Kitchen Faucets: Choosing the Right Faucet

Faucets come in a lot of shapes and sizes these days, so there are both aesthetic and practical considerations:

• Function- The biggest decision is single handle or separate handles. A single lever is obviously easier to operate with one hand, freeing the other to hold things. However, it can be less obvious how to control the volume and temperature (more of an issue with friends helping out, since you’ll remember after a couple times). Another consideration is whether you want a sprayer as part of the faucet, or a separate device. The integral kitchen pull out faucets are convenient, but if you only use it occasionally, you may prefer to have the sprayer on the side.

• Style- Single handle faucets tend to be contemporary, so they may not fit in your decor. However, some manufacturers are making “pump handle” style faucets that offer a traditional looking single handle. Cross handles are a classic look, as are goosenecks.

• Finishes- Many faucets come in multiple finishes including bronze, polished brass, satin brass, polished chrome, satin chrome, copper, polished and satin nickel faucets, and many others. It’s always worth to click on a kitchen faucet to see if it comes in a finish you may want that isn’t shown.