Freestanding Bath Taps: Floor-Standing, Victorian and Gold
Freestanding bath taps do far more than fill a tub. Once a bath stands free of the walls, there is no tiled surround to hide the plumbing, and the tap becomes a second piece of furniture beside the bath. It is seen from every angle and decides whether a roll top bath looks like a sculpture. Casa Padrino, an international supplier of luxury furniture and bathroom fittings, offers a considered range for exactly this purpose: from a slim floor-standing mixer to an Art Nouveau bath shower mixer with a rain head, made from brass and finished in gold, silver or black.
This guide explains what matters when you choose a freestanding tub faucet. It covers the three ways of mounting a bath tap and what each one demands from the plumbing, why a floor-standing tap belongs in the plan before the screed goes down, how hand showers and overhead showers change the way a bath is used, and how finish, bath, waste and basin taps come together as one scheme.
The floor-standing mixer rises 109.7 cm beside the bath as a column of its own and is fixed to the floor. It comes in chrome, matt black, nickel, gold and graphite. Pictured: Casa Padrino Luxury Bathtub Stand Fitting H. 109.7 cm - Various Colors - Bathroom Accessories
Floor, wall or deck: three ways to mount freestanding bath taps
Before style and colour comes a practical question: where does the water come from? There are three answers.
A floor-standing bath tap, also called a freestanding bath filler or standpipe tap, is fixed to the floor and rises as an independent column beside the tub. The bath stays free on every side and can sit in the middle of the room or in front of a bay window. The supply pipes come up through the floor, which is why the position has to be fixed early. The Casa Padrino Bathtub Stand Fitting at 109.7 cm is built exactly this way: a single-lever freestanding mixer in brass with floor fixing. The Burlington gold bath tap with hand shower is also a freestanding model. It stands on two brass legs and measures 20.5 x 24.4 x H. 91.5 cm without the hand shower.
A wall-mounted bath tap sits on the wall behind or beside the bath. It suits a tub placed close to a wall where the pipes already run. Our Art Nouveau wall-mounted models stand 46.95 cm tall, are fixed to the finished wall and come with their own hand shower. The Art Nouveau bath shower mixer with hand shower and overhead shower is also shown in its product photo as a wall-mounted mixer with riser rail.
A deck-mounted bath tap sits directly on the bath. It requires a rim wide enough and the correct tap holes. The compact Burlington bath taps at 22.2 cm and the Art Nouveau bath taps at 50.3 cm show in their product photos the typical form of a pillar-mounted mixer with two connection legs. Whether they suit your own bath is best checked with our customer service and your plumber before ordering.
Planning a floor-standing tap: supplies in the floor
A floor-standing bath tap rewards foresight. The hot and cold supplies have to emerge from the floor precisely where the tap will stand, and that is decided in a new build or a full refurbishment before the screed and the floor finish go in.
In practice the order is simple. First choose the bath and know its dimensions. Then fix its position in the room. Only then mark the position of the tap. The spout must reach over the rim so that water falls cleanly into the tub rather than onto the edge. Ask our customer service for the dimensions of the tap you have chosen and pass them on to your plumber or bathroom fitter.
The waste matters just as much. A freestanding bath usually drains through a waste and overflow into a floor outlet, and that connection also sits in the floor and must match the bath position. Planning tap and waste together avoids compromises later. This guide does not replace advice from a qualified plumber.
The Burlington tap stands on two brass legs and measures 20.5 x 24.4 x H. 91.5 cm without the hand shower. Pictured: Casa Padrino luxury bathtub faucet gold - Freestanding brass bathtub faucet with hand shower - Luxury bathroom accessories
Hand shower and overhead shower: bathing and showering in one place
Almost every freestanding bath tap in the Casa Padrino range is supplied with a hose and hand shower. The hand shower rinses the bath after use, makes hair washing easy and, where there is no separate shower room, lets you shower in the tub. On the Art Nouveau models the handset rests in a cradle above the mixer, in the manner of an old telephone. This form is typical of the bathroom around 1900 and is the detail that makes these Victorian taps instantly recognisable.
For those who want more, there is the Art Nouveau bath shower mixer with hand shower and overhead shower. It stands 142 cm tall, the hose is 150 cm long, and a generous shower head sits above the bath. The tub becomes a shower too, without giving up the look of a traditional bath. It is made of brass in gold, two crystal glass levers add sparkle, and it is made in Italy.
