Kitchen

Reinventing The Kitchen Sink

If you are facing a kitchen renovation — or just want to add a dash of energy into your existing kitchen — consider getting rid of that plain, rectangular sink that is as bland and boring as iceberg lettuce. Sure, it’s hard to improve on the kitchen sink because

of its utilitarian nature. But with the vast range of shapes and colors available today, there is no reason to hide it. Instead, creative kitchen designers replace single models with designs that are functional, and attractive. Plus, with so many faucet designs that complement your new sink, this workstation can be on par with an industrial stove as your kitchen’s focal point. Sheldon Malc, showroom manager of Davis and Warshow, which operates high-end kitchen and bath said that in choosing a new design, think about the look of your new kitchen when choosing what material the sink is made from. Traditionally, contemporaries are thought of as

being best suited for stainless. But, “even though Long Island still leans towards traditional homes, farmhouse sinks are popular, and they can be made from stainless steel because they work with brushed nickel faucets and that warms up the look of a kitchen,” says Malc. “Appliances are mostly stainless, and people want their sinks and faucets to match.” With stainless still king, Malc noted that different metal grades are available which determine sink durability. “You want to make sure you are getting something made from 16- to 18-guage stainless steel.” When it comes to faucets, single units with a pull out streamer are the hot ticket right now. “They have a clean design, and leave more counter room. You can then put in a filtered water, instant hot-water or soap dispenser in the area the hot and cold valves normally are,” said Malc.

Gooseneck faucets with integrated spray-streams and on/off valves free up counter space by eliminating surface mount controls, leaving room for on demand hot-water or soap dispensers (top left); A farmhouse sink in lowpolished stainless provides good looks yet still offers the benefits of an under-mount sink (right); This long sink maximizes the cooking prep at this center island. The deep basin is perfect for soaking and cleaning vegetables (previous page).

Instead of one sink, or even two, a triple-basin under-mount sink was installed atthis workstation with granite counters. The dark, solid color sink provides contrast and accents the natural stone (left); Blending traditional looks with functionality, this kitchen installation uses a large sink for washing dishes, a smaller one for prep work and a deep sink for filling large pots. Nickel-plated controls in a standard configuration are installed beside a wide-reaching faucet neck.

Read this next article about Remodeling Your Home on Long Island