The kitchen is the heart of the home, and the sink is the heart of the kitchen. Finding the perfect sink for granite countertops is the cornerstone of Pinterest-worthy kitchen design that showcases your personal style.
But with so many options on the market and sinks for granite countertops to choose from, where’s the best place to start? In this post, we’ll show you some of the hottest sink trends and sink specials to inspire your kitchen design.
Choosing a show-stopping granite countertop with sink starts with asking the right questions. First, you’ll need to pinpoint your must-haves to pick the best sink for granite countertops for your unique kitchen.
Start with these:
The next thing to think about is your lifestyle and how that influences your sink choice:
Once you have the answers to these questions, the fun begins. It’s time to decide what granite countertop kitchen sink you’ll love — farmhouse, undermount, overmount, stainless steel? Let’s decide.
Choosing the look and style of your granite sink countertop is exciting but also overwhelming. Narrowing it down based on installation type makes this process less daunting.
A drop in sink with granite countertop is a popular installation choice for today’s homeowners. These are also called top-mount or self-rimming sinks.
Basically, a hole is cut into the countertop and the sink is dropped in, making it one of the easiest installation options on the market today. These drop in sinks with granite countertop styles sit on top of the counter cabinet and have a rounded edge to keep water and debris inside the sink basin.
An undermount sink for granite countertops is an excellent choice for different countertop materials besides granite. But a granite countertop with undermount sink brings an entirely new level of sophistication to the kitchen. These sink designs are beautiful, but also practical. The undermount design keeps debris and water away from the countertop, keeping the kitchen cleaner.
There’s no lip supporting the undermount sink. So, learning how to install an undermount sink on granite countertop requires a bigger support system than a drop-in sink for granite countertops. A lighter stainless steel sink with granite countertop can be installed with just glue. Heavier sinks require more support.
A farmhouse sink with granite countertops is a classic, popular choice. Farmhouse sinks with granite countertops bring a level of charm to the kitchen that other sinks can’t.
These types of sinks for kitchen countertops are easy to clean with their deep basins and exposed fronts. Plus, the roomy sink allows you to easily clean large cookware.
Farmhouse sinks look great even in modern kitchens. They give you a range of choices for textured fronts and colors. But your countertops might need to be specially configured to accommodate a large farmhouse sink with granite countertops.
Kitchen sinks for granite countertops can take the form of either a double or a single sink. There’s no right or wrong answer, but you’ll need to decide based on how you use your kitchen sink, your lifestyle, available space, and your budget.
If you’ve got a smaller kitchen, single basin sinks are an excellent choice since they free up countertop space. When cleaning larger cookware, the extra space a single basin sink affords you will come in handy.
You can order single basin kitchen sinks with granite countertops in a wide variety of sizes, material choices, and mounting options. Another benefit to this sink design is that it’s easy to clean.
Single and double basin sinks are a good choice if you’ve got more space in your kitchen. Popular double basin sinks for granite countertops do triple-duty washing, rinsing, and draining dishware.
You can order these sinks in many sizes and configurations. However, if you frequently use large cookie sheets, casserole dishes, or similar, you might want a single-basin sink. Either basin in a double sink might be too small.
There are many different materials to choose from for your kitchen sink with granite countertop. Different sink materials have varying durability levels and cleaning needs, and will ultimately determine the look of your sink. So, be sure to consider both the looks and practicalities of your sink material when designing your kitchen’s granite countertops and sinks.
You can purchase a stainless steel sink for granite countertop in either an overmount or undermount design. Stainless steel is incredibly popular for sinks because it:
Although it can scratch easily, a stainless steel sink in a satin finish will be more forgiving to wear and tear. Granite countertops with a stainless steel sink that’s insulated will reduce noise, and ordering one with rounded corners will be easier to clean.
Need an incredibly durable kitchen sink idea with granite countertops? Composite granite sinks can take a lot of wear and tear:
These sturdy sinks can resist temps of up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. You can install them as undermounts and they won’t blend in but will look great with any natural stone countertop material.
Quartz composite sinks are made from a mixture of ground quartz and a binding agent. They’re also scratch and cut-resistant and you can order them in almost any color. In general, though, quartz sinks aren’t as durable as composite granite, but you can order them in undermount and overmount styles.
Read our article on the pros and cons of granite and quartz sinks to help you decide which material is best for your kitchen.
If you want a sink with classic style and durability that isn’t as important to you, then porcelain sinks are a good choice. These sinks are enameled with porcelain and have a cast iron core. They can last for at least 25 years and even longer if cared for properly.
Since these sinks stain easily, avoid letting dirty dishes sit in the bottom for too long. Frequently rinse the sinks and skip using abrasive cleaners to protect the enamel coating.
Fireclay is a glossy, non-porous material that’s also scratch, stain, and chip resistant. These sinks are incredibly durable and come in a wide variety of colors that won’t fade.
Fireclay is one of the more expensive options on this list, but its high level of durability and large color selection makes it an attractive choice for many homeowners.
Designing your dream kitchen is an exciting opportunity to let your creativity shine. We hope this article has helped give you some ideas for choosing the best sink for your kitchen aesthetic and lifestyle needs.
We offer one the largest selection of natural stones in Chicago for kitchen countertops and sinks. Contact us today to get a detailed quote for your project.
Do you have questions about granite or quartz countertops in Chicago?
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