One planning point: an overhead shower above a bath needs splash protection, such as a curtain on a ceiling track or a glass screen on the wall side.
With a shower head and a hand shower the bath doubles as a shower: 142 cm tall, 150 cm hose, made in Italy. Pictured: Casa Padrino Luxury Art Nouveau Bathtub Faucet with Hand Shower and Overhead Shower Gold H. 142 cm
Gold, silver or black: matching the finish to the bath
The finish of the tap is the most visible choice in the whole bathroom. It is repeated on basin mixer, waste and towel rail. A gold bath tap is the classic choice for the Victorian, Edwardian or Baroque bathroom. It picks up the warm tone of brass and works with white, cream, black or boldly painted baths, with marble and with dark timber.
Silver finishes look cooler and crisper and suit white baths, grey natural stone and bathrooms with the air of a grand hotel. On the Art Nouveau models the ceramic details bring in a second tone: silver with black, silver with cream or gold with white.
The Bathtub Stand Fitting at 109.7 cm is available in five finishes: chrome, matt black, nickel, gold and graphite. Matt black contrasts strongly with a white tub, nickel and graphite suit quiet schemes, gold and chrome are the classics.
A good rule of thumb is to use one metal finish throughout. If the bath tap is gold, keep the waste, basin taps and accessories in gold as well. For more ideas see our page on the gold bathtub.
Victorian taps and crystal glass: the models at a glance
The Casa Padrino range of freestanding bath taps is arranged so that every style and every mounting type has a suitable model. All are made from brass, some with ceramic or crystal glass details.
- Bathtub Stand Fitting, H. 109.7 cm: freestanding single-lever mixer with floor fixing, in chrome, matt black, nickel, gold and graphite.
- Burlington freestanding bath tap in gold: on two brass legs, 20.5 x 24.4 x H. 91.5 cm without hand shower, with hose and hand shower.
- Burlington bath tap in gold or silver, H. 22.2 cm: the compact version with hand shower, weighing 4.3 kg.
- Art Nouveau bath tap, H. 50.3 cm: brass and ceramic, in silver / black or gold / white, with hand shower.
- Art Nouveau wall-mounted bath tap, H. 46.95 cm: in silver / black, silver / cream or gold / white.
- Art Nouveau bath shower mixer with hand and overhead shower, H. 142 cm: gold, crystal glass levers, made in Italy.
- Art Nouveau bath mixer with Swarovski crystal glass: brass in gold with hand shower, for a bathroom with a sense of occasion.
What British buyers call Victorian taps lives in the details: crosshead handles or levers with ceramic inserts, the cradle for the handset and curved spouts. In the United States the same look is usually sought as a clawfoot tub faucet, and the logic is identical: a traditional bath on feet needs a tap with the same character.
The wall-mounted Art Nouveau tap in gold and white carries its handset in a cradle above the mixer. Pictured: Casa Padrino luxury Art Nouveau bath faucet gold / white H. 46.95 cm - Nostalgic brass bath faucet with hand shower - Nostalgic bathroom accessories
Bath waste and basin taps: one coherent bathroom
For freestanding baths Casa Padrino offers a matching Art Nouveau bath waste in brass, in gold or silver, measuring 31.8 cm in length and 56.3 cm in height. It comes with plug and chain and is designed for freestanding bathtubs.
The basin matters just as much. If the bath has an Art Nouveau tap, the basin should continue the same language. The Art Nouveau basin mixer in silver brass measures 18.4 x 20 x H. 21.5 cm and partners the silver bath taps. For bathrooms with an Italian accent there are two Art Nouveau basin taps at 24 cm, both in chrome-plated brass and made in Italy: one with crystal glass, one in silver with white ceramic. Both are single-lever mixers, and according to the product description other colours are available on request through our customer service.
Browse the full selection of wash basin taps and luxury taps and fittings. Matching basins are shown under washbasins and on our pages about the luxury washbasin and the luxury vanity unit.
Caring for brass taps
Brass is a rewarding material. It is robust and carries its finish for many years. The most important rule is simple: limescale forms where water is left to dry. A quick wipe with a soft cloth after bathing prevents most marks before they appear, which is worth remembering in the many hard water areas of the south and east of England.
