It is important to choose high quality taps and sinks, inferior sinks mark and scratch easily. Taps and sinks are the centre point of any kitchen, so a good looking tap provides a good impact visually combined with an attractive sink reinforces the pedigree of your kitchen.

Manufacturers like Abode, Perrin and Rowe, Grohe, Franke, Blanco and Carron Phoenix produce some very good looking taps but always check with your designer that they are suitable for your existing water supply, many taps are not completely suitable for gravity systems.

Generally taps are much higher than in previous years and are intended to make an impact in your kitchen and there are also many taps which have more than one function. Tap manufacturers such as Grohe, Triflow concepts, Franke and Quooker produce taps that will provide you with hot and cold water and boiling water, in some cases chilled filtered water is also available. There are also many specialist taps that will provide filtered water only.

There are many quality sinks on the market made from different materials; Ceramic, porcelain, composite brass and stainless steel.

The most popular sinks in my market are ceramic and porcelain for their ease of cleaning and also the impact they have on a kitchen, especially under mounted bowls. I find them easy to specify as most housewives love bleach and this has an effect of both composite and stainless steel sinks, but ceramic and porcelain sinks are impervious to such cleaners However the myriad of designs available from the stainless steel manufacturers, Franke, Carron, Blanco and 1810 to name a few make the stainless steel sinks a design feature and there will always be a place in the market for them.

Composite sinks are available in many colours and are popular when a kitchen requires a co-ordinating sink but be careful when cleaning.