Kitchen layout; prep sink or not?

8 years ago

Ok, we are building a small house in the mountains with gorgeous views to the east; the current location of my kitchen sink is so I have a beautiful view. The location of the island seating will also have beautiful views looking out the north window. I have never liked a sink in an island, they seem messy and we use the island for so many other things... but a friend said she loves her second prep sink. In thinking about it, our stove does seem a bit far from a water source, however truly it's only 6 or 7 feet. I am now considering adding a prep sink in the island or possibly to the right of the stove under the north window. In either location, where exactly should the placement be.. ie center of island, 2' from range...? The other thought was whether a pot filler would suffice just to access water at that end, but leaning toward a prep sink at this point. Plumbing shouldn't be a problem for either location. My concerns are making sure I get the workflow right and not giving up too much counter prep area or cabinet space.

Featured Answer

smitrovich

8 years ago

How many cooks will be working in the kitchen at once? If you regularly have two people, then you can plan for two zones, one with a prep sink. If you typically only have one cook, then you don't need a prep sink.

On a side note, reconsider the double sink. They are a pain, as you can't get large items in them. A single basin is much more practical.

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Comments (9)

User
Original Author
8 years ago
Number of cooks is sometimes one, more times 2 and then sometimes the gangs all here!

The double sink will actually be a 60/40 low divide.
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Jan
8 years ago
I vote no for prep sink, specially in the island. I have a 60/40 or maybe 70/30 love it. My sister has low divider does not like it.
User thanked Jan
Lisa SW
8 years ago
Just to reassure you, I have a 60/40 sink that I love; it functions just as I wanted based on my family’s needs. After years of multiple cooks I don’t recall a time when we were fighting over space at the sink. Multiple pots on the cooktop are another matter! Based on the way we function in my household, I wouldn’t give up island space for a sink.
User thanked Lisa SW
Susan Davis
8 years ago
If your are an avid salad maker then a prep sink with a garbage disposer in the island next to the fridge makes sense, other wise not really necessary.....
User thanked Susan Davis
wdccruise
8 years ago
Complete amateur here:

1. When I was re-designing my kitchen, the recommended width of counter top on either side of a stove was 15". You have only 12" which, in my experience will be awfully narrow. You could change your 12" and 18" cabinets to 15" cabinets to move the stove 3" to the right.

2. The distance between the stove and sink is long. Do you want to have to carry a pot of spaghetti 6' to drain it? Perhaps you could move the sink (a narrower one) and align it with the right-hand side of the north window. You'd still have around 4' of workspace between the stove and sink. (I understand, though, that you want the sink and dishwasher side by side so maybe this wouldn't work.)
User thanked wdccruise
Cindy R.G.
8 years ago
For the water source maybe you could add one of those fancy water faucets that go right above the range! That would be super cool. I agree with everyone on here it would take up so much room in your island and they don't add anything to an island. When you aren't cooking you can put beautiful flowers on your island :) just a thought.
User thanked Cindy R.G.
Jan
8 years ago
I have almost the same layout but stove closer to sink. I find that I do most of my prep work in that area.
User thanked Jan
User
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you everyone! I think we'll pass on the addition of the second sink and keep my counters and storage. I will change the 12" counter/cabinets left of the stove to 15" (thank you Lawrence.... amateur? I don't think so!). I will probably add the pot filler, still researching those, and I will continue to read pros and cons on low divide sinks. This is the sink I'm leaning toward https://www.amazon.com/Ruvati-33-inch-Platform-Divide-Topmount-Kitchen/dp/B072M2DGP3/ref=sr_1_11?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1524318016&sr=1-11&keywords=ruvati+33%22+sink

Again, thanks everyone for taking the time to comment.