirt of dishwashing soap to wash their hands, but it isn’t the same.  Dish soap is made for dishes, and hand soap has extra things in it that are meant to kill the bacteria that cause problems.  The best solution to this problem is to get a soap dispenser that fits right onto your sink.  This way you can wash your hands the right way easily and cleanly anytime you want.

Due to the fact that the vast majority of kitchen sinks in the world are made of stainless steel, it makes sense that the most common style of soap dispenser if also made of this material.  A stainless steel soap dispenser looks great on any sink, and many of them have either tops or bottoms that are a different color to add a bit of style.  One of the best things about kitchen soap dispensers is that they are very cheap.  Let’s take a look at a great example of how nice a dispenser you can get for a small price

The Oxo Stainless Steel Soap Dispenser
The Oxo Good Grips model is a perfect example of the type of quality you can expect from an inexpensive soap dispenser.  It is designed with both a nonstick base and a nonstick top, so it won’t slip around when you press it.  Another great thing about unit is that it has a little window on one side from top to bottom so that you can see how much soap is left and can refill accordingly.  At a price of just $14.99, this is a great deal, as stainless steel soap dispensers go.

In Sink Stainless Steel Soap Dispensers
Although many people have the simple soap dispensers that sit right on the sink, they are never as good as ones that actually become part of the sink.  The advantage of an in sink stainless steel soap dispenser is that it is locked in place and won’t move around when you use it. Grohe makes some great in sink units, so let’s take a quick look at them.  Most models of the Grohe stainless steel soap dispenser look pretty similar.  They are tall and round, with thin spouts.  These are top of the line soap dispensers, and they have a great style to them, but they have a higher price tag to match.

Hands Free Soap Dispensers
By far the most exciting innovation to hit kitchens recently has been hands free models.  You can get a stainless steel hands free soap and lotion dispenser that work without any need to push on the top.  An automatic sensor knows when your hand is under it and sends out some soap or lotion by itself.  Now you might be thinking that it would cost an arm and a leg to get one of these, but you should be pretty surprised by the price tag.  In fact, most of these units are cheaper than the in sink soap dispensers.  Here is the most common automatic dispenser:

The iTouchless Stainless Steel Automatic Sensor Soap Dispenser
This is a great example of a hands-free dispenser.  It is powered by four normal batteries that last up to 10,000 dispenses before they run out.  The good thing about these touch-free dispensers is that they don’t spread germs from the top.  For features like this, a price tag of under $50 is a great deal in my opinion.

Tags: Bathrooms, Faucets, Sinks by Jeffrey
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There are quite a few reputable companies that focus on household faucets, but one of them isn’t as well known as the others.  A company called Pegasus has come onto the home scene in full force and makes many different products.  You can get a Pegasus faucet for the kitchen sink, the bathroom sink, or the shower and tub.  Here is an in depth look at the types of Pegasus faucets available today.

Pegasus Kitchen Faucets

Although there are a number of cheap Pegasus faucets available, they make some very beautiful high end models that do an excellent job of combining style and functionality.  Like many of their models, the Arko line has Pegasus faucet parts that come apart when pulled, turning it into a sprayer as well. This type is called a pull down faucet.   You can get a Pegasus kitchen faucet in many different styles, including the old-fashioned looking bridge style, the “goose neck” high arcing pull out, and the sleek looking LaToscana pull out model.  What is neat about the high arcing models is that the neck is flexible as well.

Pegasus Bathroom Faucets

The other main style of faucets that this company makes is those meant for the bathroom.  There are so many different and unique styles to choose from that you will surely see something you like.  From the classic porcelain handle faucets to the unique “bamboo” style Pegasus bathroom faucet designed to look like a piece of bamboo, this company makes many innovative designs.  In addition to just faucets, Pegasus also makes complete bathroom vanity sets that include the vanity, the sink, and the faucet.
If you are looking for an inexpensive solution for a new bathroom, you can get a complete Pegasus vanity set for only $230.  This includes a wooden base, a ceramic sink, and single handle Pegasus bath faucet.

