From Pot Fillers to Steam Showers, These Kitchen and Bathroom Upgrades Might Be Worth Splashing Out

You don't technically need them...but maybe you do?

When you’re dreaming of ways to really level up your space, you often ask questions with an obvious answer: Do I need a wine fridge? Shouldn’t my shower have half a dozen sprayers? That answer of course is usually, for logistical reasons, no. But it’s also sometimes worth considering a compromise. Maybe sticking with your dorm room French press is fine, but you really need that pot filler. Or you’re content to wash your old dishes in a new sink worth writing home about. Here are some splurges that don’t necessarily make sense, but maybe sometimes they do.

Day to Evening

Homeowner Scott Hager enjoys a cup of coffee from his Miele espresso machine, with dog Hondo at his feet.

Homeowner Scott Hager enjoys a cup of coffee from his Miele espresso machine, with dog Hondo at his feet.

Today’s kitchens are more than a place to make meals. They’re where we start our mornings and where we can return throughout the day for tiny top-ups of the stuff that makes us feel good. Need a cold glass of ice water while working from home or a sneaky late-night snack? A well-stocked kitchen prioritizes pleasure while putting the fun in function.

What’s Scott’s secret for the perfect cup of coffee? "All I have to do is push a button, it makes the perfect cup for me," he says.

What’s Scott’s secret for the perfect cup of coffee? "All I have to do is push a button, it makes the perfect cup for me," he says.

Who needs cabinet space when you can set aside a shelf or two for an appliance garage—a handy home base for your little luxuries, whatever they may be. Maybe you need an industrial-grade blender or a stand mixer fit for a commercial kitchen. Or maybe you really want pebble ice and espresso every morning—but are you willing to move water lines to accommodate your desires?

Mary and Scott Hager love their ice machine and consider it a necessity in their home. When the two have something to celebrate, the Scotsman  ice machine has just what they need for the perfect drink, says Scott. "With the Sonic-style crushed ice, it’s gotta be a margarita."

Mary and Scott Hager love their ice machine and consider it a necessity in their home. When the two have something to celebrate, the Scotsman ice machine has just what they need for the perfect drink, says Scott. "With the Sonic-style crushed ice, it’s gotta be a margarita."

"Appliances have now become one of the first set of decisions we ask clients to make when they are renovating or building a new home," says designer Jean Liu. Time-honored brands like Scotsman’s Ice Systems offer a variety of products, so there’s one to fit many budgets and spaces. For Liu’s clients Mary and Scott Hager, a Scotsman model was a must-have. "The ice maker was a nonnegotiable," Liu notes. "They had the same ice maker in one of their previous homes and knew how much they would enjoy it."

From Pot Fillers to Steam Showers, These Kitchen and Bathroom Upgrades Might Be Worth Splashing Out - Photo 4 of 13 -

"As for the coffee maker, they saw the entire showroom section of integrated coffee makers when they went to shop for their other appliances and were convinced to add the Miele into this new home," she adds. And while the Hagers can rely on their coffee maker for a quick caffeine fix, their son is their ice machine’s biggest fan, and he’s always happy to mix himself a Painkiller (rum, pineapple, OJ, and coconut cream over ice—take note).

Upgrade your kitchen:

Miele CVA 7370 Built-in Coffee Machine
Miele CVA 7370 Built-in Coffee Machine
Built-in coffee machine In a perfectly combinable design with patented CupSensor for perfect coffee. 
Scotsman Brilliance® Nugget Ice Machine Model SCN60
Scotsman Brilliance® Nugget Ice Machine Model SCN60
If you’ve got a taste for soft, chewable ice that absorbs the flavor of your beverage, our Brilliance® nugget ice is for you. Scotsman's nugget ice is made from bits of compacted flakes of ice, making them softer than our cubes.

Fancy Faucets

If Matt Rednor is filling up a stockpot, red lentil pasta is on the menu. "A great way to pack in more fiber at dinner," he says. "And our toddler son loves the color."

If Matt Rednor is filling up a stockpot, red lentil pasta is on the menu. "A great way to pack in more fiber at dinner," he says. "And our toddler son loves the color."

Your grandma’s spigot worked just fine, but there are a lot of shinier options out there now that get the job done with so much more style.

For example, California Faucet’s wall-mounted range of pot fillers, as seen in Matt Rednor’s renovation, is available in more than 20 finishes. Don’t let decision fatigue turn you off. Just remember that thanks to the faucet’s dual-jointed swing spout, splashing potfuls of water across the kitchen will be a thing of the past. If you’re new to pot fillers, you can generally mount one about 18 inches above the counter, but your mileage may vary. Designer Danielle Colding notes, "A good rule of thumb is to place the faucet head a few inches above your tallest pot."

Annie Ritz and Daniel Rabin of And And And Studio used a HydroTap Arc for Amy and Joseph Miller’s remodel. "Having the sparkling water on tap is a game changer," says Joseph. "We all love it, and our three-year-old asks for it starting at breakfast."

Annie Ritz and Daniel Rabin of And And And Studio used a HydroTap Arc for Amy and Joseph Miller’s remodel. "Having the sparkling water on tap is a game changer," says Joseph. "We all love it, and our three-year-old asks for it starting at breakfast."

If you’re after a tap that’s all that and a kitchen sink, try the HydroTap Arc for Home. Zip Water’s multifunctional faucet packs can do it all and are built to last. Choose from models that offer different combinations of boiling, chilled, and sparkling water because—why not? It’s your kitchen, not mine.

Seltzer on demand!

Seltzer on demand!

Annie Ritz and Daniel Rabin of And And And Studio chose to use a HydroTap Arc for Amy and Joseph Miller’s recent remodel. Their vision for the home was inspired by the clients’ travels to Puglia, Italy, where whitewashed towns tower over dramatic cliffs leading into the Adriatic Sea. For the kitchen, they chose warm woods and cabinetry to match the 16-foot-long travertine table by Jamie Hayon. Ritz and Rabin went for a sleek faucet in matte black that acts as a subtle accent against the kitchen’s sandy southern European palette.

But if you’re after a glossy gold faucet or one in silver, you’re in luck: The HydroTap Arc comes in seven finishes. Choose one that matches your jewelry or your mood. (Or your kitchen, I guess.)

It’s time for a new faucet!

HydroTap Arc for Home from Zip Water
HydroTap Arc for Home from Zip Water
Able to complement any kitchen, from traditional to contemporary, the HydroTap Arc has been created with the design enthusiast in mind.
Pot Filler, Dual Handle Wall Mount from California Faucets
Pot Filler, Dual Handle Wall Mount from California Faucets
All brass construction.22-3/16" wall to center.1/4 turn ceramic disc cartridge(s)Dual jointed swing spout.1/2" FIP inlet quick connect for ease of installation.Max flow rate: 4.0 gpm at 60 psi.

Sipping in Style

A beverage fridge means you’ll never have to deal with a lukewarm Dr. Pepper again!

A beverage fridge means you’ll never have to deal with a lukewarm Dr. Pepper again!

If you’re anything like me, a full fridge is the key to a full heart. But on a steamy summer day, there’s nothing worse than holding the door open as you rummage past bags of spinach and loose lemons to find a can of something cold while hot air fills your fridge.

An under-the-counter beverage fridge might seem like an extravagance—but it doesn’t have to be if you know where to look. Zephyr’s single-zone coolers, which clock in at around $1,500 each, are affordable enough and can be easily gussied up to look very expensive. It’s the stuff of summer daydreams, with professional-grade temperature regulation and ventilation, decked out with built-in LED light strips and a crystal-clear glass door for taking stock of your options.

One beverage fridge is good, but two, even better.

One beverage fridge is good, but two, even better.

For wine freaks, Zephyr’s single-zone wine cooler won’t break the bank. Use the full-extension wood racks to lay down that bottle you brought back from Bordeaux (or Trader Joe’s, no judgment). The refrigerator also includes a vibration-dampening system to ensure that your bottles of bubbles are safe, secure, and ready to be sabred in celebration at a moment’s notice because luxury has no schedule, darling.

The matching single-zone beverage fridge comes highly recommended as well. Jessica Davis of Atelier Davis says it’s a personal favorite, and she chose both Zephyr’s wine fridge and beverage fridge for her own Atlanta home. They were easy to integrate into her existing kitchen concept: "They are panel-ready, which gives them a much higher-end, custom feel.

"We have a good amount of champagne that people have given us," designer Jessica Davis says of her family’s home. "But neither of us really drink champagne, so it builds up at the top of the fridge  until friends come over."

"We have a good amount of champagne that people have given us," designer Jessica Davis says of her family’s home. "But neither of us really drink champagne, so it builds up at the top of the fridge until friends come over."

"I made sure I had them on-site and all the specifications early in the game so that the cabinetry person could plan accordingly," Davis says. To round out her kitchen, she used tubular hardware from Nest Studio to lend an elegance to the cabinetry. "Having two fridges allowed me to make them mirror images of each other from a right- and left-hand perspective, which really accentuates the hardware," she says.

Once you’ve found the perfect fridge and finish, the real fun begins: How will you stock it? For Davis, the answer was always clear: "I am a seltzer junkie, so San Pellegrino, Spindrift, and LaCroix," she admits, adding, "I also love a midday Diet Coke." Girl, me too.

A fridge for all your beverages:

Zephyr Single Zone Beverage Cooler
Zephyr Single Zone Beverage Cooler
Our Presrv™ Beverage Cooler is as chill as it looks and is always ready to party.

Power Showers

Designer Analisse Taft-Gersten loves Sting radio on Pandora for her steam showers, but " ‘Flowers’ by Miley Cyrus is pretty damn good, too."

Designer Analisse Taft-Gersten loves Sting radio on Pandora for her steam showers, but " ‘Flowers’ by Miley Cyrus is pretty damn good, too."

Steam systems, body jets, and rainfall showerheads, oh my! Who needs the spa when your bathroom can have it all?

While I was proud of myself for swapping out the showerhead from my landlord for one with a water softener, more advanced fixtures require more advanced interventions in both plumbing and electrical components. For a steam shower, this means making room for a generator the size of a briefcase, which boils the water away from your bathroom in a dry, heated location. The steam is then released through a steam head, which can be operated through a control on the wall (or via an app, if that’s what you’re into).

To ensure that your steam shower is fully functional, you will need a standard household power system, as well as a water line to the generator, a steam line from the generator to the shower, and a drain line leading away from the shower. I know what you’re thinking: It’s easy, almost too easy. But, buyer, beware: To set it all up, you might have to think outside the cubicle.

Designer Analisse Taft-Gersten of ALT for Living knew she wanted a solid-marble bathroom with the iTempoPlus Steam Shower System from Mr. Steam for her Hamptons home. "This bathroom was extremely challenging to do because the flooring underneath was just floorboards, with no space in between," she says. "We had to get very creative to run lines and vents down to the basement."

This shower with its various body jets and sprays makes for a spa experience from the comfort of your own home. 

This shower with its various body jets and sprays makes for a spa experience from the comfort of your own home. 

"Baths have so many layers of complexity to meet both function and beauty," explains Elena Frampton of Frampton Co. "Floor pitch; drainage details; waterproofing; the right size, proportions, and layout; and, of course, heights for showerheads and body sprays."

Is it worth it in the end? Well, it might be. "Custom work always adds a level of personalization," Frampton notes. In a recent project, she balanced the renovations needed to add a set of body jets from THG Paris with the layout of the adjacent dining room and powder room, then thickened select walls to ensure that the plumbing fit comfortably. "A luxury shower wants an interesting shape and proportion," she says. "We created a tall curving space, an accessible but not visually prominent product storage, and gorgeous materials—here, stone floors and a handmade crackled glazed tile."

