Evaluating Sinks and Faucetry
The sink is the most used convenience in the kitchen and being sure you select the right one is central to your satisfaction with your new kitchen. The sink is also the kitchen convenience with the longest history, so it is common to overlook its importance and fall into old habits when selecting a new one. All the advances in sink-ology in the recent past are available at your Floor To Ceiling® showroom and demand attention! The same is true of the faucets available to serve those sinks. Be sure to evaluate how you use your sink and how a different material, different configuration or a faucet with new options might raise your new kitchen to a completely new level of convenience!
- Select a sink configuration that performs best for the way it is used. This is elementary, but revolutionary if you have not really thought it through before! Do you actually wash dishes in your sink? If so, what dishes? Chances are good that only those pots, pans and plates too large or too dirty for the dishwasher are done by hand. These are also too large to fit easily in either side of a standard double bowl sink. The days are gone when the sink was filled with hot soapy water in one bowl and a drainer in the other. Is a deep single bowl a better choice? Don’t get caught in the old pattern, choosing a double bowl sink by default! Do you prepare meals from scratch or do canning or freezing? Consider a triple bowl sink with one smaller bowl dedicated to the disposer. Consider an undermount style sink for best accessibility, ease of care and a custom look. Undermount models allow easy sweep-over-the-edge convenient access to the garbage disposer and curb water seepage under the sink edge.
- Select solid surface or cast acrylic for minimum care. If easy care is a priority, investigate these newer materials used for sinks. (It is not necessary to use the same material for counters.) Scratch and heat resistant, solid surface sinks let you choose patterns with apparent textures, like a granite look, not available in more traditional materials.
- Stainless steel remains a great favorite. Partly because it has a well-deserved reputation for easy care and partly because it complements the stainless steel look in appliances, stainless steel sinks continue to be a favorite. Stainless sinks come in all price ranges with the price rising with the percentage of nickel used in the manufacture. A stainless sink with higher nickel content is well worth the additional dollars, retaining a brighter appearance longer and greater resistance to damage from inadvertent bumps. Stainless sinks can be mounted beneath or above counter level. Stainless steel sinks don’t stain, but require only regular wiping with a dry towel to prevent water spots, particularly in hard water areas.
- Porcelain/cast iron is hard to beat for visual impact. A perennial favorite, porcelain sinks are available in numerous configurations and vibrant colors to blend with any décor. Enamel on steel look-alikes are less expensive and considerably more prone to chip, crack and discolor than genuine porcelain on cast iron.
- Make a style statement with your choice of sinks. For a sleek, contemporary look, choose an under-mount stainless steel sink to complement your granite counters. To establish a warm, country or Old World look, select a white porcelain farm sink with a wide front apron. No matter what your taste, choose a sink that promotes the style you want to project.
- Choose a faucet using three criteria – function, style and quality. While the faucet is the most used appliance in the kitchen and its functionality is important, it can also make a major style statement. Quality is important for durability and reliability.
- Function ~ If function is your priority, look for a faucet with a pull-out spray feature built into the spout that makes filling larger containers or spritzing out the sink quick and easy. Consider a single joy-stick handle instead of the standard hot/cold two handle variety. These faucet styles are ergonomically designed for comfort and to easily regulate water temperature using a single hand. A high arched faucet style is also more convenient for filling large containers. Faucets with simple design lines are easier to keep clean, too.
- Style ~ There is a faucet at your local Floor To Ceiling® showroom to match every design trend. More metal finishes are available than ever before. Choose a finish to match decorative cabinet hardware for added design impact. Select a wall-mounted style to complement a farm sink for a genuine old time country effect. Whatever the look you’re after, use your choice of faucet to enhance it.
- Quality ~ Know what to look for in a quality faucet. Unlike cabinetry, simply looking or touching a faucet reveals little about its quality- especially if it is boxed so all you see is the part that shows on the surface. If quality is a priority, here are some things to look for or ask about. The highest quality faucets feature solid brass construction, braided stainless steel hoses, ceramic disc cartridges, and long-term warranties.
Floor To Ceiling® designers know sinks and faucets. Our showrooms feature faucetry in various price ranges, each selected to represent excellent value for your investment. Ask your professional Floor To Ceiling® designer to help you select the sink and faucet that are right for you.
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