Ask a client about cabinet color and you'll get a twenty-minute answer. Ask about the sink and you usually get a shrug.
Fair enough. It isn't the glamorous part of a remodel. But you'll stand at it more than the range, the island or the wine fridge, so it's worth a few minutes. The types of kitchen sinks really break down by material, shape and what you need the sink to do. At Curated Kitchen Co., our West Palm Beach kitchen design company team walks clients through all three before we finalize any kitchen design. Keep reading!
Stainless Steel and Granite Composite Sinks for Busy Kitchens
Of all the types of kitchen sinks, stainless is what most people end up with, and there's a reason. A stainless steel kitchen sink shrugs off hot pans, costs less than most options and sits happily under any cabinet style. It will pick up fine scratches. They show up in the first month or two, and after that you really stop noticing. Pick your faucet and kitchen hardware at the same time, so the metals agree.
A granite composite kitchen sink is a different animal. It's ground stone and resin pressed together, which is why it's so hard to mark. Go dark, charcoal or espresso, and water spots mostly disappear. Those colors sit well in a dark kitchen palette, too.
Porcelain and Ceramic Sinks: Glossy White, Easy to Wipe
Porcelain and ceramic are the white ones. That glossy surface wipes clean with a quick pass of a sponge, and next to painted cabinets they look crisp, almost bright.
They do chip, though. Drop a heavy pot on the glaze the wrong way and you'll see it. Ceramic runs cheaper, and porcelain is a little harder and smoother to the touch. Both lean traditional, so if that's your kitchen, you're in good shape. Our kitchen color ideas can help you pick cabinet shades that bring out all that white.
Farmhouse Kitchen Sinks in Fireclay and Copper
A farmhouse kitchen sink is easy to spot because the front of the basin is exposed and sits flush with the cabinet door. The bowl is deep, which helps when you're scrubbing a roasting pan, and the cabinet below has to be cut to fit it. We plan for that early at Curated Kitchen Co., since it's far easier on paper than after the cabinets arrive.
A fireclay farmhouse kitchen sink has a thick glazed finish and a crisp, classic look. A copper farmhouse kitchen sink brings warmth and changes color as it ages, which looks lovely next to a two-tone cabinet look. Some people love that. Others would rather not polish.
Round, Oval, Square, and Rectangular Sinks
Shape changes how all the types of kitchen sinks feel in daily use. A round kitchen sink has no corners to scrub, so it's popular on bars and in small coffee stations. Ovals are gentler to look at and fit a baking tray without much fuss. Squares look sharp and modern, though their tight corners collect gunk if you skip a day. Compact versions suit small kitchens where counter space is precious.
Rectangular is what most people picture. It's the usual shape for an undermount kitchen sink, where the basin sits below the counter and crumbs sweep straight in. Pair it with quartz or granite, and check that the cabinet underneath is built with solid custom cabinetry materials, because a full basin is heavy.
Workstation Sinks: The Hardest-Working Spot in the Kitchen
Among the newer types of kitchen sinks, the workstation sink has become a favorite with our clients, and it's easy to see why. It's a single large basin with ledges running around the top edge. Cutting boards, colanders and drying racks all slide along those ledges and rest over the water. You can chop an onion, rinse the vegetables and set the pan to dry without taking a step. Whatever you drop or spill ends up in the basin instead of on the counter.
It's one of our favorite kitchen sink ideas for a busy household. Look for one about 30 inches wide or more if you cook every day, and know that accessories often don't swap between brands. At Curated Kitchen Co., we design the cabinet around the sink so everything fits.
Make Your Sink the Smartest Spot in the Kitchen With Curated Kitchen Co.
There's no single best sink among the types of kitchen sinks. There's only the one that fits how you cook and the room around it, and finding it is part of making a kitchen personal, not just pretty and as sophisticated as the rest of the room.
If you're weighing a few options, our team at Curated Kitchen Co. can help you narrow them down and design the cabinets around your choice. Contact us today to get started!
