a.f.a.i.k. these are all patterned after commercial faucets, for restaurants, that have a huge flow rate that can blast off anything stuck to a plate. The plate still has to go into a commercial dishwasher after that in any case, for sterilization. So, the faucet that blasts like a fire hose is called a pre-rinse, because the DW is a sterilization-rinse. Make sense? They are still called pre-rinse when they go into residential kitchens although the DW is not a sterilization-rinse chamber, so they only sort of have the same basic function. They don't blast as much either; their flow rate is reduced to residential standards so you don't need to worry about backspray splattering onto everything in sight. If you don't want the coiled spring there are a couple high arc spouts that are made of rubbery material that springs back into place. And, a couple of rubbery material spouts that hold their shape if you move them around.

I'm not sure I can answer all of your questions correctly so I will just say what was my very recent experience. I too, compared the store brand to the Blanco that was on display in the kitchen section. I liked the "feel" of the Blanco better. I priced the Blanco silgranit sink at Lowe's...(they would special order it )and it was quite a lot more than what I could purchase it for online. (approx. $200 more) I got the 60/40 sink. My DW is on the left. The large bowl is on the left. The smaller bowl with my garbage disposal is on the right. I would have preferred it to be in the opposite postion, but it wasn't available that way at place I was ordering it from. So I am living with it and it is not really a big deal for me. Personally I prefer a double bowl...but I know there are many on this forum who prefer the single. I like to have a sink for washing and a sink for rinsing/draining/disposing of stuff etc... Good luck and I hope I helped....even a little bit:) Here is a link that might be useful: blanco 441128

I have seen some great lighting from West Elm and from IKEA. Not all of it is great, you have to be selective and I would also look in the store if possible before ordering b/c the quality varies. You might also look at Shades of Light. Some of the lighting is inexpensive but again the quality varies. Finally, you could try Overstock - when I use Overstock I do a search on the lighting that has 4 star reviews or above. The reviews on Overstock have been accurate for me so far.

Carisue - as ci_lantro said, I hope you are happy with the decision to go with the single bowl and your husband comes to appreciate it as well. As someone who had a double bowl sink for many years, I could not wait to get a large single bowl when we renovated and would never go back. Such a HUGE improvement. As for no prep sink, your husband could always toss scraps into a bowl if he’s prepping while you are at the sink and then just run them down the disposal once prep is done. As for faucets, the Delta Trinsic is indeed a very nice looking faucet that would go well in a modernish/transitional kitchen since it is a single handle with clean lines. Go look at some in person and see what you like, while faucet prices can be crazy, there should also be quite a few under $300 that would fit well in your new space. If you have a Costco membership (or if a friend does) they have a few Hansgrohe options that are priced very well and would work with the aesthetic you are going for. Surf the Costco site to see what they have, it’s hard to beat the price point and we had one for years in our former home without issue and put another one in when we renovated. I really liked the trinsic but wanted brushed nickel vs chrome and that option (at the time) drove the price up on the trinsic more than I could justify. Then I found the Hansgrohe Lacuna at Costco that came in the brushed finish and with soap dispenser (check out the Never MT on amazon - awesome) for $200 and it was too good to pass up.