How to Pick the Right Kitchen Sink
Getting this important kitchen feature right will save your sanity for years to come
If you’re planning a new kitchen, you probably have your eye on a particular style of sink, but the big question is, does it really suit the way you do the dishes, prepare food and clean up? Every sink style and material has pros and cons, so be sure to weigh them up – living with the wrong sink will bring you no joy! We’ve consulted the experts – the Kitchen and Bathroom Designers Institute of Australia (KBDi) – to help you choose.
Pros: Can add rustic character to country and traditional-style kitchens.
Cons: White porcelain sinks show up every bit of grime; the hard surface is likely to mean breakages; they can be hard on the ears when washing up; and it takes time and a lot of water to fill if it’s a single-bowl design.
Find a specialised kitchen designer and renovator near you on Houzz for expert advice on choosing the fight fixtures for your kitchen
Cons: White porcelain sinks show up every bit of grime; the hard surface is likely to mean breakages; they can be hard on the ears when washing up; and it takes time and a lot of water to fill if it’s a single-bowl design.
Find a specialised kitchen designer and renovator near you on Houzz for expert advice on choosing the fight fixtures for your kitchen
What to look for: Fireclay porcelain sinks are heavy duty – and heavy – and can be extra spill- and scrape-resistant when they’re glazed. Enamel-coated ceramic is known as vitreous china.
Something to think about: If you are considering this style of sink, getting real about how you wash the dishes could save your sanity in the long run. No matter how much you love your dishwasher, there will always be those items you have to handwash yourself because they’re too big or fragile. If you’re used to washing the dishes in one bowl, rinsing them in another, then stacking them to drain or dry to the side, how will you adjust to a farmhouse sink?
For stone composite or marble benchtops, grooves can easily be carved in to drain dishes, but for timber benchtops, you’ll need a drying accessory that sits to the side of the sink or fits inside – a look that may not be in line with what you imagine for your kitchen.
If you have your heart set on a farmhouse sink and a timber benchtop, avoid water damage by bench-mounting your sink rather than opting for an under-mounted sink.
If you have your heart set on a farmhouse sink and a timber benchtop, avoid water damage by bench-mounting your sink rather than opting for an under-mounted sink.
Stainless-steel sinks
This eternally popular sink material has stood the test of time for a reason – it’s a material that makes sense when it comes to the work we do in the kitchen.
“You can’t really go wrong with stainless steel – these sinks last forever,” says Murphy. There are different grades of stainless steel – 18/10 (18 per cent chromium and 10 per cent nickel) satin stainless steel is the most common for sinks. Apart from being slightly more square (and therefore easier to install and seal around the edges) this is one instance where paying more isn’t really necessary.
“Longevity is not an advantage of spending more,” says Murphy. “The sink is not what’s going to wear out quickest in a kitchen.”
This eternally popular sink material has stood the test of time for a reason – it’s a material that makes sense when it comes to the work we do in the kitchen.
“You can’t really go wrong with stainless steel – these sinks last forever,” says Murphy. There are different grades of stainless steel – 18/10 (18 per cent chromium and 10 per cent nickel) satin stainless steel is the most common for sinks. Apart from being slightly more square (and therefore easier to install and seal around the edges) this is one instance where paying more isn’t really necessary.
“Longevity is not an advantage of spending more,” says Murphy. “The sink is not what’s going to wear out quickest in a kitchen.”
Pros: Durable, hygienic, easy to clean, and its colour will disguise that cup of coffee you just tipped into the sink. More forgiving when you drop something into the sink, and slightly quieter to use than other materials.
Cons: Can scratch; takes some elbow grease (and a stainless-steel cleaner) to get it looking flawless.
Cons: Can scratch; takes some elbow grease (and a stainless-steel cleaner) to get it looking flawless.
What to look for: If you like a deeper-than-average sink, opt for a bowl that’s welded to the rest of the sink and has 10-millimetre radial corners – it will be easier to clean.
Something to think about: Look for a sink with a waste drain at the back of the sink rather than the centre to give you more cabinet space underneath.
Although undermounted sinks can look terrific, Murphy says overmounted sinks are becoming more popular again because some benchtops tend to chip around the edges of undermounted sinks.
“There are slimline models available now that are raised just a couple of millimetres off the bench – they’re easier to clean and look really smart too,” he says. The other benefit is that the stonemason doesn’t have to polish the inside edge of the benchtop surrounding the sink, which delivers a small cost saving.
Easy Kitchen Updates for a Better Life
“There are slimline models available now that are raised just a couple of millimetres off the bench – they’re easier to clean and look really smart too,” he says. The other benefit is that the stonemason doesn’t have to polish the inside edge of the benchtop surrounding the sink, which delivers a small cost saving.
Easy Kitchen Updates for a Better Life
Other materials
Black granite composite sinks, such as those from Abey and Blanco, are appearing in more and more kitchens.
“I’m really liking the black sinks,” says SMB Interior Design’s Michelle Burton, also a KBDi member. Black sinks can work fabulously with black ovens, fridges, dishwashers and other appliances now in vogue. German-made Schock sinks comprise about 80 per cent quartz, which means they’re heat- and stain-resistant, as well as hygienic – the material inhibits at least 95 per cent of bacterial growth.
Black granite composite sinks, such as those from Abey and Blanco, are appearing in more and more kitchens.
“I’m really liking the black sinks,” says SMB Interior Design’s Michelle Burton, also a KBDi member. Black sinks can work fabulously with black ovens, fridges, dishwashers and other appliances now in vogue. German-made Schock sinks comprise about 80 per cent quartz, which means they’re heat- and stain-resistant, as well as hygienic – the material inhibits at least 95 per cent of bacterial growth.