Make the shower fun again:

THG Body Spray 1/2" with Easyclean
THG Body Spray 1/2" with Easyclean
Available in a variety of finishes, including chrome, gold, and bronze.  Inquire with THG Paris for pricing and installation specs.
Mr Steam iTempoPlus Steam shower System
Mr Steam iTempoPlus Steam shower System
The iTempo Control is simple, elegant, and easy to use. Forged from solid brass and available in your choice of 10 designer finishes, iTempo meshes seamlessly with any bathroom décor.

Bath-Side Tables

It happened to me: I ran a hot bath, tossed in a cup of eucalyptus salt, and lined up a film on my laptop. Then I poured myself a glass of wine, only to realize I had nowhere to put it.

From Pot Fillers to Steam Showers, These Kitchen and Bathroom Upgrades Might Be Worth Splashing Out - Photo 13 of 13 -

Trendy or classic? Wood or smoked glass? When it comes to choosing a bath-side table, you’ll find yourself spoiled for choice. Practicality is key: You want to soak away your worries, not let them sink in. I love vintage farmhouse stools as much as the next bath aficionado, but they can be a pain to clean, especially when exposed to high humidity.

Pawn organic side table by Marie Michielssen from Serax
Pawn organic side table by Marie Michielssen from Serax
This green stool from the Pawn collection by Marie Michielssen is made of stone with a glazed finish and has a fascinating and harmonious shape. The glaze layer on the top is a nice contrast to the rough stone surface and also has a functional aspect.
Bit Stool White Multi by Normann Copenhagen
Bit Stool White Multi by Normann Copenhagen
Bit is an aesthetically pleasing, versatile stool with countless possibilities for your home. Use Bit as a pedestal for a floral arrangement, as a side table for a lamp, or as impromptu seating for that unexpected dinner guest.
Half Past Small Side Table
Half Past Small Side Table
Sculptural side table that’s moody and a little bit attitude-y. Bronze tempered glass gracefully arches to support a cantilevered glass top. Ample curves and a beveled edge keep the silhouette soft and dynamic.
SCULPT Occasional Table by Tina Frey
SCULPT Occasional Table by Tina Frey
The Sculpt Occasional Table is the perfect addition to any living room, bedroom or bathroom. Place a plant, stack of books or cluster of candles on this piece. It pairs well with our Milking Stool.

Instead, you’ll want to opt for bath-side tables made from materials like glass and acrylic for ease of cleaning. Any rings left on a model like the Miniforms Soda can be buffed with a wet towel once you’re done soaking. No mess, no stress, no problem.

Thierry Occasional Tables, Bordeaux by Kartell
Thierry Occasional Tables, Bordeaux by Kartell
This trio of glamorous tables by Piero Lissoni is named after Thierry Hermès, the founder of French luxury brand Hermès. Like glittering gemstones, Thierry Tables (2021) are beautifully crafted with painted tempered glass tops and painted steel pedestals.
Halves Side Table by Muuto
Halves Side Table by Muuto
The Halves Side Table (2017) is youthful and informal in its aesthetics but represents more traditional values of durability and practicality. It reflects an exploration of form that plays with planes and intersections, featuring a full top and a lower half shelf for holding various items.
Eames Wire Base Low Table by Herman Miller x HAY
Eames Wire Base Low Table by Herman Miller x HAY
Just 10" high, the Eames Wire Base Low Table (1950) provides a handy surface for anything you’d like to keep within reach. This versatile table has been updated in new colors and materials through a first-ever collaboration between Herman Miller and the Danish company HAY.
Schoolhouse Utility Stool 18"
Schoolhouse Utility Stool 18"
Built to last, this industrial-strength welded steel stool is ready to be put to work in any room of the house. An update of a classic, the design prioritizes comfort with an ergonomic stamped seat and molded backrest. Rubber feet help protect floors and resist skidding.

And now... let’s play a game called "Find the Fridge"

Styling by Julia Stevens.

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