Kitchen Sink

What is it?

Over the last couple of decades, upscale designer kitchens have become more popular. As part of this trend, kitchen sinks have become more varied, offering enhanced functionality and a wide variety of designs. Sinks have to be able to retain their appearance under challenging conditions. Kitchen sinks are subjected to extremes of hot and cold. Kitchen sinks get impacted by dishes and pans, and sliced by the sharp edges of cutlery. And kitchen sinks get assaulted by acidic and alkaline foods that are prepared in the kitchen. A good kitchen sink can hold up to all these conditions, and worse, without showing any affects.

Kitchen sinks come in a number of different materials and styles, however they all tend to be installed into the kitchen cabinets, so the kitchen work surface is in proximity to water and the garbage disposal. Sinks usually have one bowl, but are sometimes also manufactured with permanent partitions that create multiple bowls. A two bowl sink permits the user wash dishes with soapy water in one bowl and rinse water in another. A three bowl sink permits the user to have one bowl for soapy water, one for rinse water, and one still free perform ongoing kitchen tasks even while dishes are being washed.

Top Brands

Elkay, Franke, Pegasus

Bathroom Sink

What is it?

Bathroom sinks are used mostly for washing hands and faces, so the demands for functionality and durability are much less than with kitchen sinks. This allows bathroom sink shoppers to put a greater focus on appearance and design. There are an amazing variety of bathroom sinks available. While kitchen sinks are usually integrated into the countertop, bathroom sinks may be supported by a countertop, a pedestal, multiple legs, or a vanity. Bathrooms sinks may also be hung on a wall, which is a popular space-saving technique for smaller bathrooms. Bathroom sinks come in many shapes, materials, colors, and finishes. There are inexpensive mass-produced bathroom sinks, pricey one-of-a-kind bathroom sinks made by artisans, and everything in between. It is important that the sink you choose fits in with the overall design of the bathroom, and more specifically with the faucets, toilet, towel bars, and other hardware.

Top Brands

Kohler

Utility Sink

What is it?

A utility sink, also called a laundry sink, is a functional sink used for big and messy jobs. It is usually located in the basement/laundry room. A utility sink needs to be durable enough to wash paint brushes or sand off of tennis shoes. A utility sink is usually big enough to fill a large bucket or hand-wash a sleeping bag. It is often made of vitreous china, stainless steel, or sturdy synthetic materials. Utility sinks are often supported by four legs that are integrated into the unit, but they may also be hung from a wall.

Bar Sink

What is it?

A bar sink is essentially a small kitchen sink used for entertaining guests. It is usually located in a staging area of the kitchen, the living room, or in the home bar (the term "wet bar" means an area for serving and drinking liquor that has a bar sink). While commercial bar sinks usually have two bowls and are designed for washing bar glassware, home bar sinks are usually smaller and not designed for this purpose. Rather, a bar sink in a home is used for light tasks like washing lemons, rinsing a sponge or a paring knife, or filling a pitcher. Bar sinks are usually small and shallow and they are often paired with a gooseneck faucet to expand the clearance so that, for instance, pitchers can be filled and celery stalks rinsed.