I was disgusted with faucets for a while and did not want to write a review, but now feel compelled to do so.
I purchased installed this faucet (on Amazon) after trying a 'Kohler' counter intuitive nightmare. This one, at least, makes sense as to which way to turn the valve lever for hot, cold, off and on. Very nice!
When I got it, I was not thrilled with the high-arc that turned out not to be so high - oh yeah, the arc itself is high, but then it turns down farther than it needs to making it less functional (to me). I need that high arc to get big pots and pans under it. So. Figuring I was going to keep this one as I like the form AND the function, I took it out in the metal shop and cut off 1 1/2" of the gooseneck, allowing the biggest pot I have to glide under it. I almost screwed it up! A little more off of it and when you turn on the water, it would squirt OUT of the sink!! But all is well. Most happy with it now that it IS a high arc water stream.
It seems to me to be a solid piece of work, although the under counter assembly makes me a little uneasy as it seems to be somewhat cheaply made. But it hasn't leaked yet and with our water supply being so hard, I would have expected it by now. I would also have expected abrasion on the pull out supply line, but that hasn't happened. I liked the old metal ones, these plastic ones, not so much. But it works, it isn't abraided (I DID, of course, make the cut I made on the faucet arc as smooth as the original.)
Pro's:
I like the look.
I like the function: The handle is intuitive. No guest has burned themselves by trying to figure out which way to turn the faucet for 'hot'! (We have a lot of parties and since the kitchen is huge and part of the 'house' folks want to come in and be part of the 'action' - cooking is fun, but can get frantic and I don't have time to give instructions as to how to use the faucet. The 6 burner 5-Star Range, yes. Not the faucet.)
It went in like a dream. Very simple 'idiot proof' installation. I THINK that the lines are color coded so you can't even screw that up (disclaimer: I did put that thing in 3 years ago).
Easy to clean the pull out spray - with the included tool it comes apart to get the crud out that builds up in a hard water system like ours.
Customer Service: They live up to their warranty. We have water that you have to chew so valves need to be replaced frequently. This one just started leaking when the water was turned on. I called customer service and they are sending me a new one. Very nice job, Kohler! Very rare these days.
Con's:
Kind of a negative, but more of a style/preference issue: I'm not too keen on the pull out part NOT going back to stream from spray when you turn the water off. I understand some people like that feature, but I was used to another model that did the opposite. After 3 years, I still don't like that it does not return to stream when you turn it off. In fact, I would not have purchased it if I had known that. But here I am 3 years down the road liking this faucet just fine even if I pull out my sailor's language from time to time when I expect a stream and get spray. I was going to give it 4 stars, but I think 5 is more the mark as this is just a small issue.
| Brand | Kohler |
|---|---|
| Recommended Uses For Product | Kitchen |
| Mounting Type | Deck Mount |
| Finish Type | Matte Black |
| Material | Metal |
| Color | Matte Black |
| Number of Handles | 1 |
| Included Components | Kitchen Faucet |
| Hole Count | 3 |
| Special Feature | Pull Down Sprayer,Tarnish Resistant |
| Handle Type | Lever |
| Style | High Arch |
| Installation Type | Deck Mounted |
| Maximum Flow Rate | 2.2 Gallons Per Minute |
| Model Name | SIMPLICE |
| Number of Pieces | 1 |
| Handle Material | Ceramic |
| Spout Height | 9.63 Inches |
| Spout Reach | 9 Inches |
| Item Weight | 454 Grams |
| Spout Design | High-Arch, Pull-Down Spout |
| Hose Length | 31.25 Inches |
| Manufacturer | KOHLER |
| Part Number | K-596-BL |
| Item Weight | 1 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 1 x 1 x 1 inches |
| Item model number | 596-BL |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 0.375 |
| Finish | Matte Black |
| Pattern | Faucet |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Certification | No, certified frustration-free |
| Special Features | Pull Down Sprayer,Tarnish Resistant |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | Lifetime Limited Warranty |
