16 May How to Choose the Right Kitchen Sink | One Room Challenge | Spring 2020 | Week 2

Boy, has this week already been topsy turvy! Normally, things start to get weird around Week 4 of the  One Room Challenge™. Not this time. It’s only Week 2 and I’ve already had two major wrinkles come up that changed my entire kitchen design. Good thing I have an overall plan and an experienced interior designer who has my back. A well-designed kitchen makeover takes thoughtful planning as there are many decisions. One of the most important decisions you’ll make is selecting your kitchen sink. Learn how to choose the right kitchen sink for any kitchen makeover.

If you’re hopping on The Pillow Goddess blog for the first time, be sure to check out my blog post for Week 1: Kitchens are the Heart of the Home.   Discover everything about the Spring 2020 One Room Challenge , sponsored by Better Homes & Gardens, why I chose the kitchen to transform in 8 weeks, and the wonderful partnerships I’ve formed with amazing brands, like BLANCO, sponsoring The Collier St. Kitchen Makeover.

Now let’s jump right into the sink, shall we?

Remember last week when I outlined all the things wrong with our kitchen and how our food prep work station with the cutting board was completely on the other side of the kitchen away from the sink? (If you missed the Before photos, check out Week 1 HERE.)  That kitchen design has not been practical and creates a very messy countertop and unsanitary floor when we’re traipsing across the kitchen to put scraps in our tiny compost bowl by the sink.  Not to mention how disgusting our current sink is with all the rotted grout. I mean really!

Old sink bites the dust

Embarrassing to say the least. But in the One Room Challenge, you show the good, the bad, and the ugly, warts and all. I want you to fully understand the truly unsanitary conditions in our kitchen. Not only is the sink a mess, but I have to admit that having a cutting board built into the counter was not the healthiest idea.

When it’s time to find a new sink

Our kitchen sink didn’t always look like this. However, after 20 years, it has just worn down. Although my husband is a fantastic chef, frankly, he is not the best at cleaning up after himself.  I try, but often fail.

I’m holding out hope that The Collier St. Kitchen Makeover, with a brand new BLANCO sink, will be so inspiring that it will help both my husband and I start new, cleaner kitchen habits.  And there’s no better place to start than with choosing the right kitchen sink.

Improved health and safety in the kitchen

 

 

 

About BLANCO

BLANCO and I go way back to 2014, as you’ll see below, but not as far back as its founding in Germany, 95 years ago by Heinrich Blanc. Now part of Blanc & Fischer Family Holding, BLANCO is a leading global manufacturer that meticulously designs products that enhance kitchen functions in the home.  With a presence in nearly 100 countries, BLANCO has served the U.S. consumer for over 30 years. As a recognized leader in superior craftsmanship and innovation, BLANCO products have revolutionized the kitchen – significantly contributing towards sustainability by upgrading high-quality kitchen design into an art form. The expansive BLANCO product line not only offers consumers every day convenience, but a new healthier experience in the kitchen. From improved functionality and productivity to beauty with health and safety at the forefront, BLANCO creates cutting edge designs that transform lives.

SOLON™ Compost System

 

The Back Story

I was introduced to the BLANCO brand in 2014 as one of eleven bloggers on the Modenus Blog Tour NYC.  The start of my blogging career, I was honored to learn about luxury kitchen brands in the heart of NYC and at the Architectural Digest Design Show.  I have carried those memories close to me, but will treasure them even more now that we don’t know if we’ll ever travel or attend trade shows in the near future, or at all.

What started my love of the BLANCO brand was the gift of the SOLON™ Compost System.  I dreamed of remodeling my kitchen back then, in 2014, but it’s taken 6 years to finally install the SOLON Compost System. It’s designed to fit seamlessly into our new countertop, and I can’t wait to use it every day!

And guess where it’s going to be? Next to the sink?  That would be the logical location, but we don’t have room. Instead, we’re going to install it next to the food prep area where I love to sit and chop garlic and veggies.  Follow The Pillow Goddess blog to Week 8 for the BIG REVEAL when you see the finished result.

 

 

Why is the kitchen sink so important?

Glad you asked.  This dog above may not look too happy, but think about maintaining the health and wellness of your family in a kitchen with a BLANCO sink. You see, the kitchen sink is integral to our daily routine.  From meal prep to washing dishes, we spend the majority of our time in the kitchen using the sink. Both vegetables and raw meat interact with the same kitchen material. Therefore, it’s especially important to have a high-quality material with a non-porous, food-safe surface.  Especially now, during the Pandemic when we’re spending even more time in the kitchen, we want to be sure to have as healthy a sink as possible.

The kitchen sink has become a selfless, loyal companion that you don’t think much about, but you can rely on, depend on and lean on, day in and day out. – BLANCO

 

To wear an apron or not?

BLANCO offers many different and stunning styles of kitchen sinks. What I was looking for in a new sink was durable material that wouldn’t scratch or stain and large enough, with two compartments, to handle bulky pots and pans.

What’s trending is farmhouse single bowl sinks. But even though our home was built in 1957 and is a quaint cottage bungalow, we wanted a more modern sink. We don’t have anything remotely “farmhouse” style in our home and my designer and I felt the front apron was too large for our tiny kitchen. Also, while the single bowl sink is very popular, we still enjoy washing some dishes by hand so we wanted a two-bowl sink with a lower divide. (If you prefer an apron sink, please check out this recent post for BLANCO, Redefining the Art of the Kitchen Sink,  by Wendy Helfenbaum, featuring two friends who are incredibly talented kitchen designers, Jamie Gold and Cheryl Kees Clendenon.)

On the front lines of keeping a home clean and safe – the SILGRANIT^®  Sink

 

 

BLANCO’s revolutionary, patented, sink material, SILGRANIT^® , is more durable than any other sink surface. Made in Germany and Canada – the non-porous surface offers a super smooth stone-like finish, in 8 on-trend colors, that resists stains, scratches, chips, acid and heat. And that’s not all!

In addition, what really helped sell me on the idea of SILGRANIT^®, is that BLANCO’s proprietary “Hygienic Plus” surfaces shields against dirt and bacteria, reducing bacterial growth up to 98%. That as a huge selling point in our decision to choose this sink, especially in the times of today with COVID-19. Plus, it’s super easy to clean with just soap and water or baking soda because the “hydrophobic surface” actually pushes away dirt and water so it drains easily.

 

SILGRANIT^® sink was hands down the right sink for us. Since we already have enjoyed a white cast-iron sink for the past 20 years, we wanted a sink with the same tough durability. Connecting craftsmanship, function, innovation, and technology, the SILGRANIT^® sink has it all!

See for yourