I'd think that the separate handle would just give you one more thing to clean. The base plate (escucheon) comes as an included option with many faucets - in case there are extra holes already drilled into your counter that aren't needed. My faucet came with one that I didn't use.

Carrie, you should post a link to the faucet you used in your kitchen. As I recall, it was very similar but even simpler (read: easier to clean) than the two posted here. It would probably be of interest to mrspete.

In answer to the original question, I would also prefer just one hole in my counter -- one thing to clean around vs. two. Especially two so close together. Currently, I have a one-hole faucet and a soap dispenser in the counter, and they are fairly far apart. That's okay.

I wish I had more space behind the faucet, though. That would make it even easier to clean around. In my future kitchen, I'm having 30" deep counters for many reasons, but to get more ease-of-cleaning-space behind the faucet is one of them.

This is the faucet I got, Kraus KPF-2220. It's been discontinued, it seems, but it is still available for even cheaper than I got it from various places & in different finishes. Here it is in my kitchen (really, I only have 2 cats, but Maddie seems to insist she be in just about every single photo I post.)

I think the handle attachment looks a little odd on some styles. To accommodate the curve, it's a little bulbous and sits at a strange angle. I went with a design like Carrie's for a cleaner look.

I don't see putting another hole in your countertop if you don't need to. Another thing to clean.

Here's my Grohe Brigeford. Nice faucet, but since it was my first pull down, one thing I did not know to research was if the spray locked on, and this does not. I think it's a stupid design flaw, especially for a faucet in this price range, but stuck with it now, at least until it breaks;)

Just one more thing to look out for when choosing a faucet...

I have the first one, as touch, I love it!

I like the all in one. one less hole.

My ten yr old Moen Aberdeen has a seperate on/off handle and the replacement choices are limited.

Thanks, all. I was already inclined towards the "all in one" faucets, but since the other one is more expensive, it started me thinking, IS something different /better about the two-piece item? I was suspicious that someone might say something like, It's too small /too tight in there to function properly. But since no one has said such a thing, I'm sticking to my original "all in one" thought.

No, I don't already have any holes. The sink'll be a Kohler Stage 45, so it'll be undermount, and they'll cut just what I need.

I didn't think to say it, but I'm absolutely in to the idea of plenty of space behind the faucet; however, since I'm putting this in a peninsula, no back-side worries.

Carrie, your "handle" is in front -- is that a positive, negative or neutral?

CooknCarpenter, I like the look of your faucet. I like that the handle looks like it'd pull straight forward. I'm going to look it up.

I do prefer the slightly curved models, the ones that're just a bit more fancy -- not quite so modern.

Thanks, all!

Mrspete - funny you should ask. Some time ago, on this forum, someone (or maybe several someones) posted that they'd had their normally-side-handled faucet intentionally mounted with the handle in front. I don't remember the stated reasons, but I do remember that it made sense to me at the time.

When I chose my faucet. I wasn't sure if mine could be mounted in front (not all can.) When the plumber came, I did not mention that I wanted my faucet handle mounted any particular way - in part because I wasn't sure I had a choice, and in part I forgot, plus, I figured, the handle was designed to be on the right, so why mess with that? So, he mounted the handle on the right.

Over the next week or so, as I used my faucet there was a constant water puddle to be wiped up just behind the sink where the handle is - I'd use the faucet & reach back with my dripping wet hand to turn it off. That, and being not very tall (5'3") reaching past the sink to the handle was a bit more of a reach than I liked.

I was chatting with my contractor one day & said "I forgot to ask the plumber to mount the handle in front." He said "we can do that." And, the next day, they did. I like it so much better! It's less of a reach, and my drippy wet hand drips right into the sink!

Carrie, I never would've considered what you're saying about drippy wet hands. I now share your preference for front-mounted. Incidentally, I also understand your point about not being able to reach past the sink. You have 4" of height on me.

Thanks for the insight.

I much prefer front mounted handles. For a right handed person it is actually awkward to fill a glass/rinse a dish etc. with a right side mounted handle. Righties will prefer holding a glass or a dish with their right hand, which forces them to reach with their left hand awkwardly to the right of the faucet to fill the glass or rinse that dish, or they have to use the back of their right hand to push/pull the faucet on or off. Of course if you're a lefty you might prefer the handle to the right.

I don't have that issue in my kitchen currently, but my wall mounted bathroom faucet handle is to the right. Of course I hold my toothbrush with my right hand which makes turning the water on/off really awkward.

Funny, I'm a rightie but I always hold my glass or dish in my left hand so I have my right hand to use the faucet, swipe the dish. But you do bring up a good point. The handle in front might be easier for anybody to use without worrying about which hand is predominant because it's accessible to righties and lefties both.

