Few areas in your home are used as often as your kitchen sink, so choosing the correct one can either make or break your kitchen design. Here’s a few things to consider:
The first thing you need to decide is if you want a drop in or undermount sink. What’s the difference? As the name suggests, a drop-in sink drops into the counter, so there is a visible lip that rests on the counter. An undermount sink attaches beneath the counter, creating a seamless look. An undermount sink maximizes the available counter space since the lip of the sink rests under the counter rather than on top. If you love a clean kitchen, this sink is for you because there’s no lip, so dirt and grime can’t get stuck between the sink and the edge of the countertop. That said, the drop-in sink is cheaper, and easier to install if you’re doing a DIY renovation.
Next, choose the finish of your sink. If you’re an enthusiastic cook who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, you want something durable and easy to clean. Stainless steel is an obvious go-to here, but if you’re looking for something with all the same hygiene benefits but a more natural look, consider a more modern finish such as Franke’s Fragranite. This surface is finely textured but not porous, ensuring a high standard of hygiene. Composed of 80% quartz sand and 20% hard acrylic resin, fragranite is durable enough to last a lifetime.
Size, as with most things in life, matters when it comes to choosing the perfect sink. A double sink will allow you to perform separate tasks in each sink, such as food prep in one and washing up in another, but consider how much space this will take up. If you have a smaller kitchen, can you afford to lose the counter space? Having a large single basin has its upsides too, as the larger basin allows for soaking large pots and pans easily. Whatever you choose, make sure the size of the sink suits the design of your kitchen too. A large farmhouse style sink can easily overwhelm a small kitchen.
Don’t forget to consider the full range of modern conveniences on offer. A mixer is no longer just a mixer. They can now include a water filter, like this Neptune Filterflow Mixer from Franke. These are great as they improve the taste of your tap water while removing lead, chlorine, bacteria and parasites. You can even take this one step further with the ZIP Hydro Taps, which dispense boiling, chilled and sparkling water. Your kitchen sink can also include waste disposal options, anything from pop-up waste that lets you empty the bowl without putting your hands into a sink full of dirty water to Advanced Waste Systems from the stainless steel basket strainer to low-profile waste kits that free up extra cupboard space.
The sink you settle on will affect the functionality and flow of your kitchen, as well as having a daily impact on your life for years to come, making this decision one that is worth spending some time on to make sure you’ve got the right one for your lifestyle.
