People say the kitchen is the one place you should always choose function over form. Since middle school I’ve been preferring beauty over practicality, but I told myself that I needed to make this kitchen work well too. Some of those decisions have been easy who wouldn’t want more silverware trays? but one area of the kitchen kept my mind uneasy. When I found out the countertop material couldn’t be made into a sink I started looking for an alternative that could still give me a clean look. Somehow I ended up with a stainless steel sink on my Pinterest board.
Stainless is indestructible, and there are other stainless elements in the kitchen. The two bowl, clean lined sink seemed like the practical choice. The faucet is equally as important as the sink. What seems important to most of us in a faucet? A good sprayer and an easy way to turn the water on, right? So I started sourcing single-handled faucets with pull down spouts. The one I was leaning towards even had a touch feature to keep dirty hands off the pretty chrome.
But I just wasn’t that excited about it all. Truth be told I loathe cleaning our current stainless sink, and my heart wasn’t skipping a beat to wash dishes under that faucet. So I started thinking about the sinks and faucets of my past, what I liked and didn’t like. And you know what my favorite sink was to snuggle up to for a good dishwashing session? The one in the cabin where I did A LOT of dishwashing.
Of all the hands washed and veggies cleaned, this sink brought me the most joy. It’s just pretty and enjoyable, and I couldn’t have cared less that it didn’t have a sprayer I rarely use them, a single handle or dual bowls. I had to be more careful with the porcelain, but I loved the feel of it against my fingers and didn’t miss the metal smell you often get with stainless sinks. The joy I got from it far outweighed the lack of modern functionalities.
So I said screw the stainless and started looking at white sinks. And turns out they now make granite composite sinks in white! That are done in really pretty, modern shapes! I went back and forth between two basins or one and ultimately I just love the feel of a big sink. It was back to square one with faucets. Two-handled bridge faucets are definitely my favorite, classic look. I know the kitchen is a bit different, but we have dual handled faucets in every bathroom in this house, and it never bothers me. Again, the joy of the form far outweighs the function. I’m still trying to decide on exactly which one, but was pleasantly surprised at all of the beautiful styles at such varying price points. Which faucet would you choose? Or are you yelling through the computer screen for me to go with function? Ha.
We’ve been working our tails off to get tile and trim up this week. I remember saying and casually pointing…”I’d like to tile all of this” to Micah six months ago. I forgot how long tiling takes, and I remember now why tile labor is so incredibly expensive. Those windows were no cakewalk! We’ll be done lots more tiling this weekend and countertops are scheduled to go in next week. I see the light at the end of this tunnel and it’s a really pretty one…
emily says
Of course I like the most expensive faucet 🙂
It’s looking so good!!! Form over function all day long.
And, for the record, I adore my single basin big sink.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Me too! You could give me 100 faucets and I’d choose the most expensive every. single. time. Glad you like yours so much, I’m excited to have one again!
Pink Camellias says
I love the bridge faucets, but I have to say that when you have ground beef on your hands, the lever is really handy – you can just turn on the water with the back of your hand.
With your sink, I would recommend a single bowl – the divided sinks make it hard to wash big pots and pans.
If you are looking at Silgranit, I would go to your plumbing supply house and feel it to make sure you like it. It has a different feel.
The tile wall is very pretty – I am looking forward to seeing it all come together!
themakerista@gmail.com says
I totally agree about the meat-covered hands thing ;).
Sarah says
Wide and deep sink – that’s what I’m looking for. Shape doesn’t matter, if it’s big enough. Good thing is nowadays you have a lot of choice 🙂
themakerista@gmail.com says
It’s true, lots of choices!
Arielle says
I think you’re selling yourself short here – if you’re choosing a sink style you already know you love to use, that sounds like function to me! Loving these snapshots and can’t wait to see it come together.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Arielle. 🙂 We’re excited over here too!
Sara says
The tiling looks beautiful! Regarding the single large sink basin – I thought it would be a hard adjustment but has turned into a big plus in my book. Excellent for washing large pans, filing my indoor plants’ watering can & giving baby baths!! 😉 One suggestion I may add regarding the faucet – it looks like some of your options have a high, curved neck – my SIL has a similar one & water is always splashing all over the sink & counter due to the water’s velocity. I love your cabinet color. Such a great choice!!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Great reasons to go with one! Interesting you mention that about the faucet, I would have never thought of that! I may have to look into it. Thanks, Sara and happy weekend!
