One could be forgiven for thinking that the word “Sento” is of Japanese origin. And, indeed, the recent Sento Faucet collection possesses something of that country’s aesthetic. Not that—by a longshot—a country as complex and multifaceted as Japan is confined to creating product with one type of look, but Sento is sleek and streamlined—contemporary in a way that suggests technological efficiency combined with excellent craftsmanship. Accordingly, it might come as some surprise that the line hails from Italy.

Sento Faucet. Designed by Daniele Ruzza and Silvana Angeletti. Manufactured by Graff.

Of course, the Italians know a thing or two about the lean and the mean, the shiny and the sublime, especially when it comes to bathroom design. Sento—which translates from the Italian as “I feel”—as designed by Daniele Ruzza and Silvana Angeletti for fittings manufacturer Graff, is a streamlined faucet in resplendent chrome, though Graff also offers it in a textured matte finish in black or white.

Emanuela Tavolini, Director of Sales Europe at Graff, characterizes the new collection as a fruitful confluence of not only design and creative inspiration, but also demographic analysis and product engineering. In short, every input that takes a product from mere idea to functioning faucet: “I can definitely assess that the cooperation with Angeletti Ruzza design has been characterized by a strong synergy among design, market, technique and engineering.”

And I can definitely assess that the result of said synergy is a versatile collection with pronounced aesthetic appeal. The many incarnations of Sento—from the short and slightly squat Monocomando to the long-necked flagship Sento—each feature the strong statement of a cylindrical stem and the subtle gesture of a long, thin spout. So long and thin, in fact, that from a certain vantage it appears two-dimensional: a nifty trick of the eye that reminds me of the visual machinations of a cool stream of water.

About the Manufacturer: If you’ve been lucky enough to visit or even just use the lobby bathroom of the W Hotel in Minneapolis, the Hyatt Regency in Schaumberg, IL, or the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Plaza, than you know more about Graff faucets than you might have thought. Each of these structures has a unique feel and distinctive aesthetic—exactly the entry point for Graff’s roster of innovative showers and faucets. To craft their collection of “contemporary, sleek, and perfectly appointed” pieces, Graff routinely collaborates with renowned designers like Silvana Angeletti, Daniele Ruzza, and Davide Oppizzi.