Sinks with toughened glass drainboards and tops, but stainless-steel bowls, are emerging as a slick option in contemporary kitchens. The glass is both scratch and heat resistant.
New and improved stone composites, including Franke’s Fragranite, create a smoother, flatter surface than usual and are almost impossible to stain.
One-piece non-porous sinks that merge seamlessly with the benchtop are also emerging through companies such as Silestone – these are ideal for a statement look and are a breeze to clean.
New and improved stone composites, including Franke’s Fragranite, create a smoother, flatter surface than usual and are almost impossible to stain.
One-piece non-porous sinks that merge seamlessly with the benchtop are also emerging through companies such as Silestone – these are ideal for a statement look and are a breeze to clean.
And don’t forget traditional materials too, including metals other than stainless steel. They may be oldies, but they’re still goodies.
Sink Set-Ups
How many bowls do you need?
One bowl, two, or what about three? Your choice will depend on bench space, but also how you operate in the kitchen.
“People don’t really sit down and analyse how they wash up when they’re planning a kitchen – they analyse how they cook but not how they wash up,” says Burton.
Fans of streamlined benchtops tend to favour double sinks – you can position a dish drainer inside the second sink and keep the kitchen looking clutter free.
16 Sink Designs for Kitchens of All Kinds
How many bowls do you need?
One bowl, two, or what about three? Your choice will depend on bench space, but also how you operate in the kitchen.
“People don’t really sit down and analyse how they wash up when they’re planning a kitchen – they analyse how they cook but not how they wash up,” says Burton.
Fans of streamlined benchtops tend to favour double sinks – you can position a dish drainer inside the second sink and keep the kitchen looking clutter free.
16 Sink Designs for Kitchens of All Kinds
A three-bowl set-up may seem extravagant to some, but to others it’s a configuration made in heaven. Each sink can perform a different task – washing, draining and rinsing or even as a receptacle to throw scraps in while you’re preparing dinner.
What size?
This is Murphy’s favourite kind of sink set-up. “I would go for an oversize bowl that an oven tray could fit into, and a second smaller bowl half to three-quarters the size of the larger one,” he says. If they have the bench space, Murphy tries to talk clients out of choosing two even-sized bowls. “Make sure at least one of those sinks can accommodate your largest cookware item,” he says. Otherwise, you’re likely to face having to wash dishes up on the bench or tilting them at awkward angles to try to fit them into the sink.
This sink is a custom-designed stainless-steel sink – the benchtop and sinks have been moulded out of the one piece.
This is Murphy’s favourite kind of sink set-up. “I would go for an oversize bowl that an oven tray could fit into, and a second smaller bowl half to three-quarters the size of the larger one,” he says. If they have the bench space, Murphy tries to talk clients out of choosing two even-sized bowls. “Make sure at least one of those sinks can accommodate your largest cookware item,” he says. Otherwise, you’re likely to face having to wash dishes up on the bench or tilting them at awkward angles to try to fit them into the sink.
This sink is a custom-designed stainless-steel sink – the benchtop and sinks have been moulded out of the one piece.
In smaller kitchens, choose a sink in proportion to the other elements – adding depth rather than width will make washing dishes easier without taking up too much bench space.
7 Design Ideas to Ace Your Kitchen Island Storage
7 Design Ideas to Ace Your Kitchen Island Storage
What shape?
If you do prefer a double sink, why not think outside the square? These round sinks are bigger than they look and add an artistic edge to this amazing kitchen. But do keep practicalities in mind if you’re considering this option.
“Round sinks aren’t very practical because pans are usually square,” says Burton. “Round sinks are fine as a secondary sink for tasks, such as washing vegies, but not as your main sink.”
If you do prefer a double sink, why not think outside the square? These round sinks are bigger than they look and add an artistic edge to this amazing kitchen. But do keep practicalities in mind if you’re considering this option.
“Round sinks aren’t very practical because pans are usually square,” says Burton. “Round sinks are fine as a secondary sink for tasks, such as washing vegies, but not as your main sink.”
Accessories
Sink accessories, such as cutting boards, colanders, draining boards and clip-on dish drainers can all make life easier, and if there’s one thing Murphy can recommend to clients, it’s an extendable sprayer tap. “It gives you much more flexibility when you’re washing up – that’s what clients say they love the most from a practicality standpoint after installation.”
Sink accessories, such as cutting boards, colanders, draining boards and clip-on dish drainers can all make life easier, and if there’s one thing Murphy can recommend to clients, it’s an extendable sprayer tap. “It gives you much more flexibility when you’re washing up – that’s what clients say they love the most from a practicality standpoint after installation.”
Your turn
What kind of sink does your dream kitchen have? Share your experiences in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Need more kitchen design advice? Read 3 Great Small Kitchens… and How They Did It
What kind of sink does your dream kitchen have? Share your experiences in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Need more kitchen design advice? Read 3 Great Small Kitchens… and How They Did It
Farmhouse sinks
Kitchens by Design Australia director Liam Murphy (KBDi 2014 Australian Kitchen Designer of the Year), says farmhouse sinks are as popular as ever, and more industrial-style stainless-steel versions are popping up as stylish alternatives to the traditional porcelain.
Farmhouse sinks – also known as butler, apron-front and Belfast sinks – come in single or double-bowl styles, and can be mounted level to the benchtop or undermounted.