This month, Design Manager at Abode, Paul Illingworth looks at the importance of good ergonomics in the kitchen and how a selection of specialist taps by the brand are exclusively designed to improve agility in the wash zone without compromising on style or safety.
So why does ergonomics play such a big role in kitchen product design? Now regarded as the main social hub of the modern home, the kitchen has become all things to all people, and given the rise in multi-generational households, the tap has become more than just a ‘supplier of water’.
Trends are therefore identifying water safety as a number one priority with taps that are designed to be used by people of all ages, including those with limited mobility, outperforming other inclusive-style taps that forego style over substance. This is because having a kitchen that can grow with you is going to be a prerequisite for the modern homeowner as we move into next year, greatly impacting how the kitchen wash zone is being designed for young families, downsizers and the newly retired under one roof.
For us, we are finding taps designed with a pull-out rinse are a great addition in the main kitchen and utility room, enhancing today’s busy home and lifestyle by giving the end user even more control when prepping food, pot filling or cleaning necessities like kitchen utensils, cookware or dirty dishes. While kitchen ownership is near universal, we can report only 22% of consumers own a separate utility room and this area of the market is gaining traction fast. The pandemic was definitely a contributing factor to the upturn in working from home, and this has led to open plan kitchen living spaces needing a separate area for appliances, laundry, utility sinks and taps.
This new aspiration presents a huge growth opportunity for UK kitchen designers and manufacturers as almost every utility room features a sink and tap, and as the latest lifestyle trends are experiencing a 63% surge in cooking and entertaining in the home, this type of tap will help to optimise any style of wash zone. Our Tubist T launched in April 2022, is designed with an iconic T-bar style pull-out spray, which is shaped to keep both hand and wrist in a neutral, stress-free position and weighted to ensure a fast, gravitational pull back. Its effortless trigger spray function with c.60cm pull-out will easily reach the corners of an extra-large kitchen sink and switching from hot to cold is straightforward thanks to its space-saving monobloc design and distinct front lever design, which ensures absolutely no risk of damage to the wall or splashback: a huge design advantage.
There is a common misconception that a tap with modern functionality can only be contemporary in its design, however we are pleased to challenge traditional design concepts with our latest bridge design, Hex Bridge Pull Out. The perfect companion for kitchen schemes with larger sinks, this model launched in June of this year, offers the very best elements of our iconic Hex range such as the original knurled spout collar and hexagonal handles. Also benefitting from our retractable pull-out technology, Hex Bridge Pull Out will coordinate seamlessly with any style of kitchen featuring industrial or traditional design elements, while helping to define the wash zone and bring new levels of form and function to the UK kitchen and utility room.
Our ergonomically designed Agilis single lever tap also lends itself to a multi-generational and inclusive household. Designed for ultimate ease of use, Agilis reduces reach making it simpler to access the tap handle and key features include its unique, inclusive design, 120° tap rotation, minimum 0.75 bar pressure and single flow characteristics. Featuring a sweeping L shape body with knurled aerator collar, the handle is located on the front of the tap body for easy reach, and to provide agile movement via a single lever. Just a flick of a wrist will operate the water flow, keeping hands free when pot filling, prepping food or washing dirty hands from baking or gardening.
The principles of ergonomics continue to put the comfort of the end user front and center, and so finding ways to improve the functionality of a kitchen and utility room will continue to underline sinks and taps as added value features of the modern home.
For further info, please contact Abode:
t 01226 283 434 | e [email protected] | w www.abodedesigns.co.uk