Software
Houzz Logo Print
carisue82

kitchen sink - is Kingston a good brand?

7 years ago
Our contractor picked this under mount sink out for us. It’s Kingston. Our kitchen is going to be modern-ish/transitional. Faucet is a grohe. Is this a good brand of sink?

Comments (26)

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Your selections appear to be standard builder grade,

  • 7 years ago
    I’d consider doing a one bowl sink! They’re the best!
  • PRO
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Nothing but builder grade and style.

    Get a single bowl, Moen, Blanco, Franke all are nice. Franke has a nice feature with inside lif allowing a "drain" spot .

    Go to a good plumbing supply near you, pick in person, and same WITH YOUR FAUCET and please not that boring thing in the photo.

    Nothing in that photo looks remotely "modern/transitional or even interesting : )

  • 7 years ago

    If you asked him to source you a double bowl sink, that is fine, but as Karen suggested, a single bowl is great. There are many old threads on here debating the merits of single bowl vs double bowl. For your kitchen style, I would choose a single bowl with a small or zero radius corner, 16 or 18 gauge stainless, with sound absorption material applied to the underside, a corner drain for more interior space, and interior bottom grids to protect the finish. Workstation sinks are also popular. Interior ledges hold accessories like cutting boards, which add counter space to the kitchen, and keep mess off of the counters.

  • 7 years ago

    I wouldn't let your contractor pick out finishes for your kitchen - those are at best uninspired choices that say "I picked the first and cheapest thing I saw".

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kingston-Brass-Undermount-Stainless-Steel-32-in-0-Hole-Double-Bowl-Kitchen-Sink-HGKUD32199/206276314

    Are you sure you want a double bowl sink instead of a large single bowl? Some people do still like the double bowl, but most move to a large/deep single bowl. Washing baking pans, etc. is so much easier in a single bowl. A lot of people here have Kraus sinks - 16 guage, soundproofed with grates for not much more than the builder grade double bowl your contractor picked out.

    Do you want a pull out faucet or would you rather have a pull down like this? That faucet isn't tall enough to accommodate putting a large pot underneath it to fill and again, has no style or anything that comes close to saying "modern or transitional".

    Go shopping on your own and pick something you like, not something the contractor pulled off a shelf and called good enough.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Both the sink and the faucet are squarely in 1998. You said your kitchen is "modernish-transitional". Those choices aren't. And I bet that sink is not 16 gauge.

    Single-bowl sink, you will love it. Check out Kraus for best bang for the buck. How wide is your sink cabinet base? Let us know, and we can find you sink choices that fit in it.

    There are a ton of faucets out there, but perhaps something like one of the Hansgrohe faucets, but also Delta has a bunch that are modernish-transitional.

    Kraus 16 gauge single bowl 30" wide sink for 33" wide cabinet

    Kraus 16 gauge single bowl 27" wide sink with popular corner drain for 30" cabinet


  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Are you sure that you want a double bowl sink?

    I agree that that sink looks like basic builder grade. Almost every sink maker has a basic builder line, so the brand doesn't matter as much as the gauge of the metal. Builder sinks are usually 18 or 20 gauge.

    For a modern, transitional in a better quality sink, I would be looking at a small radius single bowl sink in 16 gauge. (You'll find sinks made of 14 gauge, too.)


    Noting that an undermount sink was selected, you're spending a lot of money for granite/ quartz, etc. Makes Zero sense to install a cheap sink. You can find lots of stylish, quality sinks for <$400. IOW, a fraction of what the counters will cost. Keep in mind that the sink/ faucet are the hardest working, most used tools in your kitchen.


    With faucets, I buy only Delta. Repair parts are easy to find even in smaller towns--not that you will need parts except maybe once every decade--but that when you do need a part, you need it now. Not two weeks from now. Very easy to repair, too.



  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Contractors should stay in their own lane. In this case, 1995 tract home builder. Contractors are NOT designers.

    You meed a Kitchen Designer to help you with product selections. And to fix whatever that dinosaur messed up. Those selections show that there are going to be many other mistakes that need fixing.

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Agree with all above. Pick your own and either have him give you a budget or you pay the difference. I personally do not like the even halved sinks. They will be narrow and not be the size of a standard sink. either do this.


    or a large single sink.


    The faucet looks builder grade too. I think you can do better.

  • 7 years ago

    Get a Kraus sink and just do one large open sink, not the separated sections.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Only you can decide what look you want in a sink and what your budget allows. The rounded corners on the one the builder picked out aren't as modern as the squared corners, but it may be what you want. Whatever you choose, look for a 16 gauge (thicker metal) for less noise/tinny sound and a 304 grade stainless. If you go with the squared bowl instead of a round, pay attention to the radius of the bottom of the sink. A zero radius is a 90 degree corner and will be harder to clean. I just got one and got a 10mm radius, stiil the square look, but not as severe and easier to clean. Also, you might be interested in a ledge sink. It is an under-mount with a ledge that allows you to use a cutting board, colander and numerous other utensils in the ledge and keep the mess in the sink area. You can get these in both single and double bowl. A great site to see what is available is creategoodsinks.com. These are kind of pricey, but go into the client reviews and you will see a lot of installed pictures. Then if these interest you, do a search for ledge sinks and you can find different companies and price points. I'm not affiliated with this company, but think they have some good pictures of installed sinks. Good luck on your hunt!

    Edited to add: the smaller the gauge, the thicker the metal.

  • 7 years ago
    Thank you for your help and insights! We ended up with this sink. Husband really wants a double and we don’t have a prep sink so this seemed like a good compromise that still seems updated from what we have. Now for a new faucet! That will be another deliberation :)

    https://www.build.com/kraus-khu104-33-kitchen-sink/s577182
  • PRO
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I'm glad you're happy. All I will say is I have not ONE client who has gone from double to single............who would EVER, ever go back to double bowl. Just saying.......

    And the ledge inside? allows a half grid to do what a double bowl would do. Drain!!!Meanwhile big pots , trays, you name it. In they go.






    Length overall
    28 3/4''
    Width overall
    16 15/16''
    Length of large bowl
    27 9/16''
    Width of large bowl
    15 3/4''
    Depth of large bowl
    9 1/16''
    Minimum Cabinet Size
    33''

    General Information

    Type of Material
    18 Gauge Stainless Steel
    Number of Bowls
    1
    Installation Clips
    Yes
    Cut-Out Template
    Yes
    Franke Integral Ledge
    BUILT-IN

    Moen Align faucet ( overnight parts if EVER needed )

  • 7 years ago

    Haven't used one, actually haven't even seen one in real life, but I have had a yen for the Delta Trinsic (looks very much like the Moen Align^) priced at under $300 in chrome (Home Depot).


    Moens are great faucets. The reason that I stay with Delta is because, years ago I inherited a Moen with the house. It leaked. I bought the repair parts and could not, could not figure out how to disassemble the damned thing (pre Youtube days, ya' know). Replaced it just because of that. (Cheaper than calling a plumber.) Delta because I knew that I knew how to repair Deltas.


    The thing about the Moen--I'm fairly mechanically inclined. It's not unusual for me to figure out something and then have to slowly & repeatedly explain it the my engineer DH (sometimes goes the other way, too!) I just didn't get the Moen and it pissed me off and because it pissed me off, I'll never buy a new one. It's a personal thing!

  • 7 years ago

    BTW, forgot to say that I really hope that you're happy with the single bowl sink and I think your DH will be too. Will likely take a few days/ month or so to adapt and then all will be good. It's a lot cleaner look, great for large items...cookie sheets, roasters, big pots. And only one bowl/ albeit a larger one/ to clean.

  • 7 years ago

    ci_lantro: Please tell me about the adaptation you speak of. I need to get a kitchen sink for a remodel and am back and forth with single bowl/double bowl. I never put pots and pans in DW and usually have a sink full of water in one side of my current double bowl sink for prep dishes, etc. and quite often am using other side for garbage disposal or rinsing washed dishes (at same time). I love the look of the single bowl and am really short on space so the single bowl with offset drain looks great, but I am concerned about being able to function. I don't want to have to use a dishpan, something else to store. Also if I get a ledge sink, the accessories look great, but then I wonder if they would just get in my way or be something else to store when not in use. Any thoughts on my concerns?

  • 7 years ago
    Carisue - as ci_lantro said, I hope you are happy with the decision to go with the single bowl and your husband comes to appreciate it as well. As someone who had a double bowl sink for many years, I could not wait to get a large single bowl when we renovated and would never go back. Such a HUGE improvement. As for no prep sink, your husband could always toss scraps into a bowl if he’s prepping while you are at the sink and then just run them down the disposal once prep is done.
    As for faucets, the Delta Trinsic is indeed a very nice looking faucet that would go well in a modernish/transitional kitchen since it is a single handle with clean lines. Go look at some in person and see what you like, while faucet prices can be crazy, there should also be quite a few under $300 that would fit well in your new space. If you have a Costco membership (or if a friend does) they have a few Hansgrohe options that are priced very well and would work with the aesthetic you are going for. Surf the Costco site to see what they have, it’s hard to beat the price point and we had one for years in our former home without issue and put another one in when we renovated. I really liked the trinsic but wanted brushed nickel vs chrome and that option (at the time) drove the price up on the trinsic more than I could justify. Then I found the Hansgrohe Lacuna at Costco that came in the brushed finish and with soap dispenser (check out the Never MT on amazon - awesome) for $200 and it was too good to pass up.
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    If you are a Costco member, check out the Hans Grohe they usually sell for kitchen faucets. Very good faucet in the $200 range.


  • 7 years ago

    I have always had a double sink until this new house where I have a single. I was worried to about not having two separate areas because I often leave pots overnight to soak. I have found that the single sink has plenty of room to leave a pot soaking and still do anything else that I want to do in the sink. And it is so much better for washing cookie sheets and other large items.

  • 7 years ago

    lizbeth--Adapting to single bowl without using a dishpan is all about nesting. The largest flat dirty hand wash item goes in the sink first (cookie sheets/ skillets, etc.). On top goes the largest bowl or pot filled with hot soapy water. Then smaller items & knives. I never put anything aluminum in the DW. No knives in there either. I tend to hand wash what I call 'dishwasher space hogs'--large bowls, large Corning ware casserole dishes, etc. Wash, rinse in the sink...set onto a microfiber drain mat on counter.


    Maybe worth mentioning is that most of the stuff goes through the Labrador Retriever pre- wash cycle. Really does help a lot with crusty mac/cheese casseroles, etc., because of the enzymes left behind by the tongue wash, I think. :-)



  • 7 years ago
    We went with the Kraus single basin 32 inch sink. We’re going to use the Grohe Elberon faucet. Is it better to go with starlight chrome or the stainless finish? Thanks!!
  • PRO
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Regarding the sink, based on experience I would say that there are 3 options for stainless steel sinks:

    1)Franke

    2)Blanco

    3)any other sink

    Why? Because category 3 are all Chinese sinks made of the same material - just marketing is different. 16G or 18G it doesn't really matter, because the finish itself is very different - just go to any store and touch.

  • 7 years ago
    Either finish should work fine. My preference is the brushed or stainless since fingerprints are less noticeable on that than on shiny chrome, but plenty of people go with chrome and love it. Go with the one you like best.
  • 7 years ago

    I have a Kraus single bowl sink and love it! Good choice..

  • 7 years ago
    I chose to pick out every single item needed in our build. Sure, it’s more tedious, but it’s now exactly how I want it with quality I choose. I’ve learned sooooo much doing this through researching 16 gauge and sound dulling, etc. Read others reviews but even there it’s important to look up on several sites to ensure they are not made up to promote product through promotions and such. You will feel accomplished and satisfied if you put in the effort.