Kitchen Faucets
Sleek and contemporary or ornate and traditional, today’s kitchen faucets contribute largely to a kitchen’s overall style and can influence the look of other elements, such as cabinetry hardware. In addition to a variety of main-sink faucets, you’ll find scaled-down bar/prep-sink faucets, filtered-water faucets, electronic models, and instant-hot and –cold faucets. Pull-down models are considered more ergonomic than pullouts and often feature restaurant style. The hottest trend: a pot-filler faucet, typically mounted near the range, that delivers cold water only and eliminates hauling a pot of water from the sink.

Consider these tips when looking for a kitchen faucet:

• Choose the best you can afford. Kitchen faucets get daily use and are worth the extra investment.

• Test-drive before you buy. Make sure the handle and levers are easy to maneuver and the sprayer pulls out and returns easily.

• Study your sink. A too-tall faucet for the sink depth can create splashes; too low can limit the amount of clearance for filling large pots. If your sink is predrilled, be sure to check its number of faucet holes so the faucet you choose will fit.