Magda says
Gwen!! This looks so fabulous and I love the sink. I like faucets 1 and 5, but all of those would be fabulous! We’re redoing our bathroom and decided to do white subway tile all the way up and I’m obsessed with it. It’s been super fun following you on Snapchat throughout this – I always look forward to your updates! This kitchen is going to be fab!! Can’t wait to see the counters – you went with Lyra right? Did you look at Helix?
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Magda! I actually went with Lagoon. I went and saw the slabs in person and I was surprised to like it a bit better for the space. Funny how different it looks vs. the small sample. And I’m deciding between 1 and 5. 🙂
Tricia Heliker says
IMO you are making choices for the right reason. I LOVE my kitchen and most of my choices were based on what made me happy. As my brother, a kitchen designer, said: “You broke a lot of rules and it worked out great.” It took me awhile to get the wall mounted faucet I wanted but I held my ground through “back ordered” and then “discontinued” and in the end got what I wanted. Love the tiled wall by the way.
themakerista@gmail.com says
So great to hear, Tricia! Glad you stuck to your guns and it paid in the end!
Laura says
That tiled wall is absolutely gorgeous! I can definitely see the inspiration from your British TV shows. Beyond excited to see the final review!
themakerista@gmail.com says
😉 Thanks, Laura!
Megan says
I’m a sucker for form over function too. I like the kink in the neck of the faucet in the bottom right, but it looks like it could possibly be too shiny in real life. The clean, timeless elegance of the Kohler faucet in the upper left would be perfect, but that price tag…Good luck with the tiling!
http://www.makingmebymk.blogspot.com
themakerista@gmail.com says
I know, it’s not cheap, but it’s definitely my favorite. I figure after all this money we’re saving doing the tile ourselves I might deserve it. 😉 Happy weekend, Megan!
Gerilyn Larsen says
We chose a black granite composite sink in a single bowl and it is wonderful! No more fighting the divider when I wash large objects. Our rationalization was that no one fills one side to wash dishes anymore. We felt that the two bowl was just clinging to an outmoded way of doing dishes. Congrats on choosing pretty (which will also be functional)!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Gerilyn, I’m really happy with the choices and glad to hear you like your so much too!
rachael says
We have a dual handled faucet in our kitchen and I love it, both functionality and aesthetics wise. To the right of the sink we have a sprayer, which is separate from the faucet entirely. I personally love it, especially for misting plants. Just want to point out that you aren’t limited to sprayers that are one unit with the faucet 🙂
Jennie says
I have an off-white corian sink and I loathe it. It always looks dirty and bleach is the only thing that really gets it clean. But I remember my old stainless steel sink being very scratch. I have no idea what’s best!
Also, FYI that I no longer get your posts in my RSS feed through feedly. I thought you were taking a break from blogging until I went directly to your site. I re-added you but it’s still not picking up your posts. Thought you’d like to know.
themakerista@gmail.com says
We had Corian in our last house and I felt the same! It showed so much and I had to be super careful in it. Cookie sheets were a nightmare to clean in it. The granite composite is supposed to be indestructible. My parents have a black one and absolutely love it. I’m hoping the white will be great too!
Caitlin says
Can I just say I’m totally with you on your stance for beauty over function! And I’m glad you’re going away from the stainless steal sink- we have one and I just feel like it never looks clean! And I love the faucets you picked and can’t wait to see it all complete! Oh,and the tile work is amazing! It’s something I would have never thought about and absolutely love it! You guys are working so hard and it’s definitely paying off! Keep up the hard work!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Good to hear, Caitlin!
Audrey says
Looking great!!! We’re getting ready to gut and remodel our kitchen as well (mostly DIY). We have tons of boxes of white subways, and we’re planning on covering our walls too. Your tiled walls are reminding/preparing me for just how long that part’s gonna take. My hubby will be so annoyed, haha, but it’ll look so good. 🙂
Can’t wait to see your final product!
themakerista@gmail.com says
It definitely is a lot of work but I know it will be worth it! I can relate to the annoyed husband…ha!
Anna says
I’m in the exact same place as you right now! We are in the middle of a full kitchen Reno, cabinets are in, concrete counters are being poured, and the last minute decisions are needing to be made! We also just picked out a beautiful white granite composite sink and love the shape and size, but still trying to decide on the faucet! Good luck! So excited to see your kitchen complete (as well as mine!).
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, good luck to you too, Anna! Good to know we’re not going this alone. 😉
Lulu says
Are you going with a blanco granite composite? I had the big one in my old house and it was AMAZING. When we re-do our current kitchen I know without a doubt we will buy another.
themakerista@gmail.com says
We are, so good to hear!
