What is the best thing about the use of copper in bathroom design especially when it comes to tubs and sinks? Everything. But since that's not very helpful, we'll be a bit more specific and share the four best things about it.
Relax the modern world's cares away in a copper, freestanding tub. If you've ever wanted to close your eyes and dream what life was like in the slow lane during the late 1800s, this bathroom accessory will do the trick. Free-standing tubs come with and without claw feet, a design feature popular during the Victorian period, when freestanding bathtubs were large enough for a man to lie down.
There are two types of ball and claw feet in which the animal claw appears to grasp the ball at the bottom of the foot.
- The lion claw foot is popular in the UK
- the Eagle talon is popular in the US
In addition, claw feet come in Paw, Cannonball, and Armada styles. Paw feet are an ornamental cat or dog-like feet on the tub. Cannonball is what it sounds like, a ball foot that resembles a cannonball with a flat bottom on which the tub balances. The Armada style has rectangular or square blocks at the foot of the tub.
Tubs without claw feet are pedestal tubs. They sit directly on a flat base on the floor. The sides of a freestanding tub come in flat or slipper style. Single slipper style has one raised end that allows the bather to lean back in comfort while enjoying a good long soak. The double slipper has both ends raised.
The benefits of copper are especially appropriate in the bathroom. Craftsmen hand hammer the copper, a process which lets the beauty of the metal shine through in a design unique to that tub. Instead of feeling cold porcelain at your back while you bathe, you will feel warm copper evenly distribute the warmth of the bath water and hold that warmth while you luxuriate away the stresses of modern life. The health benefits of copper's anti-bacterial surface mean that any microbes that slough off the body and land on the copper, die quickly with no chance to multiply. After finishing a bath, a simple rinse of the copper tub is the only cleaning regime necessary. Gentle body soap and water does the trick. Don't forget to dry the tub thoroughly, though, to prevent water spots on the finish.
Select copper sinks in the bathroom for that rustic feel. Homeowners today seem in love with the past, or at least the romantic furnishings of the past. Every home should reflect the personality and style of the buyer. If you have a large enough bathroom and would like to bring back the farmhouse motif, then we have you covered. Farmhouse sinks are wonderful. Today, they come in several styles. Traditionally, bathroom sinks are deep and made of hammered copper. Copper sinks are a fashion statement and will become the focus of your bathroom vanity area. Perhaps your bathroom is more contemporary than it is yesteryear. Copper sinks fit right in among the more modern themes. You can choose from colors that run from natural copper to rustic burnished copper. Their shapes vary, too, from round to oval, from square to off-center. You will find something that reflects your style.
Here are a few things to consider before you buy a copper sink:
- Copper does not rust and is corrosion resistant.
- Copper sinks do not turn green. Copper is a "living metal" which means it protects itself against damage. It does this by acquiring a patina which darkens the finish as the copper ages through time and use. The patina has hues of copper-colored highlights running through the darkened tone. Rubbing with salt in vinegar lightens the patina.
- Scratches on a copper sink's surface blend into the patina, becoming invisible.
- Sinks come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They come in a variety of copper tones. If you want to retain the original copper tone (and do not appreciate copper's patina as it ages), you can coat the sink to retain the original copper color.
- Copper is a highly reactive metal so various acidic and alkali liquids will cause the color to darken. Even toothpaste may stain a copper sink if it is not immediately removed and the surface cleaned with a non-abrasive cleaner. Hot combs and other shaving or hair utensils that we use in the bathroom can damage the finish on copper sinks, whether smooth or hammered.
- Cleaning the copper finish is not difficult but takes dedication. Even leaving water droplets on the sink can damage the finish. After every use, you must towel dry the sink to prevent water damage. Mild soap and water -- no abrasive cleaners -- will keep the finish gleaming like new. Definitely, do not leave rubber mats or sponges lying in the sink.
- Some gauges of copper can warp and dent easily.
- You probably already know that copper sinks are more expensive than stainless steel, porcelain or ceramic.