Pegasus Tub Faucets

In addition to sink faucets, there is an entire line of Pegasus bath faucets as well.  One thing that this company specializes in is products finished with oil rubbed bronze.  With so many homes using shiny chrome fixtures these days, installing an oil rubbed bronze kitchen faucet or shower spout in will draw some attention to your house.  It is an easy way of giving your bathroom that special touch.

Pegasus Faucet Parts

Some people have a tough time finding spare parts to repair their Pegasus faucet.  Searching online for their parts seems to pretty futile.  The reason for this is because Pegasus is a proprietary brand of the store Home Depot, which means that if you want parts for it, you have to go to one of their stores.  You can buy the faucets themselves on Amazon, but their parts are nowhere to be found, which makes Pegasus faucet repair a royal pain.

Tags: Bathrooms, Faucets by Jeffrey
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You have probably seen oil rubbed bronze faucets before, but might not know their name. They are the dark, old fashioned looking faucets.  This type of faucet is commonly seen in fancy restaurants and hotels, but lately they have become increasingly available for homes as well.  They are a great choice if what you are looking for is different and special.  Apart from their looks though, one of the best things about an oil rubbed bronze faucet is that they don’t have to cost a lot of money.  Let’s take a look at the cheapest faucets made of this material available today.

Inexpensive Oil Rubbed Bronze Kitchen Faucets

Price Pfister makes one of the best value bronze faucets that I’ve come across.  Their Marielle faucet has a decorative arc spout, includes a kitchen sprayer on the side, and best of all costs less than $50.  It is pretty hard to find any decent kitchen faucet with a sprayer for this price, and Price Pfister faucets have a lifetime guarantee as well, so you really can’t lose on this one.

Another cheapie is from Sky Enterprise.  They sell a high arcing, pull down oil rubbed bronze kitchen faucet for only $80.  This company offers a number of great looking faucets at deep discount prices, including the great looking bamboo waterfall faucet.

Inexpensive Oil Rubbed Bronze Bathroom Faucets

There are some great deals on this type of bathroom faucet.  Bathroom faucets tend to be cheaper than kitchen ones anyway, so you can easily find one for a great price.  A company called Euro Modern makes some great looking oil rubbed bronze lavatory faucets in distinctive styles for low prices.  One of them is a single handle waterfall faucet, which spreads the water out in a wide arc.  Another one they make is a tall vessel sink faucet that costs only $49.  This company tends to focus on contemporary designs, while others feature faucets with the old fashioned look.
Another great deal is a Danze oil rubbed bronze faucet. Danze is a pretty reputable company that produces some outstanding products.  Their faucets tend to be on the expensive side, but the Danze Sheridan line of lavatory faucets is priced starting at only $40.  One of them has a basic design with long, thin handles, a small spout, and is center-set.  Another Sheridan model has a higher arching neck with the same handles for a few bucks more.
You can also get very inexpensive oil rubbed bronze bath faucets, bar faucets, and shower combination fixtures.  Many large manufacturers have each type of product available in any number of materials.  These include chrome, stainless steel, brushed nickel, and oil rubbed bronze.

Tags: Bathrooms, Faucets, Sinks by Jeffrey
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Whether you are looking for a faucet for your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, or tub, you might want to consider one made out oil rubbed bronze.  If you want something different than the same old shiny silver chrome faucets that are in nearly every house, these are a good choice.  A variety of manufacturers produce these dark colored faucets and they are made in different styles.  Many of them have an old fashioned look to them, but some of them have great features as well.  Let’s take a look at some of the best oil rubbed bronze faucets available.

Oil Rubbed Bronze Kitchen Faucet

Though most of these bronze faucets are made specifically for bathrooms, there are some nice ones that fit on kitchen sinks as well.  Premier makes one that has a very high neck – 13 ½ inches high, has a single handle mounted on the side, and even has a side sprayer.  What makes this faucet different than others like it is that it is a lighter color.  While an oil rubbed bronze faucet is usually a very dark brown color, the ones made by Premier are a lighter color. This one is quite a good deal for $129.
Moen makes some nice looking oil rubbed bronze kitchen faucets as well.  The Camerist single handle kitchen faucet with pull out spout will look great on any kitchen sink and has some nifty features as well.  One of them is a spout that pulls out to become a sprayer.  This is always a good thing to have on a sink, and with a pull-out, you don’t need to clutter up your sink space with a side mounted version.  Another unique feature this faucet offers is a pause button.  I guess pause buttons aren’t just for remote controls anymore.  This faucet has one on it for when you just want to stop the flow for a second, but keep the temperature and water flow the same.

