Sinks and taps

This kitchen features sleek benchtops, a sleek induction hob – and a sleek, curvaceous one-touch Greens Galiano Kontact sink mixer standing at the ready

This pristine white kitchen adds a touch of colour in an unexpected way – an Elkay Quartz Luxe undermount sink in Red features on the island

Tapware finishes have come a long way from chrome, or chrome – this Progetto tap has a pretty, distressed look implying a long busy life

For this designer's own kitchen, the Astra Walker Ikon Kitchen mixer is custom made to 400mm height with a curved spout in Urban Brass

This sink has an implied lineage, looking like it is carved out of its white leathered granite benchtop – in reality, it's just finished in the same stone

Two sinks, a Dornbracht mixer and Zenith Hydrotap water dispenser feature on this expansive island, keeping functionality as well as aesthetics to the fore

In this minimalist kitchen, a Blanco Subline sink recedes into the Florium stone benchtop while the Buddy Kitchen Mixer in Rose Gold stands to attention

Timeless materials recommend this new home – from concrete and brick to sisal, leather and timber – and even the shiny brass tapware

The comprehensive to-hand functionality of a sleek and curvaceous Dornbracht Metrix mixer meets a chunky and classic Shaws butler's sink in this elegant traditional-look kitchen

This kitchen has its tap options well-covered with the inclusion of a Zenith Hydrotap GA Cube – pure tasting, filtered, instant boiling, chilled and sparkling water runs Zenith's own publicity.

In an architectural home full of surprises we spotted a rather rakish, almost sculptural benchtop pourer – the fine art of utility as eye-catching feature

With most everything swept behind cabinetry doors, what's left really stands out – such as the award-winning KWC Zoe tap in this kitchen

Given this kitchen's intentionally limited colour choices, even the dramatic matt black tapware takes its colour cues from its immediate surroundings

How to match the lux appeal of your new Calacatta benchtop? Well if you don't have enough brass for gold tapware, how about brass itself?

This home's black exterior palette carries through to the kitchen detailing – including kitchen handles, hinges, modern Nivito tap and the sink

This dramatic kitchen is flat-out minimalist and that goes for the handleless cabinetry, flush wall oven and island hob, as well as the rimless sink 

The finishing touch of any kitchen is perfect tapware. Tap designer and manufacturer Methven shares some aspects to consider when making this all important design choice

Strong materials and a simple layout are central to this kitchen with a semi-industrial aesthetic – everything from the windows to the taps plays a part in the symmetrical design

The kitchen tap and sink in this minimalist home's kitchen have a quiet presence – after all they are almost the only clue to the kitchen's understated design which all but disappears into its wider context

Classic farmhouse sinks tend to be in chunky china, but not so in this kitchen, where the home's cladding provides material context for a farmhouse-style sink in stainless steel

There are many ways to advance the specific look of your design and the not so humble kitchen sink is one of them. This kitchen has a classic meets lodge-style feel and the chunky farmhouse sink completes that picture

Restrained is not for everyone. This gleaming kitchen has an opulent presence and while chandeliers might be its crowning glory even the brass tapware acts a bit like jewellery in the design.

Flush sinks and a hob welded flush into the rear stainless steel benchtop contribute to the pared back look of this kitchen by the Matisse design team.

This kitchen reflects a rich materiality, with touches of brass seen in the tapware, cabinet handles, window latches, light fittings and the rustic brass wire cabinet grills.

Unless you need the exercise it makes good sense to create a compact tight work triangle in your kitchen. In this kitchen, the prepping sink is literally one step from the fridge, one step from the cooktop and one step from the integrated pantry to the far left.

Style, health, and sheer convenience are three great reasons to consider an in-bench water system – Merquip has several standout options

Connecting with black cladding, window fenestrations and wood fire burner, this dramatic kitchen lays the white-kitchens-are-best adage to rest

Better in black – from the leather finished granite benchtops, to benchtop tapware, to even the light fittings, this contemporary kitchen is not shy of connecting with its surroundings

Minimalist can still be material rich. A contributor in this pared back kitchen is the island's curvaceous Icon sink mixer in brass

When it comes to great kitchen design, nothing is simply utilitarian – this benchtop tap is an excellent working example.