A sink means a lot more than what first meets the eye. A sink is part of ones everyday life and should therefore be selected with care.  We like the many styles of the Franke Sink. Franke Sinks always assure style, beauty and very importabltly, fantastic quality. You can find a Franke Sink for any style or need. Franke makes Farm Sinks, stainless steel sinks, and undermount sinks for granite counter tops. There is a Franks Sink for anyone’s need, and for many budgets.

Finding The Best Kitchen Sinks For Your Home

Kitchen sinks are an integral part of any kitchen, and selecting the right sink is vital for a number of reasons. When purchasing a sink for your kitchen you need to reckon about whether the sink will really fit in with the décor and style of your room, but you also need to reckon of the practical side such as ease of use and installation, features and accessories, and the quality of the sink you are plotting to buy. When you make your buy you want something that will not only look fantastic in your kitchen, but will also last a long time without the need for repair, will be energy efficient, and you may want to ensure that there are extra safety features, particularly if you have children. Selecting the right sink is a fantastic way of adding to your home improvement, and with such a wide range of designs ( http://www.kitchen-cabinets-tips.com/kitchen-designs.html ) and manufacturers to choose from you can delight in a fantastic range of stylish, classy, yet very practical sinks to suit your needs perfectly. Of course, it’s not just the kitchen that needs a sink – you may also want to take the same factors into consideration when buying bathroom sinks. Just like kitchen sinks, buying a sink for your bathroom entails getting something that look fantastic, fits in with the décor, yet offers practicality and high quality.

Delight in a fantastic choice of sinks

Never before have consumers had so much choice when it comes to finding the perfect furniture for the kitchen or bathroom, and you can delight in an brilliant range of designs from top quality manufacturers. Whether you are looking for a classic Franke  stainless steel sink for your kitchen or whether you want a ceramic and stylish sink for your cloak room or bathroom, you can delight in brilliant choice with sinks to suit all needs and tastes. You can also get a wide range of accessories that will enable you to make the most of your sink in terms of style and appearance, and also offer practicality. You can also get sinks that will fit in with a variety of budgets, so you can tailor your choice to suit your personal tastes, needs, and your pocket.

Make your kitchen stand out with the ideal sink

Because the sink is such a focal point in any kitchen, your choice of sink could really make a difference to this room. Try and go for something that will complement your countertops, décor, and theme, fitting in perfectly with the other furnishings in the room. But, don’t focus everything on the appearance – make sure you also take the functionality and practicality of the franks sink into account in order to get the best from this item of kitchen furniture. The perfect sink will not only look fantastic and help you to make the most of your kitchen, but will also make life simpler for you through its practical functions. The simple step of a new sink could help to give your kitchen a complete facelift.

There are SO many choices….  Franke Sinks are made to ensure you will find a sink that you will be pleased with.Be sure visit us to learn more about which Franke Sink will best suit your needs.

The following article gives some really good tips on getting a sink for your granite counter top.  Franke Sinks have a number of designs that will work with your granite counter top. Most often Franke Sinks designed for granite are undermount sinks.  Franke, one of the best sink manufacturers in the world today, make a number of stylish sinks that can be undermounted…

Choosing a sink for your granite worktop   by Jamie

Choosing a sink to go with granite worktops can sometimes feel like a bit of a minefield. This is sometimes exacerbated by some kitchen companies giving poor or conflicting advice because they have a particular product they wish to sell.

First thing to consider is how you actually use your sink. If like me all your washing up goes in the dishwasher, apart from maybe the longest stemmed wine glasses, then your needs will be completely different to someone who likes to wash a lot of articles in the sink. Some people cannot see the point in the half bowl and others cannot live without it. Some people like to dry everything immediately and others think that it is more hygienic to leave it to drain itself. With any solid surface kitchen worktop like granite, you have the option open to you of either inset (sit on sinks) ,under-mounted sinks, Belfast (butler sinks) or roll tops/complete work surface sinks.

