Design Your Own Faucets With Copper Pipe
Tap into the trend of faucets crafted from plumbers’ piping, and add a warm industrial touch to your kitchen or bath
If you love copper and brass and hanker for a dash of industrial style in your kitchen or bathroom, a homemade faucet could be for you. It has the potential to be less expensive than a ready-made designer model while still ramping up the style. Below, see 11 ways to style DIY copper and brass faucets.
2. Long game. To make the most of that warm metal piping, use more of it. Here, the homeowners have not only started their faucets high, but also continued them low and opted to position the handles in the middle of each pipe.
Reclaimed baths or sinks may have faucet holes already present, as this one does, and here, it really adds to the warm, DIY aesthetic. However, if you’re buying a new free-standing bath and are planning to wall-mount faucets like this, you might want to look out for a design with no predrilled faucet holes.
Reclaimed baths or sinks may have faucet holes already present, as this one does, and here, it really adds to the warm, DIY aesthetic. However, if you’re buying a new free-standing bath and are planning to wall-mount faucets like this, you might want to look out for a design with no predrilled faucet holes.
3. Luxe contrast. This grand traditional kitchen is loaded with luxury touches, including the marble backsplash and countertop. The contrast with DIY faucets made from plumbing equipment works well (plus warm metal and gray marble is an oh-so-now combination).
Do include a partner piece, though. Here, the raw wood base cabinets balance the industrial with the classic nicely.
You have a number of options for handles for your pipe faucets. The ones in this kitchen are wheel heads. In the next photo, you’ll see lever handles. You’ll find examples of other types below.
Do include a partner piece, though. Here, the raw wood base cabinets balance the industrial with the classic nicely.
You have a number of options for handles for your pipe faucets. The ones in this kitchen are wheel heads. In the next photo, you’ll see lever handles. You’ll find examples of other types below.
4. Color code. Lever handles often come in red and blue, as seen here.
This bathroom really ramps up the metallic effect by going for copper on as many surfaces as possible — from the drainpipe and the towel rail to the table and the mirror. It really works, especially as the whole effect is muted classily with two shades of gray.
The positioning of these faucets is clever too. They both come from the right side but are staggered so as to achieve a hot and cold on the left and right.
This bathroom really ramps up the metallic effect by going for copper on as many surfaces as possible — from the drainpipe and the towel rail to the table and the mirror. It really works, especially as the whole effect is muted classily with two shades of gray.
The positioning of these faucets is clever too. They both come from the right side but are staggered so as to achieve a hot and cold on the left and right.
5. Industrial backdrop. Concrete is a natural partner for exposed copper piping since both have utilitarian connotations.
This shower has been fitted with a fixture that allows the shower part of the design to swing around. It looks wonderfully pared-back as it is, but you might consider using a copper shower head if you prefer broader coverage.
This shower has been fitted with a fixture that allows the shower part of the design to swing around. It looks wonderfully pared-back as it is, but you might consider using a copper shower head if you prefer broader coverage.
6. Savvy workaround. Do you like the idea of making your own faucet but feel a bit daunted by the design decisions and effort involved? Then simply choose a look-alike off-the-shelf model that gives the effect of copper plumbers’ piping, and ramp up the trick of the eye by installing hanging rails made out of the stuff nearby.
This would also work well in a bathroom for towel bars or hangers for storage baskets on S hooks.
This would also work well in a bathroom for towel bars or hangers for storage baskets on S hooks.
7. Antique effect. There’s something of the Victorian public baths about this type of DIY faucet. Why? It’s the clever idea of combining it with flat, brick-formation subway tiles with crackle glaze for an antique effect. Add dark grout and the civic amenity look is complete.
If you want to create a utilitarian effect with subway tiles, choose them carefully. Designs with a beveled edge will look lovely too but will have a softer, more residential feel.
If you want to create a utilitarian effect with subway tiles, choose them carefully. Designs with a beveled edge will look lovely too but will have a softer, more residential feel.
8. Sculpted effect. When you’re designing your own faucet, why stick to convention? This spout is given extra visual interest by its quirky kink.
Concrete and copper, again, combine well to create an industrial-style interior. If you prefer that your copper look a little old rather than gleaming and new, seek out piping with a patina or follow the various online guides to giving yours an antique look yourself.
Concrete and copper, again, combine well to create an industrial-style interior. If you prefer that your copper look a little old rather than gleaming and new, seek out piping with a patina or follow the various online guides to giving yours an antique look yourself.
9. DIY blend. Max the utilitarian look of your DIY faucets by having them running into an unreconstructed vintage sink.
A single spout to mix your hot and cold supplies is not the only way. This unusual design mixes the two temperatures externally as they come out of each pipe. Note, too, the unusual long lever handles behind the sink.
To achieve something like this, you’d do well to locate a vintage plumbing supplies enthusiast to help you find what you want.
A single spout to mix your hot and cold supplies is not the only way. This unusual design mixes the two temperatures externally as they come out of each pipe. Note, too, the unusual long lever handles behind the sink.
To achieve something like this, you’d do well to locate a vintage plumbing supplies enthusiast to help you find what you want.
10. Mixed metals. We’ve already seen copper mixed with brass, but here’s the more unusual idea of combining it with chrome in a make-it-yourself faucet. The DIY design here is mounted onto wood, perhaps to hide brickwork disturbed by drilling for the pipes. Here, the handles are basic cross heads.
This unusual idea for a shower tray goes beyond any sense of “tray.” In fact, this metal tub is more like a circular tin bath, but it functions well as a place to stand while showering and, especially with the exposed brick wall and faucets, completes the industrial effect.
This unusual idea for a shower tray goes beyond any sense of “tray.” In fact, this metal tub is more like a circular tin bath, but it functions well as a place to stand while showering and, especially with the exposed brick wall and faucets, completes the industrial effect.
Here’s a little more of it. The shower rail made from pipework to match the faucets is a nice touch.
11. Full exposure. If you’re going for exposed pipes, why not go whole hog? Here, the suspended countertop shows off the copper piping above as well as below, where things might ordinarily be out of sight.
It does mean, of course, that the rest of the pipework needs to be up to exposure too. You can buy drainpipes for sinks in a number of different finishes, including copper and brass.
Tell us: What do you think of this faucet trend? Let us know any creative DIY ideas you’ve employed in your kitchen or bathroom in the Comments below.
More
How to Replace Your Kitchen Faucet
Shine On: How to Clean and Care for Copper
It does mean, of course, that the rest of the pipework needs to be up to exposure too. You can buy drainpipes for sinks in a number of different finishes, including copper and brass.
Tell us: What do you think of this faucet trend? Let us know any creative DIY ideas you’ve employed in your kitchen or bathroom in the Comments below.
More
How to Replace Your Kitchen Faucet
Shine On: How to Clean and Care for Copper
Individual brass faucets coordinate well with the warmer copper below, and the whole effect shows just how homey industrial style can be. It’s perfect if you want more of a Downton Abbey look than an airy warehouse loft cook space.