Can you post a pic of this faucet? Have you seen it in person?

I just looked it up. I think you will be fine bc it hangs down over a deep sink. Not over the counter. You have space in the sink under it. I guess I would try see in person and see how it feels.

That Rohl faucet is one of the most beautiful out there. It is something of a statement piece also so it would be important to pay attention to what's behind it and how the height of it lines up with everything on the sink wall.

At the time, there wasn't a single Rohl faucet in the country and they didn't have a delivery date. For me, it was the one that got away.

Not the same look but instead I went with KWC Systema which is brand everyone here really likes and recommends. It has a different look, of course. But it's also easier to clean than a faucet with an exterior stainless spring.

The KWC Ono has a combi spout/sprayer plus lighting.

But faucet love is faucet love. This style faucet has been widely copied. Danze makes one, as do others. Google "high arc pre rinse faucet" and a good many options will turn up at many price points.

rococogurl, I think you have mistaken the one we're thinking of for another version in the same series by Rohl. Here's the one we saw at the showroom:

This bottom photo is of the "high arc" faucet. Here's a look at that in satin nickel, to compare to the shorter faucet (though it's definitely hard to compare scale in photos):

Don't write off the handle in the front as "weird". Plenty of people here have opted to do this with many different faucets, because not only do you not have to worry about clearance to the backsplash, but when you go to grab the handle with wet hands, you drip into the sink instead of onto the counter.

You're right, writersblock... too judgmental of me. Sorry! You make a good point. I suppose my habit is to have the handle to the right, but that doesn't make it... right.

Thanks for the photos @ntrainer. Always helpful to be talking about the same thing.

Some faucets have only 1 installation option. Others have several. This one is shown with the control frontal as some want that so the water drips into the sink not on the counter. A right-handed person might want the control on the right; left handed on the left if that's possible.

As @writersblock points out, it's not weird, it's just an option.

I'm not sure I understand the "duck under" issue since the spout hangs over the sink, not the counter.

Can you elaborate?

Also, I think you may want to consider the scale of a 16-inch tall faucet on a 33-inch sink. It's a question of scale -- relative size -- though purely personal taste.

Oh, I didn't think you were judgmental; I just wanted to point out that there are good reasons for installing it that way. I would guess they show it that way so that people will know that you can turn the base whichever way you want and then they won't need to ask about that.

The "duck under" issue is really about whether 6-1/2" is too low to the counter -- and you're right, it may be a sort of a red herring issue. I will admit that the folks at the Thos. Somerville showroom said my husband was the only one they'd ever met who raised this issue. But I think I understand what he's saying (to defend him just a bit): As you move a big item for washing or filling -- picture filling a stock pot or washing a baking sheet -- you're scooting it from counter to under the faucet. You may need to wash at odd angles as well. (I'm picturing washing my griddle, for example.) Is 6-1/2" enough room to maneuver the washing process, or will it feel odd?

Now: we are significantly upgrading the size of our sink. Right now we have a 21"w sink. So perhaps there will be so little maneuvering in the new, roomy 33" sink that we are imagining a problem that will go away naturally with the new, bigger sink.

rococogurl -- are you saying a 16" tall faucet might be too short for a 33" sink? If so, we could opt for the 19". I'm concerned 19" could be too tall. My anxiety may also be fed by this photo I found, where (all apologies to the designer, here) IMHO there's too little room behind the sink for this poor faucet. This is the 19" tall version:

Perhaps also when you take a photo from close up it is deceiving. We will also have a raised counter behind the faucet, FWIW.

The maneuvering business will depend entirely on the projection of the faucet in the sink. That is the side measurement from the center of the stem to the center of the nozzle. Without the faucet's spec sheet I can't guess what it would be. Then there's the depth, back to front, of the sink you've picked.

Don't forget, the faucet will be set back from the inside end of the back of the sink. So the projection will tell you a lot.

If you're having a raised counter behind the faucet -- and it's important to consider -- then either the faucet should be installed with the control forward or you want to be absolutely sure -- again from the faucet spec sheet -- about how much the handle rotates backwards to work if that's the case. Not all faucets rotate backwards but I suspect this one does if it gives the front-mount option. In the past, folks have had to cut back the handle to get the faucet to work. Usually, it happens when the spec sheet is not consulted.

You following?

The projection into the sink will tell you how much maneuvering space in front there will be. If someone is accustomed to a small sink I can see how that would come to mind.

Yes, I was talking about scale. But scale is tricky. I do drawings but a mock up on the faucet height would work just as well. It could be done with paper towel tubing taped together or you might thing of something else. I'd put it on there at both heights and see which looks better to you. I'm a fan of big faucets -- "sink jewelry" -- but as I said before, everyone has their own taste. Some don't care for big faucets. Some want them high, low etc.

Such great advice, rococogurl. That's why I come here to the discussion boards! I love the mockup idea, except that we will have to order the faucet, I would guess, way before we have counters. The projections of the two faucets are 8" (for the smaller version) and 10" (for the larger version).

I appreciate your thoughts about where the control gets installed... something I hadn't thought about. It will also depend how deep the counter is as well as how deep the sink is, I suppose. We are likely to choose a fireclay undermount sink (single bowl) from either Shaws or Allia, and the depth of the sink may be a key measurement. We will need to work this out with our architect very carefully!

