Which sink for a midcentury kitchen re-do?

8 years ago

Hi everybody!

This is my first time posting here. Please help me choose a kitchen sink (stainless steel or white cast iron). We kept the majority of our original cabinets in our 1963 house, whose style is midcentury with some modern. We painted the cabinets blue and just paid for Lowes to install Silestone Quartz in Yukon Blanco. http://www.silestoneusa.com/colors/color/yukon-blanco/

A picture of our kitchen and adjacent living room to give you an idea of what we are working with (the floors look funky because they are only 80% installed at this point):

Our appliances are stainless steel. Our hinges are chrome. We wanted to get a chrome kitchen faucet and cabinet hardware also (we haven't purchased that yet---bonus question: what's a good source?).

Our dilemma is the sink: the quartz comes with an undermount stainless steel double sink. That would be option #1, which is free. I'm not sure the quality of the sink because there was no version available at Lowes to look at. We're not sure we want that much stainless steel in the kitchen and we want a single sink (for pan soaking and baby bathing).

Option #2 is a single-basin stainless steel sink that we buy ourselves. I think this will be $300. If we get that, can we still have chrome fixtures to match our cabinet hardware or will that look weird?

Option #3 is a drop-in cast iron sink in white from Kohler. It's about $300. My concerns with this sink are that we lose the functionality of an undermount (pushing in crumbs, the extra counterspace). Also, aesthetically, would the white look bad with our greyish/white countertops and would an undermount not be modern enough for the look of our kitchen and house? Here's the sink: http://www.lowes.com/pd_363667-20602-R5871-4-0___?productId=3547006&pl=1&Ntt=kohler+cast+iron+sink

Option #4 is an undermount, single basin cast iron sink in white from Kohler. It's the most expensive option, at $600. It's also the heaviest. If we put water and a baby in this sink, are they going to crash to the ground? Is this sink going to look the best or should we save our money? We are getting to the point in our renovations where we are thinking more about saving money.

Sorry this post is kind of long. Thanks for any advice you can give, renovation experts.

Featured Answer

intown123

8 years ago

I am a fan of a stainless single bowl undermount sink. Very neutral and unobtrusive. If I had to guess I would think the free double sink that comes with the counter will be awkward for washing large pots. We had that option as well but did the upgrade to the large single bowl.
You are fine mixing chrome plumbing fixtures with a stainless sink and appliances. I am sure you can find lots of examples in the photo section.

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Comments (6)

C&T Brooks (VA, Zone 7a)
8 years ago
I agree with intown123, however, it depends on how much of the midcentury feel you'd like to retain. A drop in sink with drainboards would have been typical of the era. If you'd like to go more modern, I say single basin stainless steel, undermount. Clean, lightweight, doesn't damage delicate china/glassware and the single basin is much more useful than the double basin. Btw, I love that you kept your cabinets and the color you chose is awesome. :)
Megan thanked C&T Brooks (VA, Zone 7a)
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potchiemagoodleberry
8 years ago
a single basin stainless undermount sink. it's practical for your life, which is most important, really, and will look great. then shop for a stylish single hole faucet.
Megan thanked potchiemagoodleberry
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Genay Bell Interior Design
8 years ago
I agree with the above comments, and would choose an undermount stainless sink. For your style of home, an undermount sink will keep a clean, contemporary look. I would choose stainless over white - using Yukon Blanco countertops, it would be hard to have the white of the stone match the white of the sink, therefor one or the other will come off looking "dirty". Good Luck with your project!
Megan thanked Genay Bell Interior Design
jck910
8 years ago
I agree single bowl undermount for versatility. I got Cambria Quartz from a kitchen designer and had 2 options on sink, single or double bowl. Check with Lowe's again. Just remember if those Kohler sinks are from Lowe's the stainless guage is not the same as if you purchase from a plumbing supply house or kitchen designer
Megan thanked jck910
Megan
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you all for your comments. You are all helping me to go towards buying a stainless steel single sink. I was worried about what Genay Bell Interiors mentions, which is that the white sink or counter would look dirty next to each other. I was also worried about mismatching of the metals too, but after looking at more pictures, like intown123 suggested, my fears in that regard are alleviated. Thank you Cbrooks0801 for the comment on the color. So far we really like the blue. I cannot wait to have the house put together again. When we bought it a few months ago, it was popcorn ceiling, 40 year old carpet, and asbestos sheet flooring galore. We are currently "camping" in the bedrooms, but I'm ready to really live in the house.