Sinks: Design in the Kitchen

Last week we talked about sink placement in the kitchen. Once you’ve decided on the optimal placement of the sink, it’s time to select the design. There are thousands of designs to choose from, making the sink choice a daunting task. The greatest differentiator between sinks is by type of installation. There is a great variety of materials and designs within each category to choose. We will show you just a few

Top-Mount/Drop-In Sink The top-mount is the most common choice for kitchen sinks as it is the easiest to install and most economic. The main disadvantage of this style is the catch point or lip between the bowl of the sink and the countertop surface. Food and liquids cannot be easily swept into the sink without catching debris at the lip of the sink and countertop.  

Undermount Undermount sinks, as the name suggests, are attached under the countertop or are supported from underneath by the base cabinet structure. For those who choose solid surface counters like granite or engineered stone, an undermount sink gives a very clean, modern feel to the kitchen.  This sinks style allows you to brush items from the countertop directly into the sink without any "catch points" that can capture food particles and moisture.

Undermount sinks come in a variety of materials. Stainless steel is a lighter and thus ideal option for undermounting, as it requires minimal clips and other mechanical fastening devices to secure it. Heavier kitchen sinks materials such as cast iron or stone require a well-designed mounting system in an undermount installation.

Within the undermount category are seamless sinks. Named so, because the sink and the countertop are either one piece or made of the same material, and glued to one another, to create one solid piece with no seams or difficult crevices to clean. The look of a seamless sink is very minimal.  

Vessel Sinks On the opposite spectrum of seamless sinks, with their minimal appeal, is the attractive Vessel sink.  This style makes an eye-catching statement. Though there is great variety within this category, the defining attribute is an exposed front and a rectangular, deep basin. This style of sink can be top-mount or undermount. One advantage to the top mount vessel is that it naturally sits higher on the counter, allowing the washer to bend over less to wash. The undermount advantage is of course no catch point. Regardless of how it is mounted, this style lacks a deck, so the hardware is generally mounted directly into the counter and can sit behind the sink.   

The classic example of a vessel sink in the kitchen is the Farmhouse tub. This mimics a vintage rural kitchen, with a big white, ceramic sink. Many people today are choosing to salvage old farmhouse sinks, or else buy modern ones made to look vintage. Either way, what this sink takes up in counter space due to its sheer size, it makes up for in the extra sink space they provide.

Which sink style do you like best?