Things to Think About When Choosing the Perfect Kitchen Sink
With so many choices to choose from knowing just what and how you will be functioning in your new space is going to hold all these answers. The sink is a literal workhorse. We all put this to the test each and every day we enjoy cooking meals and the busyness of modern day life. So what's the best sink for you? This article is meant to explore the strengths of each style in hopes to help narrow down your search for this most important area of kitchen design.
UNDERMOUNT
What we love about this style and why it is very popular amongst homeowners is after initially owning a self-rimming style, or drop-in sink these sleek style basins are mounted underneath the countertop with "no lip" over the top edge. This creates an ease of cleaning and allows food prep to be swept right into the basin without a fuss. You won't see an unsightly seem interrupted on the countertop. Another plus is they are thought to be as leak proof as the drop in sink designs. Chef Grade Functionality.
DROP-IN
Drop-In Sinks known best for their rim design, affordability and vast choices of different types of countertops for their mounts. Thought to be the most traditional, they are most loved for their ease of installation by today's DIY homeowners.
FLUSHMOUNT
These sinks do not have a raised or rounded lip edge, this means the seam meets at the same level of the countertop. When this sink is made in a complimentary material this can boast a beautiful design feature.
FARMHOUSE
Who doesn't love the charming vintage and rustic vibes that this fun component allows to the design of a kitchen. The main feature of this sink is the front. It can be quite a beautiful sight line for the design of the kitchen. Something to know is it cuts into cabinetry space below to sit on its own shelf. This can eliminate a decent amount of under cabinet storage capabilities. These styles are mostly chosen for design, although can be quite functional depending on the choice of materials and configurations.
SINK BASIN and MATERIAL CHOICES
Single vrs. Double
So what a great debate this is! When coming to the choices of 1 or 2 sink basins first and foremost you will need to asses how you use your sink. Do you do a lot of dishes by hand and needing a rinse station? Do you prepare for a large family and use several pots and pans? Do you rely on your sink to double as a mopping and house cleaning station?
The method single vrs. double becomes quite clear with answers to those few questions. Double basins are traditional in having a wash and rinse station to separate and allow for ample drying. The Single basin as opposed to double creates an ease to move around the heavy pots and pans letting them soak off to the sides while rinsing/prepping other dishes for cleaning.
Double basins are set for more traditional design and keep things from piling up. Single basins are a pro industrial kitchen preps dream. As you move into more discovery on the answers to these questions for yourself, you will then need to move onto the next questions which then leads to material choices.
Sink Materials
Stainless Steel
* Popular
*Inexpensive
*Lightweight
*Lower/Higher Grade Metal for Quality Control Options
Ceramic
*Fired under High Heat make them Strong
*Coated with Enamel
*Can Be Chipped/Scratched from Drops and Heavy Pans
Cast Iron
*Heavy Duty
* Popular
*Long Lasting
*Can be Limited on Mounting Choices
Composite
*Mixed Materials, Stone, Epoxy and Other
*Resists Heat, Stains and Scratches
No matter the sink that fits your design choices and lifestyle, be sure to check manufacturers for top ratings and customer reviews. Once installed this should bring a quality piece to the functionality of your kitchen allowing for easy use and clean up that meets your needs.
