Kitchen Sinks
Clever ideas for your kitchen's cleanup center
Photo: Philip Harvey
A country kitchen’s apron sink sits atop a lowered base cabinet.
The new world of sinks
Recently, sinks and faucets have become prime design accents -- a place to add a bit of dash to an otherwise restrained scheme.
When it comes to the primary kitchen sink, the traditional single-bowl version has some serious competition. Today's sink is a multitask center, and double-, even triple-bowl designs are now the norm. They come detailed with many custom-fitted accessories, such as cutting boards, colanders, rinsing baskets, and dish racks.
The one exception is the so-called apron sink, an unabashedly old-fashioned single sink that sits atop a lowered base cabinet.
Materials
Common sink materials include stainless steel, enameled cast iron or steel, composites, and solid-surface acrylics. Vitreous china is also making a comeback. For smaller auxiliary sinks or "bar" sinks, you can use more decorative surfaces like copper or brass.
In addition, you may see new sinks made from ceramic fireclay, concrete, or soapstone. Color-consistent fireclay seems especially promising, since scratches or dings can be scrubbed or buffed out.
Sink sizes
The traditional one-piece sink measures about 22 inches deep and 24 inches wide. Double- or one-and-a-half-bowl sinks average 33 inches wide; triple-bowl versions, or those with integral drain boards, can stretch to 42 inches. Sinks are getting deeper, a boon for those washing big pots and baking sheets.
Rim or no rim?
You also have a choice of mounting methods with various sink models. Self-rimming sinks with molded overlaps are supported by the edge of the countertop cutout; they work well with any countertop material. Undermounted sinks are positioned under the countertop and held in place by metal clips; they have a modern look that works well with stone and solid-surface edges. Flush-mounted sinks are set into the counter substrate to align with the surface material -- usually tile.
