For 15 years, Symmons Design Studiohas been producing custom and cutting-edge solutions for designers wanting elegant bathroom and kitchen fixtures with remarkable performance. The site-specific products produced by Design Studio have already helped a wide range of clients across the U.S., from UCLA student housing to the Algonquin Hotel in New York City — just two of many projects that have benefitted from Symmons experts taking on the unique performance challenges while also realizing the vision of designers. Now the customized faucets inspired by the most elegant bathrooms and kitchens around the country — such as the Waikiki Street Air Gap Faucet — are available to every project through Symmons Extended Collections. And they come complete with the state-of-the-art innovations that made them the perfect solutions for their original projects.
Originally designed for the five-star Ritz Carlton Residences in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Waikiki faucet was formed to recall both the pristine, natural beauty of the island and the chic hotel properties dotting the famous Waikiki district. The design team desired a visually refined kitchen for the residences while still offering the technical amenities of a fully functional kitchen. Taking a less-is-more approach, Symmons design consultants worked with the engineering team to develop a first-of-its-kind faucet that eliminates the need for a separate air gap knob on the countertop. For the Ritz residences, that meant maintaining a minimal and modern aesthetic with just one simple piece of polished nickel rising from the marble counter.
In addition to reinforcing the aesthetic vision, the Waikiki eliminates worries about code compliance in Hawaii and beyond. If you have ever wondered what that small knob next to the faucet does exactly, you are not alone. And if you are already familiar with the air gap, it has probably already gotten in the way of your perfect kitchen by sticking up and standing out next to the faucet. But, the air gap’s function is so critical that more than 10 states require its installation whenever a dishwasher is present. At the same time, kitchens in Texas, California, Washington and Nevada are required to have the small, but necessary, vent no matter what.
Air gap fittings are so important because they prevent backflow from the dishwasher in the event of a clogged sink. A seemingly minor function, but one that keeps gray water meant for the drain from getting into the dishwasher and contaminating dishes or, worse, the entire water supply. Up until the patented Waikiki design, remodels and new kitchens would have to deal with the headaches of drilling separate holes into countertops and trying to find ways to blend the distracting object with refined fixtures or polished granite. What Symmons has created in Waikiki simply brings the function of the air gap to the base of the faucet — a clever way to comply with both codes and a designer’s vision.
The Waikiki faucet also offers an attached single handle, creating one slender item that offers all required functionality in a polished chrome or stainless steel finish. The faucet also offers impressive flow rates of 1.5 and 2.2 gpm. While many faucets strive to offer the same design objectives that Symmons realized for the Ritz in Hawaii, they still require the separate air gap to meet the same performance levels. Symmons has not only made the Waikiki model available to all but is exploring possibilities to bring the integrated air gap into many different faucet designs. Designers can look forward to sleeker kitchen countertops with completely smooth lines no matter where they are and what look they are going for.
Symmons is no stranger to big innovations like the Waikiki. Founded in 1939, the company’s founder made a name for himself by constructing a pressure-balancing valve to help reign in fluctuations in water pressure and rapid temperature changes that could cause scalding. Since then, the breakthrough design has remained largely unchanged and has helped shape Symmons’ commitment to breakthroughs in functionality. With the Design Studio, Symmons can keep pushing those envelopes by working with some of the most beautiful spaces in the country, and the Extended Selection allows those new ideas and unrivaled aesthetics to be easily incorporated in kitchens everywhere.