Lucas says
Elkay makes a bridge pull out faucet in a traditional shape. Its a great brand too!
themakerista@gmail.com says
I actually contemplated that one!
KathleenC says
Well… I guess I have to disagree that you didn’t go with function, because by my definitions you did! You knew you wouldn’t use the sprayer… so going without didn’t change actual functional use. Getting it would have been the equivalent of adding a decorative doodad. You knew how the best functioning sink for you was set up… that cabin sink! And you got the size, handle configuration and surface material that truly functioned for you (and not for some hypothetical dish washer).
By the way, I agree with you on the dual handles… I just can’t get the best temperature control from a single handle version. For me the two handle choice is better functionality.
But what I sure wish I could find is that hypothetical dishwasher!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Wouldn’t that be nice?! 😉 Thanks for reading and thanks for your thoughts, Kathleen!
Lisa says
I live in a 107 year old home that was totally rehabbed in 1996. It’s time now for a new sink. I was wondering what brand you selected? I have been looking since last fall and haven’t really found “the one” . My countertops are custom cherry wood and existing sink is 38×23 so the plan is to add sink with cherry wood running in opposite direction of existing countertop. I finally decided downsizing the sink was a must as they don’t make that size in sinks anymore and I want the farm sink 🙂 I love your tiled walls !
themakerista@gmail.com says
The sink is a Blanco. That’s a huge sink! Good luck with your find, I’m sure you’ll love something new but miss the size. 🙂
Darlene says
Blanco sinks are wonderful. We.ve had ours over a year and just love it!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Great to hear!
Tammy says
We just completed our kitchen gut/remodel and I have a beautiful white cast iron Kohler farmhouse sink. As beautiful as it is, I miss having two drains. Its inevitable that I find a bowl that needs to be rinsed out or a glass of water dumped out in the middle of washing dishes. Running to the bathroom sink to do this, has not proven to be very functional for me lol.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Good thought Tammy, I totally had that issue in the cabin, but since I have a dishwasher I don’t really wash things by hand…ha. Just not something I enjoy doing if I don’t have to!
Dani @ Danielle and Co. says
My grandmother has always said to make decisions based on what will feel the most like “home” to you – that special feeling that a house was loved will be more important both while you live in it and when you go to sell it, than any practical choice.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Love that sentiment, thanks for sharing!
carolina says
YES to a porcelain sink over stainless. It sounds like if you choose the one you love, you are choosing both form and function! I’m looking forward to your finished product kitchen, so far it’s a refreshing change from the rest of blogland. 🙂
themakerista@gmail.com says
Good point!
Kim // Yellow Brick Home says
We chose a large single sink (enameled cast iron from Kohler), and although I have to clean it more to look sparkling, WE LOVE IT SO MUCH. Worth it!
themakerista@gmail.com says
So good to hear, Kim!
briana says
Have you thought about using a diverter under the sink so the the hot water comes out hot, but not so hot that it will scald? then you could perhaps have the pretty hardware, but not have to use both knobs every time. Also a separate sprayer would be really nice.
Now I’m getting all of these ideas about how I can have beautiful bridge hardware that functions just like the more modern options in my own upcoming remodel!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Not a bad idea, Briana!
Jennifer@The Chronicles of Home says
I have LOOOOOVED the porcelain sink we put in the kitchen. The extra care and caution have been totally worth it so far, and I thought I would miss having a divided sink but have actually really liked having one big one. I had a black granite sink in our last house – also great, and I might have considered that if they had been making it in white two years ago!
Lauren pinson says
That looks like the single basin version of my Blanco sink! Love it! If it gets dirty it’s so easy to clean, just a little bar keepers friend and scrub, or the green scotchbrite pads, or both and rinse. Then it actually looks clean unlike a stainless or porcelain sink!
We went the touch modern faucet so I’m no help there but I know you already picked the perfect one!
Also, your RSS feed isn’t working! So I had to look up the blog and saw I missed a bunch of posts. 🙁
themakerista@gmail.com says
I need to figure out how to fix that, sorry you’ve missed so much!
Lauren pinson says
Oh, well I have Instagram and snapchat to keep me updated!! Haha, just living vicariously over here! I wish we could have done a much more in depth custom kitchen but we will one day!
Lauren Caron says
All is looking great. Have to say, your husband is a saint. Mine drew the line at tiles in our home!
themakerista@gmail.com says
He really has grown to be such a hardworking, dedicated person, I’m so lucky he puts up with my crazy. 🙂