I've been in faucet choosing mode as well. If I am remembering correctly, the people have commented that although they like the faucet, the Danze Parma has a plastic head. You may also want to check out the Elkay Arezzo, also the Kraus 1612 (expressdecor.com has the best price on this), although one person commented on the Elkay that the head was plastic as well. The Kraus also pulls down, the others do not -- they just unhook and you can point and shoot the stream of water, I believe.

Have you looked at the Ladylux 3 or the Grohe K4? I really like the lines of the K4 -- looks like it's a hybrid of a pull-out and pull-down.

Good luck!

Thanks for the quick response. Those two models you suggested are not what I want.

Unfortunately, the esthetic design on the Kraus models are not quite what I want.

FYI, this is what I see from the picture. Not only that the 1612 model looks as if they are using black plastic type of hose, not braided stainless steel for the flexible hose. This is really a bad idea. Since the hose will be pulled in and out thousands of times, the plastic will wear and rupture. Not only that, the black hose is ugly!

You should go to a plumbing supply store and try them out. The models look different in person (some are just huge!) and feel different in the hand. I liked the idea of a SS hose, but the ones I tried (I don't remember which models or brands) moved stiffly or were noisy. For something you'll use several times a day, it's worth seeing them before buying.

I have the daddy of the Dornbracht you posted. The sprayer is fantastic as is the faucet. The quality is tops. They were both nearly too heavy (from all brass fittings) to hold upright. The finish is integral -- not coated -- which with the high quantity of brass (vs plastic) in the fittings makes for the price difference.

The springs do not get gunky at all probably because you're not handling the spring, just the nozzle on the bottom. I wipe them off from time to time.

I would recommend a pull-down vs pull-out spray. There are so many faucets that will do that for you in every price range. Depends on what you mean by sleek/contemporary in terms of configuration, where you want the levers etc.

There's a huge price range here so fixing in on a brand can be helpful. Dornbracht and Hansgrohe are very different. Dornbracht, KWC, Rohl, Barber Wilson's, Heath, MGS are pretty much top of the line. Kohler, Danze, Grohe (if you like their Minta it's a great price) and down to Hansgrohe follow.

rococogurl,
YES, you are right. i want pull down NOT pull out. I miswrote... I have had pull out and not want to go there again.

Tell me more about your Dorhbracht. Do you have the Tara single hole mixer? What I want is the Tara with very unassuming pull out in the regular spout without the spring. They don't make it that way. Minta may be it by the looks of it.

I must be following your footsteps every step of the way in the GW. I want to see your kitchen! Do you have any picts?

I need to start looking at my total remodel budget. We are starting to feel the budget creep. Eeeeek.....

I was ready to get a cheap (Kraus) sink. My husband want to "see" and "feel" the sink. He thinks this is too visible. Ugh.... Not sure if I want to plunk another 3 figure on the sink! (BTW, I am paying for this and my DH is currently a SAH.... He will go with whatever I chose.)

Faucets and pulls have been my toughest decision. In fact, the faucet is the last one I have to make (I think . . . ask me in May). I look at the faucet as something that will let me be flexible with my budget. I know the sink I'm getting, I'm planning my faucet around it. If the numbers start to creep up too high, then I'll lower my faucet budget. Faucets are easy to replace after a year or two -- well, at least they're easy for my plumber to replace. We are not DIY.

Have you seen the Blanco Meridian? I like it, as it isn't quite as tall as the other semi-professionals.

kaismom -- I'm happy to show you the kitchen in my house. It's 5 y.o. now so I got the Dornbracht profi which is the gooseneck faucet and the tall sprayer -- 2 pieces, as you'll see. It is a clear case of faucet love though when I put it in everyone was getting Rohl bridge faucets and I got some "too science lab" comments.

Recently, they combined the two into the one piece you linked. It now costs what I paid for both of them.

We also have an apartment (just finishing that up) and I redid that kitchen last summer so I repriced/researched. It's an amazing faucet but the price is crazy now IME.

Don't misunderstand me. You cannot go wrong with Dornbracht -- in the faucet world it's the same as a Wolf and Subzero. It's the style setter. There are great faucets for a lot less. Minta is one example. I'm a believer in going to the store and handling the samples -- they look sooo different in photos. I traveled 3 hours r/t to do that last year.

I went with a fancy ss sink in the apartment -- wouldn't do that again. Total waste of $$. Ticor would be just as good.

But faucet-love can be irrational and since the faucet is the most-used thing in the kitchen it tends to get super personal.

Here is a link that might be useful: my faucet

Thanks rococogurl. It looks like the blog is your baby. It is an amazing site. I love it! I like the light and airyness of your kitchen. I love kitchens without uppers cabinets.

I am doing my kitchen with Henrybuilt of Seattle, WA. I used to walk by the shop and drool at their cabs. Now, I am doing the deed. I am having them do the kitchen, powder room, small desk area and the fireplace surround. Price is coming in HIGH. This is what I meant by budget creep.

I thought you might like the reference to the web site since you love good design. I really like the designer for . She has done practically all the west coast kitchens for the company for many years. (except the ones with the clients' own architect). Even so, she has worked with them putting her stamp. I am really excited but also anxious seeing the budget creep.

I will go find a showroom with faucets. I want to see how much pressure actually comes out of the spray.

I also really like the designer for the company. She has done practically all the west coast kitchens for the company for many years. (except the ones with the clients' own architect). Even so, she has worked with them putting her stamp. I am really excited but also anxious seeing the budget creep.

I will go find a showroom with faucets. I want to see how much pressure actually comes out of the spray.

Dornbracht Elio which has a much lower profile. I think I am am leaning more to the leaner profile faucet than the commercial style.

Elio

I am also sticking with my current gas range, another cost saving measure. I will have them to the 50A circuit at the location and probably will replace with an induction range when I am ready.... (I am hoping something stylish like a Lacanche or Cluny or something.) I really like "colored" ranges. But not there now.

Henrybuilt do wonderful cabinets. Wow, that's so exciting. Will be a great combo with the Elio. Will look forward to watching your progress.

Thanks for kind words about baby. Yes, I love good stuff. LOL.

I also linked you to Vola -- having seen what you're going for you might like those.

Also, if you want super good pressure KWC might have something. I got a perfectly scaled pull down at a great price and I feel it's every bit as good as the Dornbracht plus many who have KWC love the strong pressure. Mine is actually adjustable.

Also there's MGS , Italian brand with fabulous styling. They're all stainless and one pays for that but margieb here has the Vela D pulldown and highly recommended it to me. I just needed something a few inches taller but the scale might be great for you as it's similar to Dornbrachts but with the sprayer functionality. Margie sent me really helpful sprayer photos. It looks great.

Here is a link that might be useful: vola

Hi.

We have the Rohl Modern Architectural. Love it.
Search katieob, erikanh, and mamadadapaige to see it in real life.

Good luck.
Katie

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

kaismom, perhaps this photo might be helpful to you. Saw these yesterday in a Poggenpohl kitchen when I was at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show.