Stainless-steel sinks are still hot — and the larger they are, the better. Image from a StreetEasy listing at One Vandam.
From faucets and sinks to knobs and pulls, kitchen and bathroom hardware is like jewelry for the home — and just like jewelry, it’s highly subject to trends. Faucets, knobs, and drawer pulls are relatively easy to switch out, and they have the power to make your space feel either of-the-moment or totally passé, making or breaking its perceived value. We spoke to Manhattan interior designer Bella Mancini, of Bella Mancini Design, to find out what’s hot right now in the New York world of kitchen and bathroom fixtures.
Kitchen Hardware Trends in NYC
Big Sinks
According to Mancini, when it comes to kitchen sinks, modern stainless steel is going strong. Her go-to brand is the Swiss purveyor Franke, which offers a wide variety of models and styles. Still, the craving for those nearly ubiquitous porcelain farmhouse sinks has not gone away, and many of her clients request this classic look. For a more traditional-style sink, Mancini recommends Waterworks. But either way, whether stainless or porcelain, “the bigger, the better,” she says.
Mixed Metallics
“We are seeing lots of playfulness for clients finally agreeing to mix metals,” Mancini notes. Chrome mixed with brass is a trendy combo (“unlacquered for the brave, brushed matte for the perfectionist”), and of course, this being New York, lots and lots of black. So where does Mancini go to find the best and most unique finishes? The Brooklyn company Watermark, which handcrafts all their designs.
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Premium Knobs and Pulls
For a quick knob or pull update, Mancini relies on Schoolhouse, known for their classic style, inspired by the past. For projects with a longer lead time, Mancini loves the luxurious British brand Armac Martin. “They make some of the prettiest pulls and knobs around,” she says.
Bathroom Hardware Trends in NYC
Matte fixtures and wall-hung vanities are hot bathroom trends in NYC right now. Image from a StreetEasy listing at 6 Cortlandt Alley.
Wall-Hung Vanities
While the farmhouse sink may still reign supreme in the kitchen, when it comes to bathrooms, it’s all about keeping things super streamlined and modern. Mancini is customizing vanities for many of her clients, who want them “Wall-hung, sleek, and clean.”
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Integrated Hand Pulls
In keeping with the minimalist, modern style, traditional handles are now viewed as fussy, and have given way to the “no hardware” look. Integrated hand pulls, featuring the same material as the vanity, are cropping up all over the city now, offering a desirably seamless aesthetic.
Classic chrome is the safe and easy choice for bathroom fixtures. Black finishes are growing more popular. From a StreetEasy listing at 570 Broome St.
Traditional Finishes
Experimenting with finishes may work in the kitchen, but Mancini recommends playing it safe in the bath and sticking with classic polished chrome. “It’s good for resale and maintenance ease,” she says. Matte black is also popping up everywhere, and is becoming an increasingly popular choice for kids’ bathrooms, she notes.
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