For regular cleaning, lukewarm water, a few drops of mild soap and a soft microfibre cloth are enough. Avoid scouring powders, wire wool, abrasive pads and acidic or chlorine-based cleaners, as they can damage the surface. Ceramic handles and crystal glass need only a damp cloth, then a dry polish.
Hotel bathroom, country house and period home
In a country house the bath often stands in front of a large window, and a floor-standing tap in gold or nickel keeps the view open. In a Victorian terrace the Art Nouveau tap with ceramic handles suits a roll top bath on claw feet. In a hotel bathroom, used by many guests, clear operation and a robust brass construction count most.
- Private bathrooms in villas, country houses and town houses
- Period homes with Victorian or Edwardian bathrooms
- Hotel suites, boutique hotels and spas
- Holiday homes, chalets and historic estates
If you are planning the whole room, our guides offer further ideas. The overview of the Victorian bathroom shows how bath, WC, radiator and taps work together. Matching baths are presented on our pages about the Victorian bathtub and the freestanding bathtub, and the full range sits in the category bathtubs. A traditional radiator, a luxury towel warmer and a high level cistern toilet complete the picture.
Why Casa Padrino for your freestanding bath taps
Casa Padrino is an internationally active supplier of luxury furniture, Baroque furniture and exclusive bathroom fittings. Baths, vanity units, washbasins, radiators, toilets and taps can be planned from a single source. We supply private clients as well as hotels, restaurants, architects and interior designers at home and abroad.
For questions about the right freestanding bath taps, our customer service is glad to help. The full selection is in the category bathtub taps, further pieces under luxury bath accessories, and the whole bathroom in our overview of freestanding bathtubs and bathroom furniture. Discover the world of Casa Padrino at www.casa-padrino.de/en.
Our bathroom series at a glance
- Victorian bathroom
- Traditional radiators
- Designer radiators
- Luxury towel warmer
- High level cistern toilet
- Victorian bathtub
- Freestanding bathtub
- Gold bathtub
- Luxury washbasin
- Luxury vanity unit
Frequently asked questions about freestanding bath taps
Which tap suits a freestanding bath?
That depends on where the bath stands: free in the room, a floor-standing tap; against a wall, a wall-mounted tap; with tap holes in a wide rim, a deck-mounted tap.
What is a floor-standing bath tap?
It is a freestanding bath tap fixed to the floor that stands as its own column beside the bath, with the supplies coming up through the floor. The Casa Padrino Bathtub Stand Fitting is 109.7 cm tall, made of brass, operated with a single lever and available in chrome, matt black, nickel, gold and graphite.
When should a floor-standing tap be planned?
As early as possible, ideally before the screed and floor finish go in. The supplies must emerge exactly where the tap will stand. Fix the bath and its position first, then discuss the connection dimensions of your chosen tap with your plumber.
Do freestanding bath taps come with a hand shower?
Most Casa Padrino models are supplied with hose and hand shower, including the Burlington gold freestanding tap.
Can I shower in a freestanding bath?
Yes, with the Art Nouveau bath shower mixer with hand and overhead shower. It is 142 cm tall with a 150 cm hose and a shower head above the bath. Plan splash protection, such as a curtain on a ceiling track or a glass screen.
What makes Victorian taps different?
Typical features are the handset resting in a cradle above the mixer, crosshead handles or levers with ceramic inserts and curved spouts. The Casa Padrino Art Nouveau taps are brass, some with ceramic or crystal glass, and suit roll top baths and period homes.
Is a clawfoot tub faucet the same as a freestanding tub faucet?
Broadly yes. Clawfoot tub faucet is the American term for the tap of a traditional bath on feet, and freestanding tub faucet describes taps for any bath that stands free. Both can be floor-standing, wall-mounted or deck-mounted, depending on the bath and the plumbing.
Is there a matching waste for a freestanding bath?
Yes, the Art Nouveau bath waste in brass comes in gold and silver, measures 31.8 x H. 56.3 cm and is supplied with plug and chain. It is designed for freestanding bathtubs and can be matched to the tap finish.
How do I clean brass bath taps?
Use lukewarm water, a little mild soap and a soft cloth. Avoid scouring products, wire wool and acidic or chlorine-based cleaners.
Does Casa Padrino deliver to the UK and to hotels?
Casa Padrino supplies private clients, hotels, architects and interior designers internationally. For projects with several bathrooms, bath, tap, waste and basin can be specified in one consistent style.
