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OK . . . that was fun, my last post – in New York City with Brizo – and don’t mind the all-expense paid trip, the cocktail parties, the limo rides, the new concepts, the fancy clothes, the beautiful women and the earthworms …. Instead, let’s talk faucets. Brizo faucets for that matter.

Sure we were sequestered in a room for a portion of day talking Brizo brand philosophy.  We bore witness to some purely scrumptious, although still top secret, designs.  Brizo’s Director of Industrial Design, Judd Lord, along with Senior Product Manager, Brian Jones walked us through the birth of a faucet . . . from conception to production.

Those Fashionable Faucets …

Mesmerizing stuff really, and while I am tempted to try to hack it out – friend Michelle Carangi @HolleyandGill did a great job, already, of capturing the deets.

They work within an industry which on the outside might seem dull or limiting, but this team has taken every spare inch of creativity to produce the most interesting and innovative products for your kitchen and bath out there. And no, I’m not just saying this because Brizo brought me to New York to spend time with them and help them with their product research. I was among 19 other bloggers/designers and throughout every conversation afterwards, this opinion was unanimous.

They live design, they implement it on a daily basis and fear no boundaries in it either. For me, a company that allows their designers to use travel as a form of inspiration can do nothing but succeed and excel in their respective games. Brizo opens all avenues for creativity to flow and seeing what they’ve produced for their upcoming 2011-2012 lines, it’s certainly making the magic happen for them.

Brizo RSVP Widespread. . . between daydreams and fits of envy, we received a pretty decent snapshot of Brizo’s current offerings.  From the Providence Classic that happens to sit in my powder room to the RSVP, its sleek silhouette conjuring the feminine form.

The Virage – with its distinctive twist — was inspired, as Judd told us, by the wrought iron spirals found throughout Europe (End: Fun Factbit).

Designer Celine Kwok says — they, the faucets, are like “jewelry for the home” (and again with the “fashion”).  But that about sums it up perfectly, with Brizo . . . and I was pretty thoroughly wowed by the styling across all collections.

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… Are also Hi-Tech :: Fashionable Innovations

But . . . Wait! . . . I’m a man’s man (or is that pronounced “nerd”?), and either way — enough with this talk of fashiony-things.  I. just. gotta. talk . . . (*monster truck voice*) . . . raw practicality . . . now.

Some very exciting innovations coming from Brizo (part of the Delta family), and how could you (general) not be impressed by the Talo and Venuto, equipped with SmartTouch® Technology? . . . That’s right >> SmartTouch® Technology!

I mean — if you think about it; it’s pretty space-aged stuff.

SmartTouch® – when I asked, was equated to the movie, the Matrix — where it, the faucet, channels the energy from “the grid” (No!  Come on!).  The SmartTouch®-equipped faucet senses the electrical energy we produce.  It is a software application, that simple; the same employed in any hands-free faucet set-up.  Here, however, the faucet’s sensitivity has been “dialed down” a little.

Brizo's Talo Kitchen Faucet with SmartTouch TechnologyThis technology is “smart” though (hence the name . . . maybe? Ahhhh . . . Hmmmm).  Smart enough to discern the intentional swing of a fixture’s spout (where water is not released) from a touch, which is or was intended to produce a stream of water.

When listening to the Brizo team, as they frame it — they seem to feel that these and similar technologies will become the gold standard, a staple as designs move forward.  I mean —  the future of faucets may not have handles.  The Future, Man, and Wow!  A bold statement, and think, no handles would probably be quite liberating for a faucet designer.

“Water . . . On.  92.”  OK, OK . . .

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Brizo SmartTouch

We received a free faucet and I am very interested to find out how exactly it installs and how it functions. (Note: This faucet was ultimately installed during a remodel of my mom’s kitchen. To see SmartTouch in action, see the article – Finished with a Faucet.)

(But what to do?  I have made all the faucet purchases for my house, “the farm”.  What then, to do with it?  Mom’s remodeling, Dad’s shopping kitchen faucets . . . hmmm, a Give Away?!  Ha!  And what could I have people do to win such a sweet faucet?  Faucet repair stories, silly human tricks . . . and might you leave a comment below if you have an idea?.)

Siderna Two Handle Has No Set ScrewsAnother cool little thing Brizo has going is MagneLock®.  This advancement allows pull-down kitchen faucet heads to return snugly to their place.  This feature has evolved quickly, and similar thinking has made its way into bathroom lines.

The biggest benefit I see here (and I hope I am not leaking this) — magnetized parts allow for the elimination of set screws in installations.  Installers of these lines can now simply “snap on” faucet handles and/or escutcheon plates . . . saving time, and in some cases . . . headaches.

This feature makes its appearance in the 2011 offerings for the Siderna Collection.  Note the glass accents . . . pictured at right.

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Biomimicry :: Taking Design Cues from Nature

OK, I know I have given you a lot of links to click up there, so I won’t burden you further with my thoughts on say Brizo’s Sensori® Shower Systems (though they are allllll good).  Maybe next time, when I write on Biomimicry.  I did cover a lot here . . .

Virage Wallmount from BrizoDidn’t get to the fun little bud vases or the dish clothe butlers.  Nor did I cover some of the new mini-widespreads, such as those in the Baliza Collection.  (These are invaluable, of course, as options when replacing faucets but not sinks.)  Rats!  I didn’t get to the bit about “how collections, and faucets, get their names . . . .”  (Did you know that many start out simply as pet names given by their designers?)

I did get to “Dream with a Twist” — the Virage.  And SmartTouch® and MagneLock®.  And I see now how faucets and fashion tie closely together.  As the fashion designers at Fashion Week push the boundaries of style — so toodo the designers at Brizo.

And . . . if I learned one thing from my all-expense paid trip to New York (courtesy of Brizo), there is certainly no way that I can, or will, look at faucets the same way . . . ever again.

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For more on the Delta, Brizo and faucets in general please, still around and click. For Brizo‘s shop on Amazon, here.

Thanks for reading . . . more hopefully soon. jb

More Moxie:

** Many of Brizo‘s faucets have WaterSense® label.  These faucets use 20% less water than those without a similar rating.

** Note:  SmartTouch® can be added to many of the existing lines with an upcharge of about $200.  A software-driven sensor is added under deck where it is powered by 6 AA batteries.

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EPA's WaterSense Logo in Color

15 thoughts on “Building Moxie Archive: Brizo Faucets :: Like Bling for Your Home & Okay Science & Tech Too

  1. Great post! I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous indeed. I would love to see that sort of thing and experience.

    P.S….love the SmartTouch. Wow!

  2. Amy — what jealous . . .? me? it was pretty sweet. And I just hope that I gave the faucets, yes the faucets — the justice they deserve. great day. thanks for the comment.

  3. Great post jb! Thanks for the great introduction (for me, anyway) to the Brizo. The SmartTouch and Magnelock features seem really invovative. And its been a lot of fun just keeping up with your adventures…both here and on FB. Thanks, jb!

  4. I meant to say, “to the Brizo product line”. That’s what happens when you attempt to comment and cook breakfast at the same time! :-)

  5. multitasking and I know it all too well. maybe smartTouch could free up a hand… just sayin’ and the whole “just keeping up with your adventures…” had to make me laugh. Good stuff . . and as Eric @Florida_Design says it seems like every men’s room he goes into now he is eying up the faucets…. funny, looking at faucets thru Brizo colored glasses … for reals! Brilliant!

  6. I definitely want one of those Smart Touches in my future. Why? Because one of my kids has issues with fine/gross motor and sequencing so right now he uses a 1-handle sink faucet as the 2 handles are too hard for him when it comes to sorting out the right mix of hot and cold. Smart Touch would totally solve the problem for him.
    And I’m really glad you wrote this post – it puts some personality into the brand! Wheeeeeee

  7. whee . . . ha! and you make a very good point. thanks for sharing my friend. set it once and you go. it would perfect . . .

  8. Great post, JB! Like Amy, I am jealous! I would love to do something like this!

    Your friend’s remark about looking at the faucets reminds me of a commercial a few years ago. I am pretty sure that it was Delta, where the guy is in the men’s room at a theater (not movie) and is obviously blind and running his hand over the faucet. When he gets back to is seat, he leans over & comments to his companion “You should see the great faucet” or something to that effect. Funny how you notice things you never have before, isn’t it?

    Have a great week, another great post. Did you have to throw the Sanka at the computer last night? ;-)

    Brenda Lynn

  9. Brenda that’s a cool little story about the Delta commercial. and it is very cool to see someone reading the comments from other visitors (truth: they are usually more with it than me. ha!)

    and I do feel very lucky to have been part of this trip…. only wish I could have packed you all in my luggage . . . then again, where would I have stored all my shoes?

    no sanka was thrown in the writing of this blog posting.

  10. Jb…..what a fabulous post!

    I just ordered my Talo Smart Touch and I’m excited to experience the magic.
    Missed you this week in LA…..maybe next year.

  11. Thank you Lori! not quite sure what I am going to do with mine yet…but I am looking forward to hearing your experiences. “the magic” makes me smile. great day… and you’ll have to fill me in on the conference. ~jb

  12. Nick you’re the man… I have to say I like the Talo myself. and do need to get that done. Unfortunately — I have new fixtures (w/i last 2 years in every room in my house — Brizo and Delta represented). The “me” in me can’t see undoing that work….wonder how I am going to find a home for it?… but do not think it will be a problem. thanks for the comment my friend and rock on. ~jb

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