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Cool New ''Karbon'' Faucet from Kohler

15 years ago

I saw in the paper a new faucet made by Kohler. It's called the Karbon faucet. I have never seen anything like it. It's articulating, with 5 joints, so that it can be extended high or pivoted low or pushed to the side, or folded down. It looks cool and different. The website linked below has a feature where you can click on the various positions to see the faucet articulate.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kohler's Karbon Faucet

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Comments (24)

raggiemom
15 years ago
It might do a lot, but it sure doesn't look very good. I don't think I would want it in my kitchen,.
sarschlos_remodeler
15 years ago
I totally disagree. I think it is funky and interesting. It's not a "traditional" faucet look, but that's part of its appeal.
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Always difficult to design right, the first time. Always an iteration needed. The idea is that when you want to immobilize / perch the hand shower, ones places its universal butt end into a -- holder clip designed as part of the steel support around the sink rim, or into a -- option 2.) removable extension holder normally stored in the cubbyhole with the hand shower. I'm assuming you can picture a hand-shower thingie, in a kitchen. Made of a typical kitchen pulldown tip. And, also, that you can picture a handshower holder inside the sink, under the counter, in an undermount sink. The hand shower / faucet is then invisible, when stored away. Its hose is too. To get the hose to come from somewhere that make sense, picture a 5" x 24" opening cut out of the counter, along the back wall. This gives you room to reach into garbage and storage below. Cabinets can be pulled forward (e.g. 3") and trimmed down to leave space behind. In that space (behind cabinet drawers) are containers for refuse / garbage / compost, and for the handshower and hose, and for some food (e.g. onions+garlic, root vegetables, bread box / bakery) See "1/6 size" and "1/4 size" restaurant containers (stainless steel, polysulfonate, polycarbonate) 6" deep or deeper. The hose is connected to flex lines behind the counter. In the rim around the sink there is a gap (horizontal slot) greater than 0.75"h 24"w in the steel support (custom built). Under the counter. This gap is where the handles are for IHW, filtered water, and regular tap water. And soap.
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The Karbon comes in a wall-mount too if you don't want to put any holes in your granite. That's the one I have and I really like it. No more trying to clean around the fixture on the countertop. My sink is a Kohler 33" and is the only sink. The Karbon does a great job, plenty powerful spray, great reach. Love it. However, make sure you get a plumber to install it that has done this before. The twit that did mine messed it up and I just had to have it fixed for the third time.
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bbtrix - thanks for posting your kitchen. The karbon really doesn't look out of place at all, and in fact, looks really cool against your wood counters. (Beautiful wood counters!) I'd seen oldbat's kitchen, but noticed that it was a bit eclectic (with the tile), which would be the reason her karbon fits in nicely, whereas my kitchen won't be eclectic. So that's why I was not sure whether her kitchen was a good 'basic traditional kitchen' to compare to. I think bbtrix's is closer to mine. breezy, I agree with you 100% that the faucet really needs to be highly functional. That is why I've been having such trouble choosing one. The pretty, vintage ones all have some sort of function-gap that makes it impossible to pull the trigger on one. After posting my initial post, I went to have a look at the Karbon in person. A couple of things to note, in case anybody finds this thread through googling: 1. If you grab the nozzle, you can position the faucet anywhere you want with ease; however, if you try to reverse the orientation of a bend--or 'unzig a zag'--that requires a bit of muscle with one hand. But my feeling is: how often am I going to do that? I would assume not very often, but it would be good to know from owners if they do this a lot. 2. the chrome version stays fingerprint-free because a lot of it is that carbon pipe stuff. 3. there is a heftiness to this faucet that the pull-outs don't have. It feels good to grab hold of the whole faucet to position it. It feels tough. Anyway, I'm still thinking about it!
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I wouldn't say that Kohler doesn't stand by their products based on this exchange. The customer service rep. said they couldn't help me over the phone and referred me to the seller. I tried to explain that I was seeking information about whether they had any suggestions for why the water flow might be so completely blocked, but she just continued to say I must inspect my receipt and contact the seller. I assume this was her way of saying "you need a replacement " so find out what the seller will do for you. I also assume that if the seller is an authorized Kohler dealer (which I doubt) he/she will be made whole by Kohler if the product is defective. Fortunately, the other Karbon works fine so I will have water to my sink even if I have to wait for another faucet. I'd prefer not to pay big bucks for another, but the CS rep. did say Kohler's only remedy was a new faucet stem that would cost more than the original faucet. My plumber had no prior experience with Karbons and after dis-assembling all the other parts, he was stumped.
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ne_flyingdiver
15 years ago
I love it. I would consider it for my kitchen - however, I would have to wait a few months to see if any negative feedback surfaced.
jb1176
15 years ago
How expensive is the Karbon faucet? It would need a really modern kitchen to look good.
mahatmacat1
15 years ago
I think it's cool, too--just wonder about the durability of the tubing inside...I'd be waiting past its first incarnation too.
PRO
puertasdesign
15 years ago
I like it.
Kohler's website says $990.

I think it's a nice alternative to the usual pull-out spray heads, which I almost always find annoying and cheap feeling.
I'd been thinking I was going to have to pony up for a KWC faucet this time around, but maybe this is a real alternative.

Anyone have any experience with Kohler's warranty and returns department?
kkupstate
15 years ago
My husband thought it was ultra cool (me too)! Had I known it was only $1000 I would have considered it (probably not...) I figured it would cost closer to $2000 for some reason, and I couldn't find the price of it when I looked...Of course I just checked out the website and I would want the vibrant stainless version of it and that is $1275

I did just order a Kohler faucet, just not that one...(funny, I just got the box from UPS!)
revans1
15 years ago
I think it's awesome. Love to have it in my kitchen.
sue_ct
15 years ago
WSC Direct has it on back order:

$623.70 POLISHED CHROME
$803.25 VIBRANT STAINLESS

When other places get it you might even be able to do a little better. I would definately try faucetdirect.com after it comes out.

Sue
sally123
15 years ago
I like the way it looks like you can so easily aim it directly at yourself. At my house (3 boys) that would be its most used feature. :)
jaymielo
15 years ago
sally, I was thinking the exact same thing. The sprayer is one of my boys favorite "toys". With this, they could position it pointing straight up and build "fountains". Oh the joy!
bluekitobsessed
15 years ago
From the LA Times today: "uber-industrial, robotic, looks like the plumber forgot to finish assembling the faucet."
kateskouros
15 years ago
i concur with the LA Times. i vote for hideous. but to each his own.
Buehl
15 years ago
I guess I'm a "traditional sort of gal"...it looks cool...but not something I would want in my kitchen. Maybe in the Laundry Room just for kicks...but not the kitchen.

I'm w/Sally & Jaymie...both my son and daughter would think it was fun to create a fountain or use it to spray each other!!!

It's all a matter of personal preference!
claire_de_luna
15 years ago
It does look very industrial; leave it to Kohler to make something that's very expensive considering the fact that it ''almost'' looks finished. I still prefer the much more affordable Chicago faucet, for similar features.

Here is a link that might be useful: Chicago Faucet
rhome410
15 years ago
I think it would get yuck in all the joints? I'm just imagining people here grabbing it with dough-covered or sticky hands... Then their quick faucet wipe-downs would leave residue in all those hard-to-clean places.
abbycat9990
15 years ago
It's the kind of thing my DH would like, but I would be concerned about all the moving parts getting gunked up or falling apart. That Chicago faucet is beautiful to me. I guess I have a limit on loving articulated parts. Cool to see that faucets continue to evolve.
Circus Peanut
15 years ago
I like it, but would be slightly afraid it would come alive at night and eat my brain.
sarschlos_remodeler
15 years ago
Interesting points of view. I don't know why I didn't think of the dough-gooey hands issue before. Wonder if the Kohler folks google to see the comments on their new products for future mods.
rmkitchen
15 years ago
It made me think of the Lacava Mombo faucet, which is truly flexible!
kitchendetective
15 years ago
It looks wonderful to me. I would have to experience the action in order to know if I really like it, but I think it looks like it would be great to use--and I like things to be more traditional, usually.
sally123
15 years ago
The Lacava faucet looks like some sort of reptile. I'd be afraid to go into my kitchen at night.
kateskouros
15 years ago
i'm afraid i'm going to hijack. please forgive...

claire de luna, have you found a reputable source for chicago faucets? i'd like very dependable, basic faucets for secondary baths and i think i've found that in chicago. TIA!

and, i like the look of the chicago faucet a lot better than the kohler. the chicago doesn't seem to be trying as hard to be contemporary and cool. it is what it is.
claire_de_luna
15 years ago
kateskouros, I bought my faucets from Faucet Direct, and it looks like they don't carry that particular one. I did a Google search and found this supplier, but I can't vouch for how reputable they are. It's a starting point however...you might see what else you can find.

Here is a link that might be useful: One Chicago Faucet supplier

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