"I was prodded into replacing my two bowl, 42 inch sink with a single bowl. I cannot tell you how much I regret the decision to go with the single bowl."

I've switched a boatload of sinks from double to single and his is the first time I've ever heard someone say this.

Sink Statistics

What eam44 said. I’ve got a very large single bowl and it’s the best. Grills, cookie sheets, fridge shelves.... it all goes in here. If I have just a few regular pots or whatnot to do up, just pull out the plastic tub. My sink is copper, which vaults it into the stratosphere of favourite things in my house. I’ll admit, I have an unhealthy obsession with my sink.

I would suggest you think about how you like to use your sink. I have had both double and single. I liked the double because I would lean a cookie sheet on the middle to scrub. I switched to single b/c I think it is more modern and it fits large dishes. I like it a lot. I never used to fill one side and not the other. The one other thing I did like about a double is that you can put the dirty dishes in one side and the other side is free. I do kind of miss that, but I had a smaller sink cabinet this time around and two bowls would have been small! I also put a single bowl sink in my Florida vacation place. I like it there too. That one is stainless steel. I don't like stainless b/c it scratches a lot. I have Kohler cast iron in my main kitchen. I love it. Have had it before. Always have loved. Blanco Silgranit is also a good material to consider. Good luck.

You need a KD to help you through this. There are a lot more decisions that you will need to make. Having experience on your side will help your decision making a lot.

Could never go back to a single..

I'd never go back to a double. A single is so much more flexible, and it keeps the prep mess off the counter. Should I need two sections, there is a smaller removable insert sink (not shown in the picture).

I went to the website for the Add-A-Bowl, but could not find it. Perhaps they don't make it/offer it any longer. I actually did buy a plastic dish tub to use in the sink and do so quite frequently.

Walnut, so then you have a double bowl sink whenever you need one. Why do you regret your choice? The link I have above and now again HERE takes you to the page for Add a Bowl. Scroll down to order.

I find that I don't use the Add-A-Bowl all that often, but when I do it's sure handy.

I replaced a double bowl stainless steel sink with a single bowl SS from Kraus, and I love it. I can't see ever doing a double bowl again! If I do need to partition off part of it for soaking or cleaning, I use a dish tub like eam44 mentioned. Inexpensive, easy to use and clean, and easy to store away when I don't want it.

you guys are so awesome thank you for all the responses

Oversize single. When we were sink shopping I spoke to our local stainless steel fabricator, and to have them custom-build a large sink to my specs - 60" long x 18" wide x 8" deep - was incredibly inexpensive. So I'd recommend talking to the local guys. You'll be supporting the local economy, not the Asian one (which is where most "quality" brand name sinks are mass produced), and you'll get exactly what you want!

Oh, and don't cry - I feel your pain, it's hard to stick with the program when doing a kitchen, as there's so much to think about! You might find a professional KD helpful, but don't let him/her bully or shame you into getting stuff you don't want with money you don't have.

The Rachiele sink that I have is 100% made in America using American copper. (or stainless steel if you purchase one of his stainless steel sinks)

I would never have a single. I love my double offset. ( I would never want a plastic tub sitting in my sink either - ugh.)

But everyone has their preferences.

Chess, what do you mean? Are dirty pots and pans prohibited too?

Rebecca, did I say that?

You didn’t. But I wondered why you wouldn’t have a plastic tub in your sink? Fair question, I thought.

OP -- Ditto kelleg69's comment: think about how you like to use your sink. DH and I always cook full pots of soups, stews, etc. that require cooling before refrigerating. We can use/fill one side of our double sink for the cool down, leaving free the other side for whatever. Many folks complain (rightfully so) that the smaller of a 30/70 sink is too narrow to be useful, so consider getting a 40/60 (which is what we have) if you opt for a double. The 60 side is plenty big for us. Good luck!

"But I wondered why you wouldn’t have a plastic tub in your sink? Fair question, I thought."

