With today’s emphasis on contemporary design, much though goes into designing a kitchen. A lot of time is spent on picking materials colors for such things as countertops, floors and cabinets. Often overlooked, the kitchen sink is an important element of the kitchen and a huge number of styles and shapes are available to choose from.
Consider your Habits in the Kitchen
The first thing to consider when choosing a sink for the kitchen is what you need in terms of usage. The two most common sinks are one large bowl, or two smaller bowls of equal size.
Single Large Sink
The biggest advantage of a single large sink is its capability of dealing with large items. If you have a big sized family, you might want to consider having at least one large sink bowl. With large pots and pans it is convenient to be able to place them fully into the sink for washing. For doing smaller amounts of dishes it may be necessary to buy a plastic basin to put in the sink.
Single basin sinks can come in extra large varieties with an apron front. The front of the sink is finished and sits flush with the front of the cabinets. These varieties are suitable for larger kitchens where a dramatic sink will fit into the décor.
Two Equal Sized Sinks
With two equal sized sinks, you might not be able to fully fit some of the larger kitchen items. The advantage with this system is in being able to do two tasks at once. If you need to soak some dishes at the same time as preparing food this setup is ideal.
Two Sinks: One Larger, One Smaller
Another popular style is a two bowled sink with one larger sink and one smaller. The larger bowl gains the ability to fit larger items in it while still allowing another smaller space to use.
Triple Bowl Sinks
For people who love to cook or large families, a triple bowl sink might be your best option. Three sinks really gives you a lot of space to use. The dimensions usually take up more room than a standard two sink model so consider whether the loss of counterspace is worth it.
Once you have decided on a shape, you need to choose from the many materials available. Some options are: stainless steel, composite, copper, acrylic, cast iron, solid surface, granite and more. The shape you choose may limit your choice of materials. Each material has its pros and cons. Here are a few to consider.
Stainless – durable and modern looking, easy to clean, affordable, noisy, can dent
Copper – antibacterial properties, easy to clean, expensive
Composite – durable, strong, quieter than stainless, may stain, medium priced
Granite – strong, beautiful, may require sealing, may stain, expensive
Acrylic – affordable, attractive, can stain, high heat can damage the surface
If you haven’t looked at sinks in years, you’ll be surprised to find how many choices you have.