Kitchen sink in the island?

[mommasita]

We are finally renovating our house... We are now in the LONG process of the kitchen.. Since it is old, we are completely gutting the old cabinets, floors, etc.. It will be long because DH is doing it solo, and works full time..

My question is who has, or likes the sink in the island? comments, thoughts?

This would be our only sink, and I am weighing the pros and cons..

TIA

 

[low-key]

dont go by the worlds rules, set your own, put a bath in it

 

[mommasita]

Hey you...

That would be fun for parties

 

[lisaviolet]

Had it. Hated it. One reason, no matter how clean it all was it simply looked messy.

And it seemed like it was in the way at times. So two reasons.

_____________________________

OT, but interesting to me.

I've had sink in island and island with no sink, and cornered set up kitchen but I prefer what I have right now the most.

I have a one wall kitchen right now - I'm aware that a lot of cooks couldn't handle such a set up - it's very popular in new condos here. It absolutely amazes me what a clean look it gives off, even when it is slightly messy. Much different than all the other set ups that I've had.

 

[barkley]

I don't know that they would technically be considered islands, but both our current and former homes were designed such that the kitchens were in-between the living and great rooms so the sinks were on long counters (not against walls).

our current is on a counter that is adjacent to a load baring wall that shares plumbing with our washer/dryer/well pump....vs. in our former home where there was more of just an ornamental wall.


living with both of these, and having minor plumbing issues with both, I will say that when a sink is plumbed through the foundation (vs. through an adjacent wall) it is MUCH more costly to deal with clogging issues. with an adjacent wall, at worst it's drywall being cut out to determine the problem which is much less costly as compared to jackhammering the foundation (after the top flooring has been removed).


as far as sinks in general go-we recently redid our kitchen and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our very large granite composite sink. no water spots like stainless steel, and not scratches or dings like porcelain

 

[descovy]

Our kitchen sink is in our island. It works well with the layout of the house. I can't say there are any real pro/cons to it.

We can watch TV from the living room while washing dishes I guess. The island is rather large, with room for 4 along the edge. My kids eat casual meals there and liked to slide dirty dishes into the sink from where they sat. Had to break them of that habit since not everything is Tupperware!

Maybe the one real pro is it is a small kitchen by square footage, but very functional in use of space! Having the sink in the island means that the wall can be a bank of cabinets.

 

[lisaviolet]

Our kitchen sink is in our island. It works well with the layout of the house. I can't say there are any real pro/cons to it.

We can watch TV from the living room while washing dishes I guess. The island is rather large, with room for 4 along the edge. My kids eat casual meals there and liked to slide dirty dishes into the sink from where they sat. Had to break them of that habit since not everything is Tupperware!

Maybe the one real pro is it is a small kitchen by square footage, but very functional in use of space! Having the sink in the island means that the wall can be a bank of cabinets.

I just remembered another negative of mine, someone's positive.

I had room for three stools for eating - it was that kind of island but I hated having people eat there (they wanted to - usually teenagers) or myself with the sink right there.

Interesting, eh?

 

[wiigirl]

dont go by the worlds rules, set your own, put a bath in it

 

[superme80]

My aunt has one in her kitchen. I love it! it helps so much when all the women are fixing dinner for a holiday or a large family get together.

 

[minnie mum]

I think it really depends on the layout of the whole kitchen. Some kitchens really need the sink to be in the island in order for the kitchen to function properly. Others function as well, or better with the sink against one of the walls.

I've had both, and prefer my current kitchen, where the sink is under the window. The reason I didn't like the island sink was that it, and the rest of the island faced the great room so any mess around or in the sink was on display. My cousin has the same set up, but was smart enough to have a 2 tiered island- a regular counter height, which included the sink, and a higher bar-height level which accommodated stools and casual dining (and effectively hid any mess on the counters and sink).

I'd also like to add, that if you are relocating plumbing, I hope you have a basement (or at least your kitchen isn't built on a concrete pad). Jackhammering concrete to install plumbing is an expensive and messy undertaking.

 

[Micca]

Had it. Hated it. One reason, no matter how clean it all was it simply looked messy.

And it seemed like it was in the way at times. So two reasons.

_____________________________

OT, but interesting to me.

I've had sink in island and island with no sink, and cornered set up kitchen but I prefer what I have right now the most.

I have a one wall kitchen right now - I'm aware that a lot of cooks couldn't handle such a set up - it's very popular in new condos here. It absolutely amazes me what a clean look it gives off, even when it is slightly messy. Much different than all the other set ups that I've had.[/QU

Never mind the sink, I kinda think I hate our island. Oh it looks cool, and it does get used. I just think it's taking up room in the kitchen that isn't totally necessary.
I guess if you love your island it might as well have a stream (Barry Gibb reference)

 

[mommasita]

Thank you everyone.

