Kitchen Design Sinks

Choosing a Sink for Your Kitchen Design

There are enough sink options that you can create a variety of looks, from eye-catching and colorful to modern and sleek.

To create the kitchen design and look you desire, you have to consider all your sink and faucet options:

• Stainless steel
• Cast iron
• Undermount
• Self-rimming
• Single bowl
• Double bowl
• Triple bowl

Stainless Steel Sink Kitchen Design

Stainless steel is the most popular and typically the least expensive sink option. Look for sinks made from 18- to 20-gauge steel. The lower the gauge, the heavier and more durable the steel. The chrome and nickel content of the steel also affects quality. The ideal combination of nickel and chrome is 18% chromium and 8% nickel; the chrome adds strength and the nickel prevents corrosion

• Complements commercial-style appliances.
• Can be molded as a continuous part of a stainless steel countertop.
• Won’t chip.
• Easy cleanup

Cast Iron Sink Kitchen Design

Cast iron sinks are formed by pouring molten iron into a cast (hence the name “cast iron”) that forms the sink’s shape. They are then coated with an enamel finish. This enamel finish can come in a variety of colors and it can also be fire polished to give the sink a glossy look.

• Comes in many colors.
• Remains quiet when water hits the sink’s surface

Solid Surface Sink Kitchen Design

Solid surface sinks are made from solid synthetic sheets formed by mixing a mineral compound with polyester and/or acrylic resins.

• Can be molded from the same piece of solid surface that’s used for the countertop, which will provide a seamless look.
• Lots of colors and designs to choose from.
• You can sand out scratches

Composite Sink Kitchen Design

A composite sink is typically made from quartz or granite compounds mixed with acrylic resins.

• It can be shaped into an integral countertop.
• Comes in many colors.
• You can set hot pots down on it.
• It’s stain resistant

Drop-in Sink Kitchen Design

Drop-in sinks get their name from the method of installing them: “Dropping” them into a cutout in the countertop. (Obviously, we recommend a more careful placement.) You may also hear them referred to as topmount sinks. Their edges lap the countertop, which is why they are also called self-rimming sinks.

This type of sink is the least expensive and most common option for your kitchen. Installing them is easier than other types of kitchen sinks, because they can simply be set into the counter and attached with caulk or another epoxy.

However, drop-in sinks can make cleaning difficult, as the sink’s lip tends to trap food and dirt.

With the exception of stone, most sink materials—including stainless steel, composite, fireclay, cast iron, solid surface and acrylic—easily can be found in drop-in styles. Bar or prep sinks as well as primary kitchen sinks of all shapes, sizes and number of basins.

Undermount Sink Kitchen Design

Undermount sinks have a low profile and are attached underneath the countertop, hence their name. With no visible edges, undermount sinks offer the advantages of a streamlined look. The lack of a sink rim or lip over the countertop also makes cleaning easy, as food and dirt can’t get trapped under the edges.

A wide range of sinks come in undermount styles: single-, double- and triple-bowl; stainless steel, composite, fireclay, cast iron, solid surface, stone and copper; and bar or prep sinks as well as primary kitchen sinks.

Undermount sinks expose the edge of the countertop to the bowl and the water within it, so make sure the countertop material you choose is waterproof throughout, not just on the top layer. That typically means using solid surfacing, concrete, quartz, granite, or other engineered or natural stones

Integral Sink Kitchen Design

An integral sink is made out of the same material as the countertop and is fused to it, creating a seamless transition that makes the sink and counter look like one unit. This option only exists with materials flexible enough to be fabricated into the shape of a sink basin, limiting you to quartz, stainless steel, glass, solid surfacing and other composite materials. (Glass, however, costs $200-$300 per square foot, so it is typically used for smaller surfaces such as vanity tops or dining bars, not the main kitchen counter.)

The seamless design makes cleaning a snap and, from a design perspective, makes the sink complete unobtrusive and allows the focus to remain on an elegant faucet or artistic backsplash. However, if the sink or countertop is damaged, you’ll probably have to replace both items rather than simply swap out one or the other.

Common sink configurations include:

• Single bowl
• Double bowl
• Triple bowl
• Main sink plus prep sink

A deep, wide single bowl can be best if you’re tight on space or you want a sink where you can rinse plates and silverware before loading them into the dishwasher.

With a double-bowl sink where both bowls are the same size, you can use one side to wash dishes and the other to rinse them. Or you could have a double-bowl sink where one sink is larger than the other—use one for rinsing and the other as a prep sink for cleaning fruits and vegetables.

A triple-bowl sink gives you the wash-and-rinse function plus a smaller prep sink with disposal.

A separate prep sink on your island or by the stove can add convenience when you’re cooking, entertaining, or preparing fruits and vegetables.

Additional Sink Accessories Kitchen Design & Functionality

• Cutting boards that fit securely on the sink’s sides and that have holes to empty scraps through
• Colanders that hang on the sides
• A garbage disposal
• Dish racks that fit into the basin
• Hot water dispensers