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February 2015 | ForResidentialPros.com | 45 A continued urban/loft trend and more movement to cities where space is at a premium means a leaning toward slightly smaller spaces, and sinks and faucets are adjusting accordingly, says Lord. Brizo recently added a mid-rise pull-out faucet to its Solna collection at the request of many city kitchen and bath designers, he adds. "The slightly lower model still provides all of the functionality of its higher arc brethren, but fts better under cabinets and windows in tighter spaces." Often, one sink in the kitchen isn't enough. Additional smaller sinks are integrated into many kitchen spaces, al- lowing for prep work such as washing vegetables or quick clean-up. "Primary kitchen sinks typically range from 30" to 40" in width, and it is common, or rather, standard, to see multiple accessory sinks in larger kitchens," says Neilson Howard. Rohl agrees. "Having multiple sinks in the kitchen is becom- ing a standard, rather than the exception," he says. Design details that raise the performance level, convenience or efciency of faucets and accessories make a big diference in the kitchen. Though there aren't new technologies in play, according to Maicher, existing technologies – such as instant hot and touchless faucet features – are being expanded and refned for home use. Faucet styles that increase ease of use continue to grow in popularity. "Pull-down faucets continue to be a popular choice for consumers, as the simple push-button controls provide func- tionality at your fngertips," says Schrage. In addition, she says, "Hands-free faucets are a great Universal Design solution for all ages – from ease of mobility to activation by small kids." Conroy agrees that hands-free convenience continues to be important to consumers. She adds that the popularity of pull-out faucets is also growing, and another emerging trend is a lower- profle faucet that allows for more design fexibility. Wood says that Brasstech has focused on matching any and all items that may be placed on the sink deck, updating some items such as air gaps and soap dispensers to complete the unique look desired. Conroy also sees a desire to create completely coordinated spaces, where fxtures, accessories, lighting and even hardware match perfectly in both style and fnish. At the same time, she says, "Younger consumers are more apt to have an eclectic style, meaning they like to mix and match items they currently own with ones they might be purchasing during a project," she says. Neilson Howard says mixing of materials and design styles is common. "Homeowners and designers seem to be more con- fdent about combining fnishes and styles in less typical ways, to ft the needs and desire of the homeowners." FLAWLESS FUNCTION Sinks and faucets are certainly the workhorses in the kitchen, and performance capabilities are top considerations in the selection of these fxtures. Rohl says that large, deep sinks paired with "industrial- styled" pull-down faucets will continue to be popular in 2015, especially for remodelers. "Commercial faucets are often too large for most residential kitchens. By adding a slightly smaller version, consumers maintain the design elements and function- ality of a larger commercial faucet and bring a "pro-chef" feel to their kitchen," he says. Maicher says that "super singles" as well as undermount sinks are still trending upwards, but big does not always have to mean deep. Sinks with a 9-9.5" depth are desirable, he says, and keep the sink practical for aging in place. "Low divide sinks cleverly ofer separation – but room for large pots and pans," he adds. "These help with ergonomics and are a growing category for BLANCO." French by design, the Herbeau Art Nouveau farmhouse sink is handcrafted of stain- and scratch-resistant freclay. The sink measures 30"x19"x10" and features a historically authentic raised motif on the apron front. The farmhouse sink is shown with the Estelle single lever faucet. Circle No. 180 on Product Card Nantucket Sinks new hand-made zero-radius 'prep-station' stainless steel sink is part of Nantucket's Pro-Series line. Defned by its modern design and crisp lines, the sink is made from 16-gauge 304 stainless steel. Built-in ledges are featured, and the sink includes a cutting board and stainless colander that ft into the sink. A bottom grid is included to protect the sink's fnish. Circle No. 183 on Product Card KWC's ZOE kitchen faucet features elegantly curved lines at the spout and base, and the faceplate, through the Turn and Clean mechanism, can be released for easy cleaning. The LUMINAQUA LED light ring is incorporated into the pull-out spray to illuminate the sink and water. A low- profle lever moves in three directions to control water fow and temperature. ZOE is now available in three new fnishes: white, black and champagne. Circle No. 181 on Product Card Watermark Designs' new Elan Vital kitchen faucet has a telescopic spout that extends or retracts as needed. The deck-mounted lever controls volume and temperature, going from low-fow cold to high-fow hot. The brass wire basket is optional, as is the independent side spray. Elan Vital is available in any of the frm's 40 fnishes. Circle No. 188 on Product Card BLANCO's ONE collection includes three sinks in sizes XL single, super single and medium. All are 9" deep and stainless steel with a satin polished fnish. Accessories include a magnetic sink caddy; a workstation that holds utensils; an ash compound cutting board that fts to the sink, and custom grids. Exclusively for the XL single bowl, the multi-level grid serves as an additional rack above the base grid. Circle No. 187 on Product Card The Q-350 is a quartz composite sink by Karran, designed to ft a laminate countertop. It comes in six diferent color choices. In addition to installation in laminate, it can also be integrated in solid surface. Circle No. 184 on Product Card Gessi's Natalia pull-out kitchen faucet with 170-degree swiveling spout comes in three versions and features two spray patterns. A single aerated spray changes color based on the water temperature with electricity generated by internal water supply turbines. The single spray provides a white LED light. All of the faucets come equipped with 3/8" fexible connections. Circle No. 185 on Product Card Each of Elkay's nine undermount styles in its Crosstown kitchen sink series is 9" deep with a 17" front-to-back bowl dimension, 15 millimeter corners for easy cleaning and Sound Guard undercoating to dampen sound and reduce condensation. Two of the Crosstown models are apron-front style sinks that utilize an apron front that slips over the front edge of the standard cabinet sink base. Circle No. 189 on Product Card Advance Tabco's A-Line "Wine Chiller" undermount stainless steel sinks are available in two standard sizes – 20"x10"x8" and 16"x16"x8". Custom sizes can be fabricated to special requirements. Circle No. 186 on Product Card The Planar 8 Series of handcrafted, Italian- made kitchen sinks from Franke Kitchen Systems are made from premium Grade 304 18-gauge stainless steel, are equipped with sound-dampening pads and feature Franke's silky luster fnish. The tight, 8mm radius corners provide ease of maintenance, and the drain is placed at the rear of the unit so that drainage piping does not crowd the space inside the cabinet beneath the sink. Circle No. 182 on Product Card