If you think you have too many choices of kitchen faucets, wait until you start trying to choose the right faucet. The advantages and disadvantages of various faucet setups may not be obvious to you, but you should carefully consider setting options as they directly affect the number of factory holes you will use and the piping design of the faucet components.

Faucets come in two handle Settings or designs: single handle, lever or double handle. Both do the same thing -- you can turn the water on and off as it runs, and control it. So if they do the same thing, how can there be such a divided camp in design? Let's look at what makes each one unique to help you decide which design is right for you.

Lever faucets (with a handle to control the flow of hot and cold water) have hot and cold water supply lines connected below the nozzle to the faucet housing. Double handle faucets (with a separate handle for turning on hot and cold water) have a separate water supply unit (tailpiece) for each handle.

Both single-handle and double-handle faucets are popular, but for different reasons:

• Single-handle faucets are often easier to use, especially for people with arthritis or who have trouble grasping objects.
• For families with young children, single-handle faucets are a good choice. A single handle eliminates the possibility of a child scalding himself by turning on only the hot water.
• A single handle design helps you get the required water temperature faster with fewer adjustments.
• The single-handle model comes with a longer paddle handle that can be turned on or off with the elbow or wrist. This comes in handy when your hands are stuffed or covered with food.
• Because the single-handle faucet has no handles on either side of the spout, the spout has a greater radius of swing.
• If you plan to add a soap dispenser or hot water dispenser to an additional hole, a single-handle faucet with a base that doesn't cover adjacent holes is ideal.

Two-handle faucets are popular for the following reasons:

• They make people's kitchens look more traditional.
• Most dual-handle faucets have interchangeable handles, so you can change the look of the faucet on the go without having to do any plumbing!
• Dedicated hot and cold handles can only supply hot or cold water from their respective handles.
• You can adjust the water temperature by increasing or decreasing the flow of hot or cold water without changing the flow of water on the other side.

Cruising down the faucet aisle at the local home center, you'll see that most of the faucets on display are good old chrome, as chrome is still the most popular finish. In addition to being traditional, it also works well with almost any heavy color in terms of color. And it's easy to keep clean. Just wipe it dry with a damp cloth. Look a little closer, however, and you'll see combinations of colors and finishes that your parents couldn't have imagined. Faucets today range in color from white to biscuit, from bronze to black. Some elegant brass finish faucets come with lifetime warranties.

Tired of holding your nose every time you drink because of the smell or taste? Then filtered faucets might be a good option for you. Filter faucets often contain a built-in, replaceable filter with activated carbon that removes organic contaminants and cleans as water flows out of the nozzle.