Because I don't like the way it looks. I thought that the "ugh" sort of gave that away.

With the Rachiele sink you would use the smaller Add-a-Bowl for the cooling and still have the rest of the sink to use.

I was persuaded to go from a double bowl to a single bowl and could not be happier. I was hesitant because I had always used a drying rack in the smaller bowl and didn't want to have a drying rack on the counter top. What I do now is put most stuff in the dishwasher and then was the non-dishwasher stuff last and just leave it to dry in the sink. If there are a lot of dishes, I will pull out the drying rack for the counter, but I find I only need to do that once or twice a week. I do put my dry dishes away much more promptly than I did in past, but I consider that a good thing.

I put in this double Kohler Strive 36 inch and I love it! The large side is huge - cookie sheets lay flat, all my biggest pots fit in it... My first stainless sink and it like that too. It works for my family and the way we do dishes.

We had a major debate which side the put the disposal in - opted for the small side because I figured it was easier to wash food scraps down. Probably would have been just as happy with it in the large side.

"Because I don't like the way it looks. I thought that the "ugh" sort of gave that away."

I got that, yep. It just seems silly that someone would have such opposition to a white bowl in a sink but not a dirty pot. It's a sink. When I'm not washing dishes, both of them are stored in the cupboard. Mind you, my sink is huge and it takes probably 5 gallons to get three inches in the bottom of the sink. So for small jobs, a smaller container - be it tub, bowl or pot -- makes sense. But, to each their own.

Exactly. It's a sink. One of the reasons I bought my sink was the polished beautiful finish. I keep it clean, but I'm not anal about it. Water spots don't bug me at all, but I've never liked the look of a plastic tub in the sink. Seriously...I just don't like the way it looks. Period. And taking it out and washing/drying it, and finding somewhere to store it - no thanks. I understand that when you have a big single sink, that tends to be what some folks do. Exactly one of the reasons I love my double sink. But then, my mom has a double sink - she keeps a plastic tub in it. And my sister has a double sink - and SHE keeps a plastic tub in it. Crazy.

To each their own is right. I believe that was what I said earlier.

We have a large (43") 50/50 double, plus a 25" single prep sink. With two cooks in the house, it's nice to have three bowls to choose from. The double is big enough to soak baking sheets in.

"I've never liked the look of a plastic tub in the sink. Seriously...I just don't like the way it looks. Period."

Does anybody? I bet it's just that some people don't care one way or the other (prioritizing function over looks).....I bet if you asked your mother or sister, they also wouldn't say they like the look of it. Or, some people say that they use it a few times a month, so choosing and installing a sink for a twice-monthly need seems a waste, and they'll just put up with the look they don't like on those rare occasions.

I know, unnecessary. Just feeling ornery this morning.

Maybe you just need more coffee. :-) For me, it’s more functional to have a double sink and not have to deal with a plastic tub, which I don’t like the look of anyway. I don’t know what you mean by “a twice monthly need”. I don’t need to ask anyone about it because it really doesn’t matter if you prefer a one big sink. It’s FINE. I use my double sink as a double sink. Every day. You do you, and I’ll do me. People have different preferences and reasons for them. It’s a big world.

Carrie Beth, I know that making all of these decisions can be mind boggling especially when you have so many different opinions thrown at you. I would suggest going to a plumbing supply showroom and see how you feel standing in front of various sinks. I even took some of my largest items with me to see how they would lay or fit in the sink, like my large oval roaster and cookie sheets. It was super helpful. People do that when they are picking out a dishwasher, so I thought it would be a good idea for the sink too. We have a second kitchen in our house with a single bowl Kraus sink, and I keep a large round stainless bowl from Costco in the sink that I fill with hot soapy water when I want to clean the stove and wipe down the counters. I also use it for soaking produce. Here is another option with a removable bowl if you need something more budget friendly than the Rachiele. I ran across this when I was in my search. I also liked this because it gets the faucet off of the counter. I did not choose this because I needed additional holes but it may work for you.

undermount_d810.aspx

The giant single is part of the problem. There's no reason to stick with the format of a double. It makes no sense unless you have dual faucets or an added side spray for two person access.

