hmmm...How about topping the entire island with butcher block and having a nice sized chunk of the granite cut for sit atop the BB? My thinking is that a tiny sink might be of some use but that you will always be wishing it was bigger. Nine inch sink is really tiny.

If you stick w/ the butcher block inset--which will look cool--personally, I would skip the sink. With just the BB/ no sink, it will look like a purposeful choice. With a sink sunk into the BB, I'm afraid it will come off looking like a patch job and not be useful enough to make up for the compromise.

Can you get a big sink and then put a piece of butcher block over it that lifts out or moves across it? Like a take-off on this:

Hmm, 9" is pretty small. Mine's 15" round and we find that it's just big enough to wash veggies and prep without splashing all over. How deep is your 9"er?

We do have a couple of the cutting-board covers beagles recommended above, albeit homemade ones, and they work marvelously for expanding the space when we don't need the sink.

Beagles, I am standing in the kitchen now trying to picture that.....great idea!! A 12" sguare one may work! That gives me 12" to the front, and 18" to the side, then the 33" of granite. Off to search for 12"- ers!!

Thanks, Nancy

Here's mine, Nancy, the cover really works very well:

Circuspeanut, how neat! Love the copper counter! Our friends did that on the bar in their guest house. I found a 12" and 13" in square, cheap, but I had a 9" in round, so I may look at a 13"round. I believe the purpose of this snk, even more than prep, is for filling the coffee maker, which may be in a beverage/ microwave center hutch in the adjacent dining area.

Should I consider a garbage disposal, too?

Thanks!!

a tiny sink is like a garbage chute.

This Is Good.

Where did you find the 9" copper sink? I need one for my beverage center - only plan to use it to fill coffee pots, water glasses, and to dump small amts of liquids.