@ winonelson I'm sorry you did not get an answer, which is unusual on this forum. California has recently declared through executive order by Jerry Brown that bathroom sink faucets sold in the Golden State after 1/1/2016 may not have a flow rate greater than 1.2 gpm and kitchen sink faucets are limited to 1.8 gpm. As goes California, so goes North America, so I suspect that getting the 2.2 gpm faucet is going to get harder, not easier. Here's a trick, however. Almost all faucet flow limiters are built into the aerator, which can be removed and replaced with another aerator that allows for more flow. Even though the faucet you may be considering is rated at 1.8 gpm, there is a chance you can get an aerator from either the faucet company or an independent faucet parts supplier that has a higher flow limit. It will require some research and telephone work, but it can be done.

Now you're getting into the design aesthetics of the kitchen. How important is it for you to have that specific tap. If you plan on it being a show piece then you have to show it off and putting it underneath cabinets in a cramped position is not going to do it. If you want to show it off - then raise the cabinets which makes sense anyway, and put glass doors in them OR put some higher open shelves above the sink - maybe 2 of them. Then you are creating a focal point for the tap. If the storage is more important than the tap then I would suggest a lower tap to avoid the cramped feeling. But raising the cupboard level over the sink is a good idea to avoid bumping your head and the claustrophobic feeling which may develop.

Below are 2 interesting rating comparisons I found by Googling the brands, partly for my own knowledge because I had never heard of Blanco. After this review and my own experince with Grohe, my opinion remains unchanged...GO WITH THE GROHE and if price is a problem shop the internet and find yourself the product you want from a dealer with a "best price guarantee". I have noted in the past that I drive a Mercedes and would only have a Grohe faucet. Source Rating, Price, Origin, Warranty Blanco Faucets Blanco America, Inc. 110 Mount Holly By-Pass Lumberton, NJ 08048 rating 6-8 $230-1,000 Blanco America, Inc. is the American division of Blanco GmbH + Co KG, Oberderdingen, Germany. Its line is limited to kitchen faucets. The faucets are intended to complement its main business: kitchen sinks. Blanco emphasizes style, and it fact refers to itself frequently as a "design" company. But while an excellent, stylish faucet line, it is no more so than Grohe or Graff and similarly priced. ________________________________________________________ Grohe America. 241 Covington Drive Bloomingdale, IL 60108 (630) 582-7711 rating 6-8 $175-800 Germany Grohe makes a big effort to discourage discounting by restricting sales to authorized dealers only. You can locate dealers for your area from the company web site. "A Limited Lifetime Warranty is provided on all mechanical parts to be free from manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship under normal use for as long as the original purchaser owns their (sic) home." 5-year limited warranty on most finishes. The American arm of Grohe Thermostat GmbH, a German company, Grohe America distributes the company's excellent, high style faucets. Most Grohe faucets have style characteristics that make them instantly recognizable. HOPE THIS HELPS Richard

farmdrmer, We got the touch activation Cassidy on a whim and I have to say I do like it! You just barely touch it and it "starts". Then another touch and it's off. The commercial where they show the dirty hands turning it on with a touch is spot on. I'm glad I got the stainless. It cost a bit more but it looks as good as it did when it was installed 1 1/2 years ago. We got ours at Overstockdeals.com during their black Friday sale at a really good price. I bought all of our faucets and sinks for our new house during the sale and saved scads of $.