Oil Rubbed Bronze Bathroom Faucet

There are many of oil rubbed bronze lavatory faucets to choose from, and they come in a dazzling array of styles.  You can easily get one that has the styles of most other bathroom sink faucets, or you can get an original one.  One of the most unique ones is the Danze Opulence single handle faucet.  It has a beautiful, old fashioned look all its own, a single handle on top, and mounts onto the sink with a single hole.  The Danze Opulence line comes in different materials as well, including chrome, brushed nickel, black satin, and antique copper.  The oil rubbed bronze version is the cheapest as well, costing only around $89.
Another great looking oil rubbed bronze lavatory faucet is the Schon single post mount faucet.  This faucet has a heavy, square look to it that rises out of a single hole in the sink with a German influenced design.  The spout is open on top, which makes it a “waterfall faucet”.  If you like the style but not the color, they also come in Satin Nickel (shiny silver) and chrome.

Oil Rubbed Bronze Shower Faucet

If you want a darker color in your tub, one of the best ways to achieve that is by getting an oil rubbed bronze bath faucet set.  Depending on the model, they can come with a shower head, drain lever, levers (either single handle or hot and cold separately), and a tub faucet.  You can get other oil rubbed bronze accessories individually as well, such as a tub strainer drain, a bathtub overflow, or a toilet flush lever.

Tags: Bathrooms, Faucets, Sinks by Jeffrey
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Whether you are remodeling your bathroom or designing a new one, you will have to choose a bathroom faucet.  There are literally thousands of them to choose from, which can seem a little intimidating.  I like to narrow down the choices according to the color of the faucet.  You basically have two main choices:  Shiny or dark.  The shiny ones are made of stainless steel, chrome, or brushed nickel.  The dark ones are usually made of what is called oil rubbed bronze.  Most people go with the shiny chrome faucets, but if you want to have a lavatory that looks different and special, I recommend getting an oil rubbed bronze bathroom faucet. Here are some of the main styles that are available to choose from:

There are some modern looking styles available, but most of the oil rubbed bronze bathroom faucets tend to have an old fashioned look to them.  Instead of the normal fat round knobs, they tend to have long and thin handles.  One of the most unique models that I’ve come across is called the bamboo vessel faucet.  The faucet rises out of a single hole in the sink, has ridges like a piece of bamboo, and the water pours out of the spout like a vessel faucet.  You can get one of these that is made of brushed nickel chrome if you prefer a shiny one.

Oil Rubbed Bronze Widespread Bathroom Faucet

When referring to a faucet, the term “widespread” means that the neck and the levers come out of separate holes in the sink from each other and from the top appear to be separate.  Most bathroom sinks are center set, which means that the spout and the levers are all located together as a unit on a single base.  As the widespread style appears more distinct, many people prefer it to the center set style.  Many of the oil rubbed bronze faucets are widespread, since this style highlights their unique style.
Another stand out oil rubbed bronze bathroom sink faucet is part of the Danze Opulence line.  This faucet has a high neck with a spout that comes out perpendicular to it, and has a little curve at the end.  In a world where the majority of bathroom sinks have small and low faucets, this one is sure to grab attention.

You may be thinking that you will have to dish out big bucks for these bronze faucets.  The truth is, some of them have very inexpensive prices for the style they offer.  Others cost a bit more, but that is true for a bathroom faucet made of any material.  By the way, you should know that an oil rubbed bronze kitchen faucet is great as well.  They stand out even more in the kitchen, since the sink is made of stainless steel.

