Design taps, Made in Italy
High-end Italian taps and fittings: TREEMME, Rubinetterie STELLA (1882), Zucchetti. Brass PVD finishes, 200+ references tested on our live tap wall, Paris 17e Brunel showroom.
Showroom since 2012 — Paris 16e Passy & Paris 17e Brunel — by appointment
Marine Naccache, Managing Director, Atelier Matière
The taps we distribute are entirely Made in Italy, from three reference houses: TREEMME (Rubinetterie 3M, fifty years of design, Watertube, UP+, IOS, Appia, Line, T-30 collections), Rubinetterie STELLA (founded in 1882 on the shores of Lake Orta, almost 140 years old, with heritage Italica, Roma, Eccelsa and contemporary Sirius and Macarons collections) and Zucchetti (an icon of Italian design, collaborations with Matteo Thun, Alberto Meda, Ludovica Serafini & Roberto Palomba). Every piece is machined from solid brass, assembled and hand-finished in Italian workshops. Ceramic cartridges are certified for 500,000 cycles.
Finishes span the full contemporary range: polished chrome, brushed chrome, matt black, brushed PVD brass, gun-metal bronze, satin stainless, brushed nickel, rose gold, matt white. PVD technology (Physical Vapor Deposition) provides UV, cleaning product and wear resistance far above traditional galvanic plating — 10-year warranties on many collections. In our Brunel (17e) showroom we display a working tap wall with over 200 references plumbed to live water: clients handle the lever, test the pressure, listen to the flow. For architects, decorators and clients, our specialists coordinate flow rates, concealed bodies, connections and matching bathroom/kitchen finishes.
What is PVD finish on taps?
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PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) is a high-temperature vacuum process that deposits a nanometric layer of titanium, zirconium or chromium nitride on the brass body. Result: a hard finish (6-9 on the Mohs scale), resistant to scratches, aggressive cleaners, UV and oxidation. 10-year warranty from TREEMME and Zucchetti, versus 2-3 years for traditional galvanic plating.
Three-hole or single-lever mixer on a vanity top?
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The single-lever mixer (one handle for temperature and flow) is the practical choice: fast installation, easy cleaning, child-friendly. The three-hole (two cross or lever handles + central spout) is the heritage choice, drawn from historical bathrooms (STELLA Italica 1921, Eccelsa 1929): visible brass, ritual gesture, richer visual read. Stylistic preference.
What spout height for a countertop basin?
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For a countertop basin (10-15 cm high, rim at 95-100 cm from floor), the spout should be 10-20 cm above the basin rim, i.e. a tap 25-35 cm tall overall. The Appia (TREEMME) and Sirius (STELLA) ranges are drawn specifically for this use. A short spout splashes; an overlong spout projects water outside the basin.
Can tap and sanitary finishes be coordinated?
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Yes, this is a core principle of contemporary project work. TREEMME, Zucchetti and STELLA offer 10-20 finishes that coordinate, so the same gun-metal bronze appears on the kitchen mixer, bathroom basin tap, shower, bidet and accessories (towel bars, hooks). Our advisers compile a project pack by finish.
Wall-mounted or deck-mounted mixer?
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The wall-mounted mixer (concealed body) frees the vanity top, is easier to clean, but requires a technical opening planned upstream (frame or masonry). The deck-mounted mixer (on the top) fits any pre-drilled vanity, is easy to replace, but occupies the top and splashes around the base. Wall-mounted dominates in contemporary interior design; deck-mounted suits renovations.
Atelier Matière — materials studio and showroom in Paris, active since 2012. By appointment.
