Statement-makers: modern tapware direct from Italy

An integral but often-overlooked element to any modern bathroom is the choice of tapware. Recent innovations in design, functionality and the sustainable aspects of these necessary bathroom features means that homeowners have a wide range of taps from which to choose. And, when faced with a plethora of choices, with Italian-designed and made products you can’t go wrong.

New Zealand bathroom specialists SA Plumbing Supply imports the latest in stainless steel taps from Quadro, one of Italy’s most exciting bathroom companies. Based in northern Italy, Quadro is a small and vibrant family-owned company. Its young owners and in-house design team focus on product design that is environmentally friendly, innovative and of the highest quality.

Sean Paterson, director of SA Plumbing Supply, says that he decided to bring the Quadro range to New Zealand because of its high-quality raw materials and forward-thinking design. The sleek, minimalist Levo tapware range has been available in New Zealand since 2018, while the brand-new, quirky HB, Modo and Stereo collections have just landed on our shores.

Every product in Quadro’s collections can be finished in both brushed and polished stainless steel and the company uses only AISI 304 and 316 stainless steel certified materials to guarantee quality and anti-toxicity. They also have a stainless steel certification from Inox Italia to ISO 9001:2000 – the highest standard possible.

Stainless steel is a material well-known for its durability, thanks to its alloying elements that form a thin, transparent layer on the surface. This layer protects the material from air and water and explains why stainless steel doesn’t require any coating or other protection to remain shiny and bright during its lifetime.

The material’s sustainable credentials are also impressive. Sean explains: “Stainless steel is a noble metal that contains no toxic elements, such as lead or chrome; nor does it undergo any galvanic treatments like those needed to make traditional brass taps. It is also 100 per cent recyclable and made from up to 60 per cent recycled materials. Stainless steel is hygienic and doesn’t release any noxious elements that could be harmful to our health.”

The design of Quadro’s collections is also up to the minute. Every product designer knows that the latest trends for the home can be found at the Salone del Mobile fair in Milan, where the International Bathroom Exhibition provided many inspiring examples and ideas for Sean, who attended in April last year.

He says, “The bathroom displays at the Salone del Mobile were absolutely incredible. What stood out to me the most was that nine out of 10 tap manufacturers exhibiting were showing taps made of stainless steel or a variation – the only company that had anything fully made of chrome was Hans Grohe.”

Other strong themes that Sean noticed at the Salone was the emphasis on sustainability through the materials used, energy-saving schemes and water efficiency. Many modern mixers are designed for low-water usage and Quadro’s Levo series features a five litres per minute aerator. This equates to a five-star WELS rating – the national New Zealand standard water rating that allows consumers to compare the water efficiency between different products, much like the Star rating for appliances.

“The Levo series has a very high efficiency rating as opposed to other similar mixers that can use between 10 to 12 litres per minute,” comments Sean. “Water usage is a huge issue right now and this will continue to be the case in the immediate future, so it is essential that we mitigate the challenges of a world that has less water readily available for everyday use.”

In terms of the design trends at the 2018 Salone del Mobile fair, Sean saw plenty of statement taps with features such as retro-styled dial handles, splashes of bold colour and tap handles made of quirky textures and materials like cork.

He believes that New Zealanders are quite conservative with their tapware, even though they make bold choices in furniture and design in other parts of the home. “It’d be nice to see Kiwis choosing more architectural, modern models of tapware, such as the Levo series – and they don’t need to be super expensive to look great,” he says.

Quadro’s Levo range is designed by Italian architecture and design company Studio Adolini. The collection merges simple, clean lines with technology and was recently featured in the Icon Design magazine’s list of ‘31 Must Haves for 2019’. It is available in a range of tones and in various environmentally-friendly PVD finishes that impart a more natural look than a powder coat finish, with excellent wear and corrosion resistance.

SA Plumbing Supply is proud of its short lead time for delivery, with its most popular products held in stock so they can be shipped the very next day. The company also offers a large number of samples so homeowners can gain a better idea of which models of Quadro tapware could best work in the bathroom.

To see more innovative, high-quality tapware and bathroom products, visit SA Plumbing Supply on ArchiPro here.