A single bowl doesn't have to use as much counter space as your 33 and wider double bowl. 21"x21" is much larger than either of the bowls in a double. An 18" wide low radius is still 21" front to back and would work fine in a small kitchen. Everything fits in for washing. Choose what you'll need and you have more counter space for prep and other activities. It looks better with a deeper 28"+ counter too.

My vote is definitely no to a double and almost as strongly no to the giant single.

we have always had double sinks, and my biggest gripe is getting food on the non disposal side and then having to scoop it up to the other side. We are going with a single bowl and I hope it works out.

The way I use a double bowl is put dirty dishes in the left dry side with the garbage disposal. Scrape dishes to get most food off. Fill the right side with water and wash dishes to put in dishwasher to the right. Scraping food off into the dry side keeps the rinse water from getting too dirty. I do worry that this will be a problem.

However when we have had to soak cookie sheets or large rectangular pans, we have always had to do it on the counter.

During prep dishes start to accumulate so they go on one side while the clean veggies go on another. Single sink side needs to at least fit a collander

Maybe i convinced myself to stick with double bowl??

Anthony, I think the fact that you fill one sink to wash is probably the reason you end up with food on the non-disposal side. I never fill either side of a double sink. Instead, using the large side with disposal, I run water into whatever dish I'm washing, add soap either to that vessel or my scrubber (or both), then wash clean, dump the grimy water in the large side and rinse the now-clean dish over the clean small side.

My mother fills her sink to wash and always had the issue of food scraps on both sides of a double. Drove me nuts to watch her. My parents recently downsized and the sink in their new condo is a large single. She really dislikes it, especially since it takes forever to fill up! She has resorted to using a plastic tub but would really love her old double sink back, despite the issue with food on both sides.

I've never had the issue of food scraps in the non-disposal side. My dirty dishes go in the disposal side and get washed there. I might soak a really large dish on the other side, but I never pour any food scraps on that side.

Carrie Beth: Would you not consider just having an extra hole drilled (clear of the sink) for your R/O unit?

It depends on your food prep and dishwashing habits. I have a 70/30 double sink. I always have a few things to hand wash (knives, cast iron pans) and wipe down the counters and stove every night with hot soapy water. This works for me. We just returned from a vacation rental that had a huge, single, stainless sink. Hated it. It took forever to get an inch of soapy water in the bottom. It had a sink grid - hated it too. I felt like I was forever chasing bits of food from under that grid.

oasisowner: Our new Kraus double sink came with those nifty sink grids, too. I kept them in place for a while -- DH was enamored with them, but he didn't have sink cleaning duty. I've since removed the grid from the larger side of my double -- too much gunk was growing underneath, and I don't want to spend my days taking a toothbrush to a sink grid. As a compromise (for now!), the smaller grid is in place, since not too much goes on in that side of the sink. ;)

javiwa... is that a kraus sink in your post above?

No, czarinalex -- sorry for any confusion. OP mentioned really liking the sink that wilson853 posted (I think), so I posted a screenshot of that sink in case it might help OP expand possibilities.

This is ours:

Kraus KHU104-33

Most 60/40s have the smaller side no the right, so I think (IIRC) we paid a bit more to have the 40 on the left. HTH!

Chess, I’m getting the idea that either you live alone, or you do all of the kitchen work in your home - which raises the question, Carrie, how many of you will be using the sink?

I am single, I cook a lot, but usually whoever I cook for does the dinner dishes. The idea that I could have one side of a sink unused is a little nuts, and I’ve never tried to control the way my nieces and nephews or boyfriend use the sink. Do you have kids who will be washing craftwork down the sink? A spouse that will do dishes? A budding scientist who likes to make volcanoes erupt?