Tags: Bathrooms, Faucets, Sinks by Jeffrey
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Although it isn’t quite as well known as Delta, Moen, or Price Pfister, Pegasus produces a wide range of faucets for many uses.  There are Pegasus faucets for the kitchen and bathroom sinks, the bathtub, and even the bar.  The good thing about Pegasus is that their products aren’t too expensive.  They range from the simple and very inexpensive to fancy models that cost a few hundred dollars.  If you are looking for a Pegasus faucet, these are some of the types that they make:

Pegasus Kitchen Faucets

This company makes lots of great kitchen faucets.  One of the great things about their kitchen faucets is that a lot of them are “pull down” models.  This means that the end of the faucet pulls off to become a kitchen sprayer.  While other companies like Danze charge a lot of money for their pull down faucets, you can find a Pegasus pull down for a reasonable price.  They start at around $150 for the cheaper models.
One unique kitchen faucet that they make is the Pegasus Bridge Style faucet in Brushed Nickel.  It has a shiny and elegant design with a hint of luxury, and costs just over $100.  While you can get cheaper faucets than this, a Pegasus kitchen faucet is a great deal for the style that they offer.  If you are looking for something with an old fashioned look, an oil rubbed bronze kitchen faucet should do the trick pretty well.  Take a look at the picture for an idea of what they look like.

Pegasus Bathroom Faucets

Pegasus really has a diverse selection of bathroom faucets.  Whether you are looking for one that is shiny, dark, unique, or luxurious, they have something to offer.  One Pegasus bath faucet is shaped like a stick of bamboo.  This vessel style has one handle and comes out of a single hole in the sink.  Vessel faucets are meant to be used in conjunction with vessel sinks, which are round bowls made of glass or another material.  You can get them in either shiny brushed nickel or dark heritage bronze.
Another Pegasus bathroom faucet is the high profile Abigail.  This bath faucet has a taller neck than other bath faucets, which sets it apart.  It has a brushed nickel finish and comes with two handles

Pegasus Bath Faucets

If you are looking for a stand-out bath and shower faucet, Pegasus makes some good looking models.  Some Pegasus shower faucets have a curved neck that is not commonly seen. They make them in both oil rubbed bronze and brushed nickel, so you can choose the finish you like.

Pegasus Faucet Parts

Eventually, even the best faucets may start to leak.  When this happens, you can often repair them easily yourself.  Fortunately, Pegasus faucet repair is easier because you can buy the parts online.  You can get an extra gasket that should stop a leaking bathtub faucet.  If you want to spruce up your lavatory faucet, you can get a trim kit that includes new handles and everything else you need to install them.

Tags: Bathrooms, Faucets, Sinks by Jeffrey
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When it comes to choosing a faucet, you have an abundance of choices.  Why go with a normal one when you can get a faucet that stands out and becomes a conversation piece?  A vessel sink faucet is great for anyone wanting to add a special touch to their kitchen.  Here is a guide to the different types of vessel sink faucets that you can buy.  They come in a variety of styles, and can be made out of a few different materials.

What is a Vessel Sink Faucet?

Vessel sink faucets are designed to be used with vessel sinks.  Vessel sinks are those round sinks commonly used in bathrooms.  They are most often made out of glass, clay, or a stone like granite.  This type of faucet looks good with vessel sinks, hence its name.  Some vessel sink faucets are called “waterfall faucets” because the water spreads out and pours from them like a waterfall.

Can you use a Vessel Sink Faucet on a Normal Sink?

Sure.  While this type of faucet is normally associated with vessel sinks, it is perfectly fine to use them on normal sinks as well.  They add a special touch to any sink.  One thing to remember is that faucets for vessel sinks normally have only one hole, so you need to be sure your sink is set up for it.  If your sink is pre-drilled with 3 holes, you will end up with 2 empty holes in it, but you can purchase sink hole covers that fit right over these holes.  Vessel sinks and faucets can be installed either on bathroom vanities or on pedestal sinks.  If your bathroom has room for it, a vanity works great.  If you have a tiny bathroom, you can use a space saving pedestal type sink.

Kitchen Vessel Sink Faucets

Vessel faucets are normally used in bathrooms, because that is where vessel sinks are located.  Bathroom sink faucets don’t normally work in the kitchen for a few reasons.  First, they are too small and low to accomplish what most kitchen faucets need to do.  Second, they are stationary, and kitchen sink faucets really need to be able to move around.  That said, there are a few that are designed for use in the kitchen.  Their design is a little different, and they are able to swing around.

