I stopped making decisions when it came to the faucet. I hadn't even thought about the blasted thing until I *needed* it. I just went through a couple of threads on here and picked one that several other people said they loved. :-D So far so good! I used it a few days before we left for Christmas vacation.

Because it's not the most expensive thing in the kitchen but it's the most often used therefore the most important thing in the kitchen IMHO and when that hits you, the big numbers are out of the way, you're looking to save some money, it's hard to see all the choices, the style needs to go with the kitchen, it needs to fit the sink to avoid splashing, it needs to fit the deck and when you find out how many choices there are around that one item -- because it's so important to get it right -- it's like OMG!

No one wants a kitchen faucet they hate. Or that breaks or wears badly.

I'm a designer and knew exactly which faucet I wanted from the start but lo and behold there wasn't one in the country. And I had a deadline and a budget. I then probably spent more time looking for the faucet than drawing the plans for the entire reno.

Of course, some people find one they love right away and don't have a problem.

Does "wears badly" include a faucet, probably from the 1970s, that when equipped with a PUR or Brita faucet-mount water filter, finds that the resulting backpressure is too much for it, and starts shooting water toward the ceiling from three of the tiniest pinholes ever seen? (Pinholes do not leak when filter is in the Off position.)

Does anyone have any experience with the breathtakingly-expensive Vola faucets? They are now my revenge fantasy for the humiliation of having three additional water streams in my kitchen.

Just one from the 80s that leaked badly from the bottom, replaced by a good brand bought on ebay that in 2 years looked like it had been there since the 80s (and which the contractor threw out although I told him not to).

volas should be very good. You getting a color? (be still my heart).

The part about eBay faucets that age prematurely sure sets off alarm bells.

I am still in the early stages of trying to find out about Vola. They just opened a showroom in London, but as far as I know, there is none in the USA yet. I had thought that their first product had an entire book devoted to it in the Design Classics Series, but that appears to be not the case.

Here is a link that might be useful: Design Classics Series (random selection of 5 titles)

countrygal - I chuckled when I read this because my DH and I aren't sure we picked out the faucets we now have. When we were initially making the decision, the kitchen consultant suggested the ones we have now but at the time we thought we said NO to them and decided on another style. Several months after we had picked out our faucets we kept seeing photos of the tall faucets and then wished we had chosen a tall one. However, when the faucets arrived, they were the tall style - the ones that we THOUGHT we had told the kitchen consultant we didn't want. so...we still wonder to this day if the kitchen consultant just went ahead with what she thought would look best. Either way, WE'RE HAPPY with the ones we have because they go well with the style of our kitchen. Maybe you just need someone else to pick it out for you without you realizing they made the final decision. :)
(p.s. - love your screen name)

inox -- vola has a big display at Hastings Tile and Bath in Manhattan (scroll down). It's a Danish brand, highly regarded though not sure about what happens with parts. Architects and designers use it mostly and Grohe has copied it to some extent. Hastings has catalogs.

inox - I just looked at the link for Vola that was provided and the ones shown look exactly like my Grohe so if you are looking for the design pictured in the link do check out Grohe :)

Here are a few pictures - kitchen then bath (sorry the bath is not clear but it was for paint color for someone and not the faucet I think)

The faucet was our hardest decision, too! We looked for weeks and weeks, just at faucets, online and in stores. Our problem: we wanted oil rubbed bronze, but we did not want a 'living finish' because I didn't want to have to worry about the finish changing over time. We found several that were 'non-living' but we weren't happy with the style. We also needed 5 pieces (CA, we need an air gap, air switch, filter, spray, and main faucet). We agonized, then, abruptly decided: No oil rubbed bronze! We got the style we wanted in satin nickel, and only worried about how it would look with the rest of the kitchen for a second...we were so relieved to have finally made the choice, and we have been extremely happy with it.

inox - I don't know anything about Vola faucets, but it seems to me, that a faucet from the 70's has "worn" pretty well, with or without the filter!

The faucet was the first thing we decided on and purchased.
I saw a picture of someones kitchen with the Rohl faucet and decided to design the "feel" of my kitchen around it.
It was difficult to justify the cost, but we love a good quality faucet. I knew if i waited to purchase it until we were further along, I would have had a more difficult time deciding. We bought it over a year ago and only now are we begining to install things. Good thing my vision hasn't changed all that much.

Countrygal, have you touched them? It was pretty easy for me because I went to a good showroom and could handle the samples. The feel did it. I have three new faucets, but they weren't hard to choose. :-D

pllog - Thanks for the suggestion. No, I haven't touched any yet. We do not have any showrooms close. I've been doing all my looking online so far. May I ask, what ones you chose?

piaa -- is that top faucet the Grohe Minta?

Yes it is in their Super Steel finish :)

Piaa

Thanks to rococogurl for the Hastings link and to piaa for the photos of the Grohe faucets. I did not know Hastings had a showroom in Manhattan.

I have learned that there are counterfeits of Vola faucets, just as there are counterfeits of Rolex watches. The Danish Design Store has replacement parts (such as ceramic disk cartridges) and suggested that I check an Apple Store or a major museum to see and try the HV1 model.

Here is a link that might be useful: Danish Design Store

I had the vola catalog pre-reno but unfortunately chucked it. Got it from Hastings; perhaps they could send you one? It has the full line and all the finishes and colors.

Countrygal, My sinks were pretty cheap so the faucet side of my sink/faucet budget was pretty loose (I've seen $2000 faucets online that are beyond it, but I could basically have anything in the showroom). For my main sink, I got the MGS Vela VED-M. The pulldown spray feels so good! It fits perfectly in the hand, and the finish feels yummy, and the weight of it is just right. It's not big (I hope it doesn't look dinky with the big sink), but it has beautiful lines. It also has a top notch reputation for craftsmanship and reliability.

For the keyhole shaped island sink (Kohler bordelaise), I got a Kohler Karbon. It bends to where you want it, which is perfect for the odd shaped sink. And it also has a button for spray. I love the way the carbon fibre shafts feel too.

{{!gwi}}

For the laundry room, after the more classic model faucet I'd chosen turned out to be discontinued, I got the Elkay Arezzo. I just love this one. It's not particularly elegant, but the whole thing swivels, not just the spout, and it's so much fun!! It's just an ordinary chrome faucet, but it also feels good and is fun to touch.

{{!gwi}}

It's too bad you don't have a showroom where you can touch your possibles. I didn't really stress over the looks of the Vela. I mean, it's simple and classic and I like it, but I didn't worry about finish or height or anything. One feel and I kept going back to pet it...

natenvalsmom,

I am one of those people whose magical thinking includes the idea that mechanical things last forever if we do not abuse them and give them at least token periodic maintenance. Water eventually wears out or corrodes anything it flows through.