Maybe it is the cabinetmaker who is out! I vote for getting what appeals to you and trying NOT to go with the "trends" because you don't want a dated kitchen in the near future. If "everyone" is doing something, you know there will be a backlash when "no one" is doing that very same thing.

Chrome is classic. It is never out. Gold or other colors may come and go, but chrome has been in during every other phase, just a little more quietly.

I ended up going with the "classic" chrome....besides, I really like the clean look of it and it was a lot cheaper than the other choices so I could spend that money elsewhere.

If you like chrome...I'd just get it. It's cheaper AND it's classic. We have oil rubbed bronze now (a very cheap fixture, to be fair) and the bronze is rubbing right off after three years. I can't wait for chrome! :)

On a funny side note, we live in California, where a new law says our faucet has to be lead-free. I was stressing about this, but then went to go check out our options---and would you believe that the chrome faucet I've been itching for all this time is one of the ONLY ones available lead-free?? (We have a wall-mount faucet and apparently this particular faucet is often used in hospitals and schools, which had the lead-free standard sooner...thus the availability.) Had I been lusting after polished nickel, I'd be feeling pretty lousy right now! Plus, it's cheaper to boot. Yay for chrome, I say. :)

I went with chrome as I like the shiny vs. satin. It also looks great with my marble and black granite! Do what you want as your going to live with it - not your contractor.

I spent about 1/2 hour in a store over the weekend trying to convince myself that I might like a Satin Nickel or Stainless faucet as much as I like Chrome. I just couldn't do it. My new faucet will be Chrome. If its out of style, too bad.

Here's another vote for chrome!

We went with Chrome for the new kitchen faucet, satin nickle for the knobs and pulls. We have the same set up in the bathroom and we like it.

Yay! I am so glad to read this post. I have chrome in my kitchen and bathrooms because it just appeals to me more.

If you love polished chrome, and you look at and use your faucet every day, what the heck does it matter if your contractor has a different opinion? This seems to me to be a very clear case of "Do what makes you happy."

Go for it!

rc

My sister has a very high end kitchen and I was surprised to see she has a chrome facet! She has a Grohe (sp?) and it is not a cheap faucet. Her countertops are shiny Zodiaq so it looks right in place in her kitchen. I don't think chrome is going out of style any time soon.

I picked chrome for my new faucet but I got what's called "brushed chrome" b/c I wanted a matte finish. It was more silver that the brushed nickel which is exactly what I wanted. I do have brushed nickel for the cabinet knobs and the chrome looks fine with it.

Here's a vote from someone who does not personally like chrome (I'm not neat enough for shiny things!). If you like it, do it. While it might not be the latest thing, I DO think it is classic that will never go out.

I don't see anything particularly wrong with Chrome, I have it on my current kitchen. I like the look. I HATE the water spots.

if I could have the chrome without the water spots I probably would.

For water spots, I wet a piece of paper towel with rubbing alcohol. Makes chrome sparkle.

I got chrome. I considered polished nickel, which I have in the bathrooms. I prefer the PN but it does show finger marks and seems not as bulletproof as the chrome. For the kitchen the chrome made more sense and was less expensive -- probably the only place where I got to save a little money.

To me saying chrome faucets are out is like saying...faucets are out. Maybe he just thought it is not as popular or trendy as other -- satin nickle or ORB. I do love polished nickle, some of my hardware is, but I put in the chrome faucet because it is a simple, standard finish (and significantly cheaper.) In a side by side comparison, I prefer PN - it has a little more depth and warmth but before I started in on the kitchen I probably would not have noticed. I am looking at my chrome faucet and PN knobs and you would not realize they were different unless you were in the know or TKO (totally kitchen obsessed - I finally learned what that stood for in the intro discussion :)

That said, get the faucet finish YOU prefer and fits your budget.

I bought a stainless finish and then ended up returning it and getting chrome. I agonized over it for weeks! I couldn't believe what a hard time I had deciding. The chrome was cheaper, but with the restocking fee and cost to ship it back I ended up paying the same amount for what should have been the less expensive chrome version. I love the chrome though. I don't think chrome goes out.

Chrome faucets are like white painted cabinets. They come in and out of "hot current trend" but they are timeless and appropriate regardless of what's in style this year.

I just can't get past this feeling that any other finish would be as durable, so it will be chrome for us.

The most unusual finishes have a "look at me" aspect to them. For example, I always stare at white faucets. The chrome ones are as matter of fact as chrome on an auto. Nothing jarring about it and it's classic. Why stare at something that you see everywhere all the time? Even if it has waterspots?

Ah, but if you WANT stares, go for the less common finishes.

FWIW, chromium (plating) is one of the hardest metals commercially available and has one of the highest corrosion resistance of any metal. Anything else will likely show it's age sooner which is one reason I'll always suggest it. I have a Grohe brushed SS faucet and I wish I had gone with chrome. The black coating on the handle peeled off exposing the chrome plating below. :-(

Yes, I agree, select the Faucet and anything else, that YOU, really like! You are the one who will be seeing it everyday and paying for it - take back your power, it will make you feel good about yourself that you made your decision and stuck with it! And this discussion has really helped me to put the CHROME Faucet, at the top of my list! Did some additional research on the CHROME, it sounds great. My question to all of you: our new house has the OLD Vintage Kitchen with original Stainless Steel Counter-top and built-in, Double Bowl, Stainless Steel Sinks and only a single hole for installation. I guess that the original Faucet wore out and was replaced with this apt. size, very small, now corroded faucet - so do you think that the CHROME Faucet will be a compliment? We have the GROHE LADYLUX PLUS in CHROME on the top of our list! Does anyone have this GROHE Faucet or another one that they can recommend? And we can really appreciate the fact that this person is going through all of these ups & downs during the selection process - everything is so expensive and none of us wants to waste money, right? You may be able to See our VINTAGE STEEL CABINET KITCHEN on the Photo Gallery - Thank you all, for your input. We are also, in the process of selecting a paint color for the Vintage Steel Cabinets, these have been re-painted white, sometime in the past. But since we are going to renovate these Cabinets, we are thinking about selecting a FARROW & BALL Paint color in a blue/green hue! Has anyone Painted their Kitchen or Cabinets in a color that makes them Happy that they went through all of the difficulty involved with Painting? And have you used FARROW & BALL paint in your home? THANK YOU for any Ideas about our Vintage Kitchen Cabinets and SS Counter-top/Sinks, on this 13 feet wall. We have done a fair amount of remodeling/building in the past. But we have never been blessed with a Vintage Kitchen - even has the original ICE/MILK Box in the outside wall! Roseofblue