Bathroom Vessel Sink Faucets

There are many different types of faucets made for bathroom vessel sinks.  They have a unique look with a tall neck with water pouring out of the spout like a small waterfall.  Some models have an open top that truly looks like a waterfall.  Others have the water coming out of a tube.  One of the most popular styles is shaped to look like a piece of bamboo.  Depending on your budget, there are models that will please anyone.  Cheap vessel sink faucets can be bought for just over $30, while those made by designer manufacturers can cost hundreds of dollars.  Prices of a faucet for vessel sinks will depend somewhat on the material it is made from.  Chrome will be the cheapest, and stainless steel or bronze will cost a bit more usually.  That said, it is possible to find great deals on faucets made from any of these materials.

Wall Mount Vessel Sink Faucets

Wall mount versions are available as well, but I personally don’t think they look as good as their sink-mount counterparts.  The reason is that the wall mount faucets need to come out of the wall horizontally, which loses the tall waterfall look.

Waterfall Vessel Sink Faucets

One very great looking type of vessel faucet is the waterfall style.  Water comes out of the neck and is released onto a glass disk, which makes the water spread out and flow into the sink like a waterfall.  These faucets are used in conjunction with vessel sinks in many high class hotels and restaurants around the world, and people are now realizing that they can install them easily in their own homes.

Tags: Bathrooms, Faucets, Sinks by Jeffrey
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What is a Vessel Faucet?

In short, a vessel faucet is usually designed to look like an old-fashioned water pump, with a tall neck and a spout.  Vessel faucets are getting more popular today because people are looking for ways to customize their homes in unique and different ways.  While it is possible to install one of these faucets on your kitchen sink, the vast majority of people use them in the bathroom.  The reason is because they are stationary, and kitchen sinks generally work better with faucets that can move around, especially with double bowl sinks.  A vessel sink faucet in the bathroom works great, since bathroom sinks are nearly always stationary anyway.  There are many different styles of vessel sink faucets, and they can be made out of different materials as well.  Here are some of the most popular ones:

Bronze Vessel Faucet

One of the leading faucet companies that produces this type of faucet is Price Pfister.  They make an Ashfield Vessel Faucet made out of Tuscan Bronze.  It is a wonderful looking piece, with its waterfall spout design and pump-style lever.  It is also one of the more affordable bronze faucets at $279. Bathroom vessel faucets made of bronze are good because they are so durable.  As long as the lever is properly designed, it shouldn’t ever break.
If you are looking for a darker color, Danze makes an oil rubbed bronze vessel faucet with a deep bronze color. This faucet differs from most vessel faucets in that it has a curved neck, which makes it look a little more conventional.  It has a single lever attached halfway up the side of the neck, giving it a unique appearance.  An oil rubbed bronze kitchen faucet looks great as well.  It kind of gives the room an old fashioned feel.  This Danze Fairmont faucet also comes in nickel, brushed nickel, and chrome variations.

Wall Mount Vessel Faucet

While a bathroom vessel faucet is usually mounted either on the sink or the counter, you can also get one that mounts onto the wall.  These generally aren’t any more expensive than sink mount faucets, but they can involve more work when installing them.  In addition, while a tall vessel faucet is the norm for those mounted on sinks, wall mounted versions protrude horizontally from the wall.  Some of them curve, which adds some shape.

Bamboo Vessel Faucet

One of the most popular and unique designs to recently hit the shelves are bamboo faucets.  They are created to look like a piece of bamboo, which has long symbolized water throughout Asia.  Believe it or not, you can get them online here for less then $50, which is a steal in my opinion.  They are made of brass with a brushed nickel exterior, or you can get a chrome vessel faucet for even less.  If you are looking for a beautiful addition for your bathroom without spending so much, this is a great deal.  You can also get bamboo faucets for vessel sinks that are made by more established companies.

Tags: Bathrooms, Faucets, Sinks by Jeffrey
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