595 Kitchen Sinks & Mixers

Before you go breaking any benchtops, consider these pointers for your next kitchen sink and tapware purchase.

Styles of kitchen sinks: Undermount sink or drop-in?

An undermount sink is added from beneath the benchtop, as opposed to a drop-in that’s added from above. The difference lies in look - an undermount sink looks sleeker with no visible edges, and durability - a drop-in is more durable as it can be easily replaced without any damage to the benchtop.

Decide on the kitchen sink material

While a stainless steel sink is easy to come by, ceramic kitchen sinks are quite popular too. Look for thick sinks, and in the case of a double sink - for one with well cut moulds and tapware fittings. You should ideally buy a kitchen sink that has a strong resistant film to protect it from daily wear and tear.

Will your kitchen sink have drainboards?

Most Aussie kitchens have drainboards by the kitchen sink, especially if it’s a double sink. While a standard stainless steel sink will most likely have a drainboard on the left, you could opt to add another one to the right. Typically, a corner sink wouldn’t have a drainboard, but it could have a rack placed above it or to the side for kitchen maintenance tools and knick knacks.

Kitchen taps to match the sinks

Gleaming kitchen tapware is one of the hallmark features of a well-designed kitchen. To begin with, your kitchen taps need to have excellent water flow.

At its simplest, a mixer tap will give you hot and cold water. You can add a spray spout to this to help wash leaves and utensils like colanders. You can also get a pull-out spout with a short pipe that gives you a little flexibility in washing and filling utensils that are deeper than the kitchen sink. Essentially, your kitchen mixer must be versatile enough to suit all your cooking and washing needs.

Kitchen taps as mixers or separates?

Instead of the standard kitchen mixer combination, kitchen taps can also be separates - one for hot and another for cold water. Ultimately, the choice is entirely to do with how comfortable you are with which style of tapware. For instance, a lot of people prefer kitchen mixers with swivel spouts that let them use one kitchen mixer tap across both the bowls in a double sink. At the same time, a corner sink could do with a single kitchen tap that has only one water temperature setting as it isn’t used too often.

Whether you opt for a stainless steel sink or one with a deep ceramic bowl, remember to trust your instinct. If you cook for a large family, a small kitchen sink won’t do justice to the large utensils that will end up piling high every now and then.