Custom Kitchen Design Starts with the Sink!

When designing your custom home’s kitchen, the perfect place to start is the sink. Most people don’t realize it, but a well-chosen sink has the potential to create the perfect focal point, and transforms the look and feel of one of the most important rooms in your house.

The style of sink should underscore the overall design theme of the kitchen. Ask yourself a few initial questions before you begin:

Are you opting for a farm-house aesthetic or for a more modern kitchen?

Do you need a sink that comfortably allows for filling large cook pots?

What type of faucet will meet your needs and preferences, a pull-down unit or a vintage design?

Let’s take a look at some of the top kitchen sink trends.

Some sink styles are timeless, like stainless steel and shiny chrome faucets. Still, trends constantly emerge in sink design and in how homeowners find new ways to make things like healthy meal prep easier and more convenient. If you’re choosing your kitchen sink, here are some trends to keep in mind:

Two sinks for safer food handling — Houzz reports a growing number of builders are including two kitchen sinks in new homes. This design improves workflow and food handling safety. One sink can be used to prepare meats, while the second is still a safe place to wash and prep produce.

Stainless steel still shines — Stainless is the most popular sink material, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). In terms of durability, it’s difficult to beat stainless steel, making it a practical and long-lasting option for any kitchen. What’s more, the finish blends well with virtually any kitchen design theme, whether it’s contemporary, farmhouse or traditional.

Integrated accessories — Of course, accessories can make an already great sink even better, and the NKBA reports demand is growing for sinks with integrated accessories. In addition to built-in garbage disposals, homeowners want sinks with soap dispensers, water filters and hot water dispensers, the organization says.

Stunning display — Sinks with apron-front designs calls attention to the sink and showcases the beauty of the stainless steel. Undermount sinks work with solid surface countertops such as granite, marble or quartz, and attach to the underside of the countertop, allowing the countertops to shine.

Every kitchen needs at least one sink; after all, it’s a critical point in the work triangle. A great kitchen sink can be a simple, cost-effective and visually appealing way to transform the entire room.