Minnie Mum.. Yes, we have a basement, and it is very easily done (according to mr fix it)... I just have to decide soon, before the new floors go in.

I would like it two tiered as well..

Micca, our kitchen would just be the one wall of which you speak, and then the island, so I wanted to have the sink in the island, along with dishwasher, and the wall, JUST cabinets.. To the right would be fridge and stove (micro on top)

DH isn't totally onboard.. He wants to have the island as a work space, and stools to sit and eat..

 

[asta]

I did not put a sink in my island because I use it for a work space. I have a large island and I have used it several times to cut out fabric for sewing projects. An island without a sink also works well for entertaining. We place food on the island and guests congregate around it. I think it would look messy with a sink in the middle of it.

I also highly recommend this sink:

http://shop.ferguson.com/product/Ko...||Primary_Finish|1||Sort_Order|1&N=103+219+80

The larger bowl on one side of the 70/30 sink works great for washing large cooking items. I also love the low divider between the sink bowls. It helps with even larger items and keeping everything neater by keeping water in the sink bowls instead of on the counter.

 

[sasywtch]

According to the DIY shows, the best functioning kitchen is a V shape when placing the sink, stove, refrigerator. (two on one side, one in the middle on the other side). If it was a choice between the stove or the sink on the island, I'd definitely go with the sink. A friend had the stove on the island and her kids couldn't sit to homework or eat for fear grease would splatter. I definitely like the idea of the two tier.

 

[ericstac]

when I built our house I roughed in the island for a sink but never installed one, and I think I'm glad I didn't. I think it would be more of a hassle and eye sore than a benefit.

 

[POOHsie]

My sister has her main sink on an outer wall under a window. There's a dishwasher next to it. She also has a large, long island. You can sit 6 along one side. The island has a small sink, like a bar sink. Also a second dishwasher, an under-counter microwave and wine fridge. The sink on the island works well for minor tasks. Meanwhile the main sink against the wall is the one for dirty dishes, coffee making, etc. and isn't on display so much.

 

[PlutoPony]

One thing to consider is how important is it for you to have a backsplash behind the sink for your family? When my son was younger, there were SO many times the sink sprayer went "astray" when he was cleaning up things in the kitchen. And even now if one of us isn't paying attention the area behind the sink gets wet. I'd hate to have water go over the sink and onto the floor behind, kwim... That said, a 2 tier island would pretty much eliminate that potential problem.

Good luck, you have my utmost admiration dealing with a long term kitchen remodel

 

[rwdavis2]

We have one in the original spot along the wall and put a smaller second one in the island. Here's a link to the photos we took along the way. A complete gut of the kitchen:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7587313@N06/6110396562/in/photostream

Go backwards (click left-most arrow) to see them all.

 

[barkley]

One thing to consider is how important is it for you to have a backsplash behind the sink for your family? When my son was younger, there were SO many times the sink sprayer went "astray" when he was cleaning up things in the kitchen. And even now if one of us isn't paying attention the area behind the sink gets wet. I'd hate to have water go over the sink and onto the floor behind, kwim... That said, a 2 tier island would pretty much eliminate that potential problem.

Good luck, you have my utmost admiration dealing with a long term kitchen remodel

the thing with a 2 tier style is really pay attention to what kind of counter top you will be installing. if it's going to be tile spend the extra time and money to do an extra sealing on the grout. with all the water and detergents that get splashed on the portion that backs the sink it can break down the grout much faster than on the other areas of the counter (and the scrubbing you do to that grout when something like pasta sauce or other oily food remains splashes on to it doesn't help matters).


one of the BEST ideas the person who built our current home did (long island type counter with sink built in near one end) was on the opposite side of the counter (not inside kitchen, side facing great room), instead of it being one continuous piece of the same wood covering as the cabinets-he cut out the portion under the sink and installed a cabinet door (so if you were at the end of my island and looked toward the sink-on the side in the kitchen you would see the standard double doors under the sink, and on the side in the great room you would just see a single matching cabinet door).

this is AWSOME-I use the space to store a few extra items I don't want to have to reach AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL the way back under the sink for, but better yet-if a plumbing issue comes up, instead of someone having to crawl under the sink and get to the back they open that door and the pipes and connectors are within easy reach

 

[POOHsie]

We have one in the original spot along the wall and put a smaller second one in the island. Here's a link to the photos we took along the way. A complete gut of the kitchen:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7587313@N06/6110396562/in/photostream

Go backwards (click left-most arrow) to see them all.

I enjoyed looking at your kitchen remodel pics. Your new layout is much better. I like how the wall is set back behind the fridge so the darn box doesn't stick out. Your cabinets are just what I'd pick and I love the Shaker style. Great idea having the breakfast prep area under the microwave. Enjoy your new kitchen for years to come.