By the way, if you’ve had enough input, feel free to say so. When folks start using a thread to vent, there’s usually not much more of value to be gleaned. My two cents, think about whether you want a sink or a workstation; if you just want a sink get a large single bowl brushed stainless sink and invest in a two dollar dishpan.

"When folks start using a thread to vent, there’s usually not much more of value to be gleaned"

Tru dat!

eam44, I do live alone - but not always, and still always have preferred a double sink. Still - it's just me, and only me, using it. A sink vs a workstation - good way to look at it. The more folks that are using the sink, the better one large sink might be.

Does anyone know who makes this sink. I like the design of it. Would like one a little deeper though. Sorry to hijack the thread

In case the OP still wants more input: I recently switched from being a lifelong double-bowl user to two single bowls on opposite sides of the kitchen. I couldn't be happier. However, I don't do much handwashing. One sink is for prep/drinks and the other for cleanup. The small one is 15" (I would never go smaller) and the larger is 30" - big enough for my biggest pots, skillets, and cutting boards.

Thank you for posting this question. You are not alone, I too am thinking about a sink for my new kitchen. With all the information coming at you, it is easy to just want to cry. It will be okay, this is normal, you really are not alone. Some people have their kitchen ideas set in stone and just know what they want. I am not one of those people. Others want to think it all through. By posting you are helping so many to figure out something that is easy to take for granted. As you read each person's view it will help you to discover what might work for you. I for one appreciate your post as I am on this journey too. And just when you decide on a sink, you will have to think about a faucet...

Some questions I have had to consider...

1) Do you let dishes sit in the sink after a dinner a party or do you rush to clean them. Yes, I prefer to clean my kitchen after my guests leave.

2) If someone stopped by your house unexpected would you have coffee cup or breakfast dishes in your sink or would your kitchen be pristine? I wish I could say there is rarely a dish in my sink, it goes right to the dishwasher.

3) Made a giant Lasagna or Turkey would that pan sit in the sink to soak? Soak

4) Do you need a little place to wash the herbs or veggies from your garden? No, I wish I could grow stuff.

5) Will you have a second sink in your kitchen? Yes so a single bowl could work for me.

6) Is your sink for show or intense cooking and use? Copper is out for me, too fancy.

7) Depth, do you need your sink deep or shallow? I want to be able to get my elbows in the suds when I scrub so deep is preferred.

What about you? What do you like?

With a little time and support from Houzz you will find the one that is right for you.

Thinking of you as you tackle your kitchen journey.

Great questions, Boxerpal. They reminded me that one thing I like about a big single-basin is that it holds ALL the dinner party dishes, and because it's deep, they're nearly out of sight. My old 2-basin sink didn't hold/hide as much party mess.

Somebody with a wider double basin might say the same thing though - but the question of whether (and how) to hide dinner party messes is a good one.

Here's a link to the Ukinox sink that I posted above.

ukinox-d810-undermount-sink-8-deep

When using a baking sheet, I use full-size ones. The single sink works great for washing them. It also allows for the food prep to be done over the sink (on the chopping board), so I rarely have to clean the counters. Saves a ton of work. Smaller dishes go right into the dishwasher, so they're never in the sink for any length of time. Prep knives get washed immediately after use. The main reason, IMHO, for a double sink is no dishwasher.

with regards to the people who wash in one side, the issue is whether you want to waste water and keep the sink running. Ill wash the first few dishes with the water running until the right side basin fills up, then turn the water off. I scrape most of the food off in the left basin to go down garbage disposal, however the water in the right basin does get some food and that sucks to clean up. If I left the water running to wash I could fill up the right basin 10-15 times. I still think we are going single basin, is there such a thing as a tub that is nice enough looking to hang on the counter full time?

I have a 70/30 & I love it!! I don't think I would like a single, but I've never had one. I like having a large bowl & a smaller one. My 70 bowl is 11 inches deep.