amy, go with KWC. If you shop it really hard I bet you can get a grat deal on that Divo-Arco.

I spent weeks on my apartment faucet and ended up with a KWC as a second choice but using it has made me a convert. I honestly think the quality is as good or even better than the Dornbracht in the house. I have a taller KWC with pulldown spout and it's been a joy.

Love my Hamat. No splashing in my deep sink.

Rococo, I knew you had the KWC. Thanks for the nudge. As of this afternoon, my dear scullery boy has told me he does not like the auto-reset on the sprayer. He wants to be able to turn the faucet off and have the spray still spraying when he turns the water back on. (Personally, I prefer the reset on the Grohe.)

Can I tell him that none of the "good" brands don't have the reset?

Warmfridge, that is a pretty faucet. Can you tell me about the spray? Does it reset when you turn the water off?

Oh, another thing...the two Grohe Ladylux faucets we have had don't trickle well. It is difficult to close down the flow to a lower setting. Feels like lots or nothing. Will getting a better make, like the KWC help with this? That might make DH happy enough that he can let go of the sprayer reset.

The Hamat spray resets when the water is turned off.

I don't know about the spray reset on these two, but the pics you posted reminded me of two pull-out Jado faucets--the Coriander and the Basil (more modern). I know these are pricey, but you can do better than the price on my link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jado pull-out Coriander

Amy, my KWC is fully adjustable. There's a small screw somewhere that can restrict the flow or open it as needed. Their customer service will explain it.

Mine goes from blast to trickle perfectly. So that answer is yes, worth it for that.

But I have a Systema so I'd want to be sure features in the Divo line are comparable. My Systema is integral metal, not coated, the hose is metal not mesh and the pull down junction is metal not plastic. I'd confirm that with them on the Divo-Arco.

Also might be worth asking if they have a faucet that doesn't default. Mine stays on spray until the water goes off.

I needed a pull down with a spray/stream and they pointed me to the one I eventually got -- they were very helpful.

Meanwhile, my $400 Hansgrohe pull out in the mudroom has a plastic joint (jiggly now), mesh hose and stainless steel coating that scratches. Wasn't aware of coated vs integral when I bought it. Expensive lessons.

I tried the KWC faucets in a showroom - DOMO and DIVO-ARCO I believe. They were fabulous, but I was looking for a dark bronze finish. The lever action was so smooth and the way it locked/unlocked the spray was very intuitive.

While that is not the exact KWC faucet I have, it is very similar: KWC Luna. I have had this faucet for more than 5 years without a single problem. As cassidyhome mentioned, the lock/unlock feature of the sprayer is very intuitive.

Don't know if you consider Kohler a good name but my Fairfax stays on which ever you used last, spray or stream.

I have the chrome Grohe Europlus II, new in box, never installed. I changed my mind on the look I wanted and ended up installing the new ladylux3 and am happy with it.

I know you said you didn't want chrome, but I think chrome is pretty (and cheap if you find a motivated seller--wink, wink)

Thanks for the input everyone. Rococo, I do appreciate the specifics and will contact KWC. DH does appreciate the feel and workings of quality. When we look at fridges back in 2004, I thought he'd balk at the SZ. It took him about five seconds to commit.

In the meantime, the $203 Blanco beckons and I have emailed a few GWers to ask them about their personal experiences with the Classic.

Breezy, the Jados are lovely, but I am afraid they are taller than I want. We have been playing around with a lower water source and getting the sprayer head closer to the action should solve our problems.

Cassidy and PPC, thanks for the reviews. My husband really liked your "intuitive" comments. I live in the hinterlands....have to go to the city to see these babies.

EandHL, I think Kohler is a fine brand. Their two options for my needs are the Evoke and the Elate. I am not in love with the look of either. I also think they're too tall. Your Fairfax is very pretty.

Sharonite, I will ponder the chrome. We could swap for some RH Bistro pulls! Glad you like the LL3. I love the look, but just wish I didn't have a flood every time I wash up.

Well, I just got off the phone with KWC. Not good.

The Arco-Divo has a PVD coating that looks like SS over ABS plastic and brass.

The hose is metal over a regular hose (he said).

The handspray seats in a plastic insert.

Now what?

I'm so there with you amysrq. Imagine my surprise, after spending weeks on faucetdirect and other sites, cross-referencing with gardenweb, and I come to the exact same result as you, right down to the loop handle rationale (except my wife wants the side handle instead). Really excited to come across this thread, only to experience the same disappointment with your last post. Not so concerned about the hose, as I think all metal hoses are built that way (the metal seems more durable, but louder, than the nylon).

I don't know how much stock to put in this, but one dealer I spoke with said that the pull out/down handles generally have to be plastic/rubber because: 1) the weight of a full-metal handle wouldn't retract well (on a pulldown), 2) if left to bang around inside the sink a full metal handle could cause more damage, and 3) heat transfer from a full metal handle on full hot would burn the user.

Pricklypearcactus, you mentioned you had the Luna model. Based on the pricepoint, I'm assuming it's got the same plastic handle. Any issues with the finish? Was it chrome or SS?

Rococogurl, with your Systema model, do you have the black handle? Is that like a rubberized surface, or actually black metal? No scuffing or anything like that?

Basically, I'm trying to convince myself that, with the lifetime warranty on the finish (chrome at least), maybe the plastic handle isn't as bad as it's cracked up to be. Maybe I'm deluding myself.....

Please post if you come across a suitable alternative. Unfortunately, the KWC's the only one I've found so far with this 'hammerhead' design that doesn't have a stick for a handle (on the side at least). Good luck!

Blanco and Rohl have had too many problems for us over the years. Not every one but enough so they are not worth the roll of the dice for me.

KWC/Hansa, Hansgrohe, and DornBracht are our standbys. We also use Kohler quite a bit , but they have a big range of quality. Their $169 faucets are not as good as their $500 + ones.

antss, thanks for that info. How about Franke? I saw a faucet of theirs that I liked, but I've often wondered about these sink manufacturers that are trying to 'vertically integrate' their profits. I also didn't see Grohe on your standby list?

Bishop,
The Hamats have an all-brass pullout. Yes, mine is heavy but it's not a problem. The metal hose is weighted so it retracts fine. It doesn't get hot. They come in different finishes depending on the model. The trade-off for the brass handle is, of course, the price.

This is an all stainless steel faucet.

Not inexpensive but no plastic. There's a weekend sale.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mgs Antares

amyrsq,
have you tried a very simple free solution?

Try shutting off the valves under your sink 1/4 to 1/2 less than full. You house water pressure maybe too high. If this delievers enough water without splashing, you save money :)

amy -- correction - most all have plastic cartridges. Bummer about the Divo-Arco.

bishop 8 - no black, no plastic

overall

close up of pull down junction

close up of valve (clearly I need to dust LOL)

I didn't read all the replies (sorry! Spent all day putting in a pantry countertop and now need to get dinner started!) but I LOVE my HansGrohe Talis faucet. I got in online for much less than regular retail....

No loop, although otherwise a similar look to the ones you posted. I actually really like the lever; easy to nudge with the back of messy hands to avoid touching the handle :)

I have a deep sink and absolutely no splashing issues.