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Poor little rich thing

Being far from dainty, this might not be something for the fainthearted, but Italian sanitary ware firm cea lab has produced a striking range of taps and mixers with a masculine, functional feel. The Neutra range has simple pipe faucets with flat, pivoting solid steel pull levers that adjust flow rates and temperature. With the whole range in brushed stainless steel, the sharp industrial feel is unmistakable – and there’s something quite compelling about their sheer mass. Cea lab’s Bold 100mm showerhead meanwhile is so pared down, it verges on the elemental, suggesting the mains pipe has just been smashed into the bathroom. Specified in some very flash Italian boutique hotels, the arte povera allusions merged with the obvious luxury of the stainless finish makes it one of my current faucet faves.

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