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Saturday, May 11, 2013

Kitchen Sink Basics

Life's not glamorous for a kitchen sink - it's the recipient of our unwanted scraps, dirty dishwater and various other fluids that don't warrant mentioning here. But your kitchen sink will play an essential role in your day-to-day life, whether for washing up, grabbing a drink of water or attempting to rinse a fresh wine stain out of your shirt. In this article we consider the basics of incorporating a sink into your kitchen design.

Positioning the kitchen sink is usually the first step that kitchen designers take - the sink, drainage and dishwasher (if you have one) will comprise the largest single unit in your kitchen. The sink is generally placed against an outside wall under a window. This allows for good natural lighting and is also convenient for draining.

But this is not the only place a sink can go - island kitchens are becoming increasingly popular and many of these incorporate a sink. Often there will be one sink in the traditional position and a second sink on the island bench, allowing thirsty kids to get a drink of water without interrupting the chef's work.

The sink forms part of the work triangle, which is the essential design principle used in most kitchens. This principle states that the sink, fridge and oven should be positioned in a triangular shape, which allows for the most efficient workflows in the kitchen.

While it's tempting to look for the biggest sink possible, experts say you need to carefully consider the size of your kitchen. One industry group in the US recommends that in a kitchen with less than 13sqm of space that you use a single sink no larger than 56cmx61cm. Anything bigger could overpower your kitchen and make your workspace inefficient.

Of course, if you have ample room, this extends your options considerably. Multi-basin sink models, including those with different levels, are very popular in new homes and renovated kitchens. There are certainly advantages to having these types of sinks - one can be used for washing and the other for rinsing, for instance. But consider whether you'll really get value from these types of sinks.

Kitchen Sink Costs
Renovating is expensive - but kitchen sinks aren't the reason why. While there are high-end models with exotic finishes that cost a lot, most basic sinks won't set you back more than a few hundred dollars. Obviously if you go for a massive sink with multiple levels and a garbage processor you'll pay more, but generally kitchen sinks are a good buy.

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