Sounds like you would choose the taller faucet, if it were just you choosing. Have I read you right?

If you scroll down on the link to Making Sense of Kitchen Faucets there are diagrams that show key relationships between the faucet and sink that should be helpful to understand. They show clearances.

The counter will be 24"- 25" deep most likely. The depth of the sink must be subtracted from that to know how much space will be left in back for the faucet to operate between the sink and partition.

Farm sink base cabinets can sometimes be pulled out to give more space in the back but that's often a question of style. Alternately and depending on the sink, that can be pulled forward by a couple on inches -- or not -- which may create more space back there.

No reason to order the faucet before the counters and sink. If the architect can do a scale elevation with the faucet that may give you an idea of size. Or discuss the scale with him/her.

I like a big faucet but as important I like a faucet that's easy to use. With the Rohl pull down another thing to check is the hose length -- be sure it's long enough to fill a pot on the adjacent counter or fill a flower vase. Does the spray lock on? Does it toggle between spray and stream or does it remember what you last used?

My faucets are old and big as my reno was done 13 years ago before pull down faucets existed. But these are the grandma of the Rohl you like so I have 2 pieces vs 1.

But it illustrates the point.

Sink is Rohl 30" x 18" (exterior) Interior space is 15" back to front.

Sprayer is 25-1/2" high.
Projection is 8-1/2"
Center of faucet is 2-1/2" from outside back of the sink.
Sprayer head is only 3" above the sink rim
Sprayer head hangs 4" from the back of the sink
There is 11" of free working space in the front of the sink

It's a charming kitchen, rococogirl (but I'm guessing you've heard that before). :) Thank you so much for the photos. They help a great deal. I do love the Rohl faucet you have... how high is that reaching?

We will not have a farmhouse sink -- total undermount. So we'll have to choose one with the proper depth and work the issues out with regard to leaving proper room for the placement & operation of the faucet, as you correctly suggest.

My faucet is an older Dornbracht Tara Ultra set. Sprayer is 25" high. I posted a photo of the current version of that faucet is upthread -- the faucet with the ochre background, just below the Rohl. These are crazy expensive now as it's the original of this style. Here's a link to Dornbracht's Tara Ultra page. Architects love Dornbracht so beware.

Once you get the clearances with the faucets it becomes very easy.

We have Rohl faucets in our master bath and they also have been excellent.

I continue to love your tile Rococo, and that's an interesting question about faucet outlet height ntrainer--I'm glad it wasn't on my radar screen when looking at faucets, as I already had quite enough to obsess over. I wonder if you could find a display with ANY model that has the same height installed over a sink and check it out that way.

Count me as one of the people who wanted the handle facing the front, as we have a lefty and a righty in the house and I prefer drips to be over the sink rather than the counter. I also thought about the spray pattern after visiting some people who had a high-end kitchen with a spray that bordered on useless because it was so wide. You could aim it at a dinner plate six inches away and the spray would go around the plate; hit the plate with the lower edge of the spray and the upper edge would be drenching the window (note: slight exaggeration may have been employed here for illustrative purposes, but not much).

I ended up with the Kohler Sensate (awesome blade spray with a toggle), as I also wanted something without lots of lumps and bumps to clean. The touchless part is, so far, a fail though, as it often fails to shut off completely and drips or streams, despite repeated adjustments by the contractor.

I only recently discussed veered that the handle on my Perrin & Rowe faucet could have been installed the the handle in the front! For 13 yrs, I gave not been able to turn the cold all the way on as the handle bumps the raised windowsill! When it is reinstalled after new abinets go in, believe me, it will be in the front!

rococogirl, I was asking about the height of the faucet on the left of your sink, not the Dornbracht. Thanks!

@avatarwalt -- You have officially broken my heart. I have been obsessed with the Kohler Sensate as it seems the ideal faucet for exactly the reasons you state. Don't get me wrong, I love mine and the sprayer is outstanding even though it doesn't lock down. But I think the idea of not having to touch the faucet is such an improvement. I'm constantly cleaning the handle which gets so gunked up. Tragic with technology today they cannot get it to shut off properly. Is it a function of the battery or do you have it hard wired?

I'm right there with you, @rococo, on the Sensate obsession and disappointment, as it seemed to hit all the points I wanted (though the pullout part feels a little plasticy). I can't imagine that all of them have a hands-free feature that works as poorly as ours does, since it's definitely not ready for prime time and you'd think there would be more complaints. Sometimes it shuts off perfectly, but just when you think it's finally healed, it'll only shut down to a fast drip or a trickle which sometimes stops and sometimes keeps going. Some of the Amazon reviews mention a faulty solenoid, so if this keeps up I'll get in touch with Kohler. Ours is plugged in, so no battery issue.

AvatarWatt-- were you able to install your Kohler Sensate with the handle in the front?

j2-- Yes, the handle is in front which works out great, and, even better, I adjusted a little thingy (technical term) on the solenoid and the hands free now turns off with nary a drip every time.

Avatar--So glad to know that the handle in front is doable with the Sensate and that you have solved the dripping issue. I'm planning on getting that faucet so I'm encouraged.