We had our faucets mounted with the handle to the side until we read about mounting it to the front. Much better- no more drips on the counter.

I have the first faucet in my kitchen and I really like it. It's easy to turn on even when my hands are dirty, I can do it with my wrist.

The Delta Casssidy has a graceful design. I have the wide set in my bathroom. Delta has a good reputation, they stand by their products, plumbers like them, etc.

The handle can only be mounted on the side but you can use a Tapmaster to turn the faucet on and off and avoid puddles.

http://www.build.com/delta-9197-dst-kitchen-faucet/s782666

I'm also a rightie who holds everything in my left hand (glasses for filling, dishes for washing, telephone receiver). What I don't understand about putting the faucet handle in the front is, isn't your hand going right under the water stream to turn it on and off?

Usually, the spout is to one side or the other, or can be moved wherever. If ours were in the middle, it would hit the divider between bowls. It took us all of about 10 minutes to get used to having it in the front, after a lifetime of having it to one side or the other.

I'm a leftie, and I hold dishes with my left hand & operate faucet with my right. That may be because I lived with a faucet installed to the right of the sink for many years & that's just what I'm used to.

Sjhockeyfan - In the time (granted only a few weeks, but...) I've had my faucet, I've not once gotten my hand or arm wet in the stream while operating the faucet - and I never had to get used to it or train myself, either.

Assume your faucet is mounted directly in the back middle of your sink, and you generally stand right in front of the middle of your sink. If you're reaching to the faucet with your right hand, you're coming in front the right, and with the left hand, from the left. Your arm doesn't reach out from the center of your chest.

I noticed that I tend to leave the actual handle of the faucet to the right. I assume that if I used my left hand for the faucet, I'd leave the handle on the right. But even in this little experiment I just did, even when the handle was facing the "wrong" direction, I didn't get my hand wet - I just had to reach a couple more inches to get the handle.

Can I ask a related question? How do you know if the handle can be installed in the center vs. to the right? We need to buy a new faucet soon, and I LOVE this idea.

(I also highly prefer faucets where you need to keep the button pressed to use the spray... those seem to be hard to find, though.)

I think that as long as the spout pivots all the way around, you can mount the handle wherever you want. That's the way our Moen faucets are. I did have to reverse the supply lines so that Hot was on the left, like it should be.

I like that Krause. I wonder why it was discontinued.

@pippiep

Our faucet completely unintentionally needs to have the button pressed to keep the spray going. I find it quite annoying and have almost totally stopped using the spray function as a result, but if that's what you want, this faucet will give it to you!

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Blanco-Linus-Single-Handle-Kitchen-Faucet-in-Satin-Nickel-441197/202374679?N=5yc1vZarvlZ9l#specifications

The reason is that the button only stays in spray mode if the water is turn on a lot, but at that point, the flow is so strong that switching it to spray and aiming it at a dish results in immediate chaos. Water bounces off in all directions and a fine mist of water gets all over creation. With the water turned down to a gentler flow and thus a totally reasonable and useful spray that I would actually use, the faucet automatically pops out of spray mode unless you hold it there.

It's otherwise an attractive, very solidly-made faucet, and I really like how the finish doesn't show any fingerprints or water marks or anything else. It's also so streamlined that it doesn't have crevices or anything to collect gunk. Basically always looks clean.

I've had the Delta Cassidy for about a month and I absolutely love it. The switch between stream and spray is easy to use and stays where I want it. The head comes off easily and snaps back into place with the magnet. I was hesitant because it was a bit pricier than the other Deltas but I think the design is worth it, I've gotten lots of compliments on it!

I have a Kohler faucet. I need to figure out if it can be front mounted!!! There are always huge puddles of water on the counter under it - it drives me nuts!

Jillius -- that sounds like a messy faucet! My current one is perfect, but we can't take it with us. I don't want one that is controlled by the flow of the water; I want it controlled by my thumb. Like the $$$ Waterstone ones. My beloved Hansgrohe isn't made anymore, but maybe the replacement model will work the same.

A new bounce-off question: As I look at these faucets on Amazon, I see some reviews complain that the "heads" are plastic. I can't imagine this is a good thing, yet it seems to be true across the board, and we're talking about faucets that cost $200-300.

Is this really okay?

I think most heads are plastic for a very good reason. Metal transmits heat - you pull the faucet down (or out) with your bare hand and hold on to it... get where I'm going with this?

I'm pretty sure our Kohler Simplice has a metal head (that feature was important to me), and we haven't noticed that the nozzle gets too hot to the touch. I'm thinking if your nozzle gets that hot, your water may be dangerously scalding anyway.

Heat ... yeah, that does make sense.