Inset or sit on sinks are dropped into a hole from above the worktop so that they lip just over the edge of the worktop. So in relation to granite the hole does not have to be polished so this makes the cut out cheaper to do.

The size and number of bowls you can have will depend on the cabinets that you have underneath the worktop. If the sink is going above a 500mm cabinet then you are limited to a largish single bowl. The drainer can go over whatever is next to it e.g the dishwasher. If you have a 600mm base then you have room for a bowl and a half bowl plus drainer providing you have the area on the worktop. If the worktop is particularly shallow front to back and the sink is large it may mean having to have bars/slips in the granite as this is more structurally sound. (Also if the worktop is longer than the granite company can supply then this can be a good place to hide the join – unlike laminate worktops there is no danger of the granite “blowing”) There are a huge range of sit on sinks available now, something for every budget and taste. They can be a really sensible and practical option but this does not mean that they can’t be stylish.

A lot of people who are having granite or solid surface worktop go for an under-mounted sink because it proves that they have got granite because you cannot have an under-mounted sink with a traditional laminate worktop. They do look very neat because there is nothing above the worktop apart from any tap, filter tap or push button. They are set underneath the worktop and the worktop is cut and then polished so that there is a nice smooth edge into the top of the sink. Due to the extra work in polishing the cut out this works out more expensive than having a sit on sink. Other possible extra costs include a set of draining grooves and tap hole. The price will rise with the number of polished cut outs, sets of grooves and tap holes you have. As with sit on sinks the size of sink/s you can have will depend largely on the base unit below. If you want a bowl and a half but with two separate cut outs then you could consider the Blanco Ypsilon 340 – U and the Blanco Jota 160 – U. These two sinks will fit into a 600 mm base.

As with many things at the moment people are working to a tight budget so it may be worth looking at a one and a half bowl but all in one. This way you only pay for one cut out. The Blanco Supreme 533- U or Franke equivalent ARX160 or the CDA Cum 16 which is more reasonably priced. Again all of these will go into a 600mm base unit. Belfast and butler style sinks seem to go in and out of fashion. Some sit under the sink like an under-mounted sink – if this is the case then there will be similar sort of cost as with an under-mounted sink, depending on whether you have one or two sets of grooves. These days there is a lot more choice in ceramic sinks of all types so you should be able to find something to suit the dimensions that you have. If the worktop is shallow or the sink is s double one it may well be that you will have to have a separate slip or bar of granite to the rear of the sink otherwise this piece could break.

If the sink sits so that it overlaps the granite it would mean that the cut out doesn’t have to be polished thus making the overall price cheaper. There are also some farmhouse styles sinks which sit completely from front to back of the worktop with no worktop behind them – in this case the granite butts up to the side which means there is no cost for a cut out at all. These sorts of sinks can look a bit too imposing if the kitchen is very small.

Complete worktop sink and roll top sinks went out of fashion for many years but have made a huge comeback in recent years, particularly in contemporary kitchens. They are hugely practical and make a massive statement. A run of steel contrasted with strong coloured units will have a huge impact – although they can be quite costly to buy they do save you in granite cost!

If in any doubt about what would work best for you don’t be afraid to talk to your granite/worktop supplier for best advice.

About the Author
Jamie runs the company Affordable Granite, installing granite worktops throughout the UK from their base in Surrey.

Keep That Kitchen Sink!

Have you ever heard that expression, “They threw everything out but the kitchen sink!”? Do you know why they didn’t throw out the kitchen sink in that saying? It is because the phrase originated when the average kitchen sink was made from cast iron. If you are unfamiliar with cast iron then you may not be aware that this is a very heavy and dense material. Simply put, a kitchen sink made from cast iron was too heavy to throw out the window!

A cast iron sink was commonly coated in enamel. Now this enamel was baked onto the cast iron so that it would not come off. If you have ever seen a damaged cast iron sink coated with enamel, then you have noticed those “brown spots” in the sink. Those brown spots are what happens when that enamel coating is broken off and the cast iron underneath is exposed to water. Naturally it, like all metals, rusts.

One of the great things about an old cast iron kitchen sink coated in enamel was that you could get them in almost any color. Although white was the most common, a wide variety of other colors were available. A lot of people matched their cabinets and counter tops with their cast iron sink.

Unfortunately, the cast iron sink is virtually a dinosaur of days past. People have opted instead for a lightweight kitchen sink made from a composite material or perhaps a solid surfacing material like some of the countertops are made out of as well. Occasionally you will see a stainless steel sink but many of the contemporary homes are built with non-metallic materials.

But a cast iron sink is an absolute classic and is a great addition to any restoration project. Vintage lake cottages look wonderful with a cast iron kitchen sink because most were equipped with one when they were new. But what do you do when you come across an old cast iron sink—especially if it has seen better days?

A fully restored and functional cast iron kitchen sink can actually add value to your home—they are that rare and coveted! If you find one that has the “brown spots” mentioned earlier or other damage to the enamel finish, there are still experts out there who specialize in resurfacing enamel and porcelain. For a fraction of what it would cost you to buy a comparable sink, a resurfacing expert can make your cast iron kitchen sink look like new.

Even if you find a cast iron sink that is impractical for your particular home, don’t throw it away! There are a number of companies that specialize in restoring cast iron sinks so don’t hesitate to jump on the web to find one in your area. Hey, they just aren’t making the classics any more so the more that can be preserved, the better!

Before deciding amongst the many options in Franke Sinks be sure visit us to learn more about which Franke Sink will best suit your needs.

I grew up on a farm in the 40’s, and one of the most pleasant things in our lives was sitting around the kitchen, which was the center of the household. Mom was an brilliant cook, and I remember well the ancient farm kitchen sink, which was always a focal point.

Currently there are three primary types of kitchen sinks: self-rimming, under mount, and farm. Self-rimming, or drop-in sinks, sit on top of the counter top. This is the least attractive sink option, and the least practical, as the countertops cannot be wiped off directly into the sink. The rim prevents this from happening smoothly. Food particles get stuck between the sink and the counter top and breed bacteria and mold, which can, in turn attract pests.

Farm sinks are the most pleasing of all kitchen sinks. My mother had a one piece sink with high back that was a central part of the kitchen. She could do her canning, have room for supplies, and yet not need a fantastic deal of counter space in the kitchen to hold other items. We had the sink, stove, and the kitchen table in our farm home. It was all we needed. Farm sinks are an entire sink unit which intentionally breaks the flow of the counter top as an appliance would. They have a finished front wall which leads directly up and over into the basin of the sink. Farm sinks are made of many materials. but the most attractive ones are made of granite, marble, or travertine. The rock travertine is a natural chemical precipitate of carbonate minerals; typically aragonite, but often recrystallized to or primary calcite; which is deposited from the water of mineral springs (especially hot springs) or streams saturated with calcium carbonate. When pure, travertine is white, but often is brown to yellow due to impurities. For the heavily-used kitchen, granite farm sinks are the most practical.

Sinks are getting more attention today, not only as design elements, but as practical features. My wife likes anything shabby chic, and we have been looking for a farm kitchen sink for our loft. We live in a 110 year ancient livery stable, and it is my heart’s desire. We are fortunate enough to have the original hardwood floors, with all the “medals of honor” of bygone years, and a fantastic kitchen that suits my need as an experienced chef.
There is the possibility that you don’t have enough room for the sink that you want. In this case, a bump-out can be built. A bump-out is where the counter top and cabinet at the sink extend several inches away from the wall, out into the kitchen, to provide a bit more space for the sink. Bump-outs can be extremely attractive, especially to highlight a particularly gorgeous sink.

All things considered, a farm kitchen sink is a lovely addition to any kitchen. I am a firm believer that cooking must be an experience, and one to relish. things need to be right in the home kitchen, and what better way than with a farm kitchen sink?

Before deciding amongst the many options in Franke Sinks be sure visit us to learn more about which Franke Sink will best suit your needs.

Farm Sinks by Franke Sinks