Faucet Choices
Hello fellow designers
I've posted here about my kitchen remodel before; I'm an architect/interior designer, but I'd like some feedback from other designers on my project.
I have a poll in my LJ now asking opinions on what kind of faucet I should get. I've been obsessing over this on and off for months, and I'm coming down to the wire now - really need to decide.
The issue is that I have a large apron sink in a smallish kitchen. I find that most faucets that supposedly go with apron sinks are just "trying too hard" to look old timey. Many of the "gourmet" faucets are just too huge for my sink wall, but standard faucets are too small.
Check out the faucet-mania under the cut, then vote in my poll here
And if it's not too much trouble, please comment to explain your choice. Thanks!
The sink itself, is large, and demands a larg-ish faucet:
But the kitchen over all, is small. The windows behind the sink are very short and slender, and they make any large faucet seem like the wrong scale altogether:
Also, where before I only wanted a single hole, pull-down spray, now I am thinking that the 30" width of the sink is maybe asking for more to be planted behind it. I already know I want a soap dispenser and a water filter spigot; I just need to make sure that everything I choose goes together and doesn't create too many holes in my soap stone.
So, what is a faucet obsessor to do?
Why, search the net, visit the kitchen/bath store and home centers, and buy several faucets to try out, of course!
Here is the sink as it looks today:
That is a temporary faucet (20.00) on a plywood counter. The cabinets are awaiting doors, and the dishwasher is waiting for it's panel. (It will not be black - that's just the "skeleton" of the real dishwasher door you see now.)
Next we have the Price Pfister two handle pull-down spray.
(you have to imagine these in the correct spot about 3 -4" closer to the sink. I wasn't going to drill holes for each one, so they are sitting in the crevice between the plywood and the wall.)
I'm not a huge fan of this faucet - the pull-down spray did not operate well, and the styling is a little to old-timey cute. However, the faucet is about 11" tall, which puts it in the same category as many others I might like better.
Next we have Pegasus Series K 700 Old Fashioned Pull-Out faucet.
I don't know what makes it "old fashioned" but it seems like a knock-off of the very popular Grohe Ladylux faucet:
Here it is in my kitchen:
It's a little big; not as bad as I thought it would be.
Next is the Kohler Forte ...
I had dismissed it before because it needs a side-spray, but it's not too bad ...
A little "vanilla" but if you imagine it moved forward a few inches into it's proper position, it seems to be large enough for the sink, yet small enough for the kitchen/windows. The draw back is that it needs a side spray, and I think I might have trouble finding a cold water spigot I like to go with it. (most of them are too big, too.) But as I said, not bad; I'd use it without the escutcheon plate.
Anyone remember the Moen Aberdeen?
I love every picture I see of this faucet. Love the lines, love the look (not too modern, not what I call "trying too hard" to look old.) It's always photographed alone, or from above - hard to believe it's 16 freakin' inches!
I finally took the product spec and printed it out to scale on the plotter at work. Here it is taped up behind my sink:
Yes, that is the actual size (and yes, I am a dork. Shut up.) So at least I can put to rest any faucet-lust I have for units over 15".
In case you're wondering, I can return all the ones I've photographed. I did not install them, or even remove most of the packaging from the boxes.
For good measure, I'll throw in a few faucets I liked but couldn't buy off the shelf (and therefore, could not return later.)
Rohl Bridge Faucet
DH is now considering a two handle faucet; this would allow me to drill one less hole than a standard two-handle faucet, and it looks old-timey but not trying that hard. A little impractical, but comes in well under the 12" of the first faucet above.
Hansgrohe Axor
I like this faucet, and I don't know why. It looks a lot like the ones I think are "trying too hard." Only problems are a.) finding a cold water spigot and b.) If I want a side spray, I can only get it in chrome. (I guess this company has acknowledged the fact that they can't match brushed nickel in plastic, and gave up trying. Probably the right thing to do, given what I've seen.)
Chicago Faucets Double Jointed Swing Spout
I think this would look really cool on the sink, and be very useful in that it extends 13" ... BUT it does not come with a side spray. I think I could add a spray head to it without taking away from the look (unlike some of these others that would look stupid) but can I get along with no side spray at all?
Franke Tri-flow
This faucet has one handle for hot, one for cold, and one for filtered, which would eliminate the need for a separate spigot. It comes with a side spray and a soap dispenser, and would essentially look a lot like what you see here on my soapstone. I would order it in one tone; all brushed nickel, or stainless steel. Only three holes needed. The problem is that it is very expensive. Hundreds of dollars.
Looks a bit big with the sink. (yes, I couldn't help myself ...)
That's all!
Vote here, please!