Love the pull down. Would rather have the pull down than the side pull, and either over the pull-OUT. Just works better for me.

We have a Kohler Vinatta- going on 3 years and no problems. With its high arc, it is an imposing creature. Even the small size is too big for some people/kitchens, so measure and mock up carefully for any size pull-down.

Extremely happy with our pull down. It's the Moen Aberdeen. Makes rinsing the sink a breeze.

I just came from looking at faucets at Lowes, and I'm wondering the same thing. How do you do a "mock up" to see how it will look in your kitchen?

When I was considering the Kohler pro-looking faucet, I wanted to see how big 27" tall looked like. My kids laughed when I took my husbands large metal tape measure and some masking tape and situated in the right size and shape to represent the faucet, but it really did help. To make sure I was getting our kitchen lights in the right diameter and length, I used cardboard, paper plates, and string. So for a mockup, use anything that will allow you to envision the end result...or to at least work out the issues that concern you about the choice...Height, width, or whatever.

I prefer the old fashioned side spray. I was too freaked out by the showrooms I visited where the pull outs were all dangling on the faucets. (I know, "not normal usage" but I could just picture DH doing the same thing. He NEVER puts the dustbuster on the charger right. :)

It is true that I am a little annoyed by the residual drip from my side spray. I have to wipe the counter after each use.

The reason they hang down in the stores is that the counterweight isn't attached. Getting it installed properly with the right length of hose is key. That said, whatever kind of hose feed you have DH is going to have to reseat it properly. Some pop back into place better than others, but I'm not sure that's whether it's pull down or side spray but what the collar is like, if it's well ballanced or has too much friction, etc.

I don't like my pull out (not down) faucet because it has a limited swivel and I have to pull it out to redirect the spray. I'm looking for the new kitchen for one which has a separate side spray and a full swivel with a rotating spray-stream bubbler. They aren't pretty but I like the functionality.

kohler pull down. first one i've ever had and it awesome.

Plllog - which pullout do you have and what do you hate about it?

Everybody else: I am going nuts trying to decide between the Grohe Ladylux Plus, which I think is ugly but has a 360 swivel (why do I need this) and a 59" pullout cable, and one of the KWC pullouts that I love the look of but only have a 160 degree swivel (plenty, I think) and a 27" hose.
Both brands are stainless and have good reputations.

I have a pull OUT...big $400 mistake! (Only consolation: My Mico Profili has a great look!)

DO get pull DOWN, pull DOWN, pull DOWN!!! Will take less than 10 minutes to know you made the right choice. Ergonomically correct, more natural operating mode.

The pull down faucet acts similar to your side pull out, they both have the counterweight to pull back and hold the faucet in place. As Plllog mentioned, the showroom normally don't install the counterweights to avoid from losing them.

I don't know the brand of my current faucet. It was moderately priced (but not cheap), and was chosen because it fit the old sink. What I hate about it is having to pull it at all! Teedup1 is right that down would be better, but I don't want to have to pull on the danged thing at all. The only thing I use it for by choice is washing the trash basket. Everything else, including the roaster and carving board fit fine under the faucet (huge sink).

The cheap old Moen that came with the house had this ugly thing for a bubbler which would do stream or spray and rotated on a ball joint, so with a couple fingers, while most of my muscles were engaged elsewhere, I could rinse down the whole sink. Now the faucet itself has a limited swivel so doesn't go all the way parallel to the back of the sink (that's why you want that 360 swivel so it'll go wherever your sink is). The water only goes straight down where it does fall. So I have to pull the danged thing out constantly just to aim the water where I want it to go. And to do that I have to be standing right in front of the sink with my right hand empty (I'm too righthanded to control it adequately with my left--floods ensue!). It's just a total PITA after having something that worked so much better. So while down might be better, having to grab hold of it and pull altogether is what I object to. If I have to choose between having the ball joint bubbler and an ugly faucet with no spray hose at all or any kind of pull out or pull down faucet, I'll take the former. I can always take the trash basket to the hose :)

Oh, about the hose length: Ask your plumber first, if this is going to inform your decision. Mine told me that one reason people have poor retraction with pull outs or downs is that their hoses are too long for the counterweight to work correctly. Your plumber can shorten it, but if you bought it just to get that five foot hose you'll be disappointed. I think the really long ones utilize basement space. BTW, your plumber can probably also put a on longer hose if you have room for it.

Am I the only one confused by this? I don't understand the difference between pull down and pull out.
[don't hate me cause I am decor challenged]

Pull out faucet - grip the sprayer part like you do a scrub brush (whole hand grips it) and move forward on a horizontal plane.

Pull down faucet - grip sprayer part with thumb and two fingers and pull down on a vertical plane.

Pull down is much easier to maneuver while spraying and much easier to replace into faucet body when done.

Just my take. (I have a pull out one, dang!)

I think it depends on the faucet & the sink. Our KWC Domo is a pullout, but since the entire faucet swivels, we use it a lot without pulling out the sprayer. There's a button to press on the head to select spray instead of flowing water, and I like that I don't have to hold the button in like our old side sprayer required. The pullout is easy & fast to replace in the faucet body; it just drops into its socket.

I much prefer my pull-down to my sister's Grohe pull-out. She agrees and wishes she had chosen a pull-down.

I have the Grohe Lady Lux which is a pull out and find it excellent to use (and I do use it with either hand depending what I'm doing with the other hand).

We considered the Grohe Lady Lux Cafe for our prep sink which is a pull down and has a very comfortable feel, but it doesn't have a stay on button for the spray - you have to hold the button down to keep spraying. I like to be able to put the faucet in spray mode and use both hands to wash produce under it. So we used the LadyLux Plus for both sinks.

The Grohe faucet uses a spring rather than a weight to pull the hose back in. It goes back in very nicely. I hate side sprays. The ones I've had in the past have developed problems and leaks over time and I don't like the clutter.

Based only on a look that I was trying to achieve, I went with a side spray and I do regret it. My faucet is beautiful (Hamat Julianne), but my previous pull down faucet (Hamat Ergo) was much, much, much more convenient to use. I love the function where you can push the button and have spray even though the faucet stays in place. Helps the dish soap bubble in the sink faster for washing dishes. And many other advantages. I searched and searched and searched and just couldn't find a pull-down that achieved the traditional look I was going for. I sacrificed function for a look.

I agree that the pull down is much easier to use. The trick to using the pull out faucet is to hold the spray in the palm of your hand and your fingers over the handle. If you try to hold it by the handle it can turn into a mess. I would have perfered a pull down but at the time the styles they had were too massive. In a small area it would be like having a fire hydrant at the sink.

Fire hydrant at the sink? LOL. I can only get 2.2 gallons per minute out of ours and thought they were all set at that "speed." Personally, I'd love some more Tim Taylor "power."

We went with a pull down and haven't installed it yet. I've had a side sprayer all my life, and I'm excited to make the swith. I'm also excited to switch to a single bowl sink, but that has to wait a few more years.

iamnodiy -- What brand and model is your pull-out faucet that allows you to conveniently grasp it with the palm of your hand (and fingers pointing away from your body)?

I bought the Kohler Fairfax which is a pull out. It did seem more natural to pull down but I didn't want the high arch of the faucet. Now that I've had the pull out for a while, I'm used to it and love it.

I chose a pull-out. I love my Lady Lux. As others have stated, I like that it can stay in spray mode without holding down the button. And as gizmonike said, we use the faucet a lot without needing to pull it out. The size of the stream/spray of water is perfect for me. When I went to a showroom, I turned on a lot of the faucets and felt most comfortable with the Lady Lux.

Good luck with your decision. :)