A mixer is not just a device formixing cold and hot water. Today this item of sanitary engineering has become almost the most important element of the design of the bathroom, part of the style. Some models, thanks to the development of cult design groups, give this room a chic and sophisticated. But this is not the main thing. Modern mixers have become the embodiment of functionality, economy and ergonomics. Pick up the product you need is not so simple. The assortment is very wide: almost every manufacturer, and there are many of them in this field, offers its customers several collections. However, choosing which bathroom faucet is best is not such a simple task. And we hope that our review will help you in this. In the focus of our attention today are novelties of designer series of all famous companies. You can say, bathroom faucets "couture" category. In the group of exclusive mixers, the trend change is especially acute, as creative individuals participate in their development. But first, let's look at the design features of different mixers. 
The triumph of ergonomics
Famous designer Antonio Gaudi, developinghis model, vyleplav of clay handles mixers, trying to simulate the movement of the hand. So he tried to find an absolutely comfortable form. This story has become a legend, but the demands for ergonomics have only increased since then. The main principle of the modern mixer was ease of use. A good product should not only attract us with a brilliant appearance, but also be bribed with ease of operation. Modern bathroom faucets are divided into two groups - single-lever and double-lever. In double-lever mixers for cold and hot water, separate cranes with their handles are used. The most traditional form of them was a "cross" of two gates. In these mixers, the water head is controlled by unscrewing and twisting the handles. Locking is provided by a rubber gasket that covers the hole. Effectively and simply! If not for one thing: the gasket wears out quickly. Manufacturers have found how to solve this problem. They replaced the rubber gasket with ceramic plates. These plates practically do not wear out. In addition, they significantly reduce the noise of water. There is another plus. To fully open or close the valve, just turn the valve by a quarter of a turn. All is well, but these plates are afraid of impurities in tap water. To get rid of them you need to put a filter. "Crosses" organically fits into the interior of the bathroom, decorated in a classic style. They become, as it were, a manifestation of nostalgia for the past times. For greater similarity, some originals-designers of the cross-pieces of retro-copies decorate with shiny balls on the ends, and in the center of the faucet set enameled plates with the inscriptions "cold" and "hot". In "crosses" made in the modernist style, the crossbeams are straight, without any excesses of decoration. In some products in general, instead of valves installed levers, which rotate in the plane. Carefully designed faces of the round handle stand out with a special grip convenience. In single lever mixers, all functions are performed by one lever. This idea was put forward by the American company Delta Faucet, which in the fifties introduced such models into production. The lever is one with the movable end of the mixer. The simplicity with which it is possible to create the necessary temperature, regulate the flow and quickly cover it, has ensured worldwide success and recognition for these products. The mixer can be easily adjusted with your finger, and even with the edge of the palm or its back. Different firms have modified this model. Today, for example, mixers with a very long handle are produced, which can be rotated by the movement of the elbow. The first single-lever mixers were spherical. Cold and hot water came into the mixer, which was a hollow ball made of stainless steel. From there, warm water came out through the tap. Such models can be found even today among the collections of some firms. But more popular are faucets with a shut-off valve, which is made in the form of a replaceable cartridge. There are two ceramic plates with holes in it. When the handle is rotated, the plates themselves move relative to each other, the holes coincide, and cold and hot water get inside. There it mixes, and then comes to the tap. This design can withstand head to eight atmospheres. It is very reliable and durable. In the nineties, a revolutionary mixer line was designed. In these mixers, the mobile end of the hull was abandoned, leaving a small hole in the monolithic part of the structure. From this hole grows a thin rod made of metal. The prototype of such a crane was an ordinary column. The idea was quickly picked up and replicated by other companies. A special category here is thermostatic mixers. They are equipped with two handles, one of which regulates the head, and the second is a scale. It sets the desired temperature, which is controlled by a special sensor. The thermoelement inside the enclosure controls: once the water gets slightly hotter or colder, it changes the flow ratio, thereby restoring the balance. Thermostats differ in that, even if the water pressure decreases, they maintain the necessary temperature. There is a special safety button for protecting against burns. There are also so-called sensor mixers, in which the sensors turn on the water themselves, when a person brings a hand to the crane (the infrared sensor responds to movement). The material for making mixers is mainly brass. The basis of the ceramic cartridge - valve sealing plates - is made of aluminum oxide, which is characterized by high wear resistance. Ball regulators and fasteners are made of stainless steel. Housing for mixers can be made of plastic. External parts for corrosion protection are nickel-plated, and then covered with matte or shiny chrome, colored or white enamel and even gold and platinum. Some firms experiment with patina. In their arsenal there are shades of "old gold", "old silver", "oxidized copper" and "oxidized brass". When decorating handles apply glass, wood, crystal, marble, malachite, onyx and even precious stones. If you are interested in bathroom faucets, which is better, you have to admit that the Germans are leading here. Fashion legislators in this area are German sanitary giants such as KLUDI, GROHE, JADO, DORNBRACHT, JOERGER, HANSGROHE, HANSA. The second place is firmly occupied by the Italians. And small factories are in the lead here. In the list are the family companies NEWFORM, VISENTIN, NAUTICA, FRATELLI ROSSI, GESSI, etc. The Nordic companies and the French firms continue the relay. It is impossible to unequivocally advise which mixer is best to buy. It all depends on your personal preferences, and we outlined the rating of the companies. 
Group of shiny
GROHE company adopted the slogan: either you control the water, or it controls you! Developing a new technology, she made single-lever mixers, which work with incredible smoothness, which is provided with a lubricating Teflon coating. You will like the stylish design of mixers, the variety of which is very wide. There are models for a minimalist bathroom, there are also models that differ in sports design. The HANSGROHE mixers impress the beauty of the product. They are designed under the motto "more water, more quality, more design." The smooth smooth lines of the chrome-plated crane continue to have a clear base geometry and are complemented by the harmoniously completed faces and profiles of the model. The water flows out of these mixers in a dense stream, resembling a natural waterfall. Other models combine simple forms with retro elements: cross filigree handles and ceramic inserts. For analogy with the past and creating the effect of authenticity, a polished or ground nickel coating is used. The company JADO produces models that decorate the collection of sanitary ware. At the end of the last century, she developed and released her most famous product - a mixer made in the form of a "golden" swan, which is still a cultic piece of sanitaryware for many aesthetes. Details of this firm are forged from brass, and not cast. Futuristic mixers from HANSA have received prestigious awards from design centers. The work of this mixer is similar to a real show: a stream of water comes from the depths, flows through a glass tab with illumination and falls freely into the bathroom. Transparent mixer allows you to see changes in the color of water depending on the temperature - from blue to red. The mixer is controlled by touch buttons. But this is not the only model that received prizes. Another mixer of this manufacturer is called the most sensuality, expressed in glass and chrome. The water from it flows already when approaching the sensory sensor of the palms. It is possible to enumerate exclusive models for a long time and to be surprised at them. In ordinary life, such a bathroom faucet is not very useful. But all these firms produce high-quality functional bathroom faucets, from which you will surely choose the model that will serve you for years, because these mixers are reliable. We advise you to read:
