A tapware collection that balances modern form with superior function

No other room in the house encompasses the need to have a harmony between form and function quite as much as the kitchen.

Many of us dream of having a beautifully designed kitchen: with appealing fixtures and appliances; an efficient layout that anchors the home with proximity to outdoor entertaining areas; and attractive benchtops, cabinetry and splashbacks.

However the utility of the kitchen is also of paramount importance; its functions must work in concert with each other, while combining a large range of appliances and fittings that make cooking and hosting easier and more enjoyable.

A perfect example of the finer details required during the design phase of the kitchen is the tap: no kitchen is complete without one, and it is perhaps the most frequently used fixture in the room. With its central role in the kitchen, many homeowners want it to be as good-looking as it is useful.

Voda Plumbingware is keenly aware of the delicate balance needed between form and function in tapware, and this manifests itself in no greater way than its Olympia tapware range, available in four stunning colour options.

Combining strong, modern lines with softened angles and curves, the Olympia collection is unmistakably on-trend, while being engineered to make life easier in the kitchen.

Jon Doherty, the managing director of Voda Plumbingware, says the range’s look makes it stand out immediately.

“Aside from the stunning design, the taps are PVD coated, where the colour is molecularly bonded on to the tap to ensure the coating is very strong,” says Jon.

PVD, which stands for physical vapour deposition, is a coating method in which a solid metal is vaporised in a vacuum and deposited onto the surface of the tap, atom by atom. This forms a thin, bonded, metal surface, creating the finished colour. These types of coatings are highly resistant to tarnishing and corrosion, making them ideal for plumbingware.

“This method is often used on external car parts and even aeroplane parts, so it’s a very strong surface,” says Jon. “So you have the peace of mind that it will last a long time, with resistance to tarnishing and scratches.”

The tapware designs can come in a range of different colours, including brushed copper, brushed nickel, and brushed gunmetal — all finishes are PVD. This highly protective finish also allows Voda Plumbingware to offer an extension of five years to the surface warranty, on top of the range’s standard 10-year product warranty.

After pulling you in with its looks, the range follows through with its functionality, with a whole host of cutting-edge technology on offer.

First there’s the unique on/off push-button controller on the pull-out sink mixers — which allows users to easily operate the tap without needing to touch the tap handle lever.

“We call it the ‘chicken hands’ feature,” says Jon, “because you can turn the tap on or off easily even if you have occupied or otherwise dirty hands. For example, after you’ve chopped some chicken, instead of using your hands to pull or push the lever, all you need is a gentle touch on the button.”

This feature is incredibly handy for day-to-day tasks too — ideal for when rinsing out the sink, rinsing dishes, or washing vegetables.

Then there’s the ColdStart technology. “In a lot of other high-rise spout taps, where the mixer lever is situated on the side rather than on top, it can limit how close the tap is placed to the wall — as the lever can often hit the wall in many installations.

“With ColdStart, rather than having to push it back towards the wall, it's actually cold at the lever’s central start position.”

This allows the mixer to be installed closer to the wall as the lever doesn’t get pushed back towards the wall during operation, making it easily used in sculleries or smaller kitchens.

“We’ve found that the ColdStart technology is very popular, and we’ve been told that it’s much nicer to use than older taps.”

With a full assortment of plumbingware products for both kitchens and bathrooms, the Olympia range is suitable for all water pressures, so it's ideal for all new builds, and modern bathroom or kitchen renovations. All Voda Plumbingware products are specifically designed for New Zealand living environments and New Zealand’s unique water pressures.

Learn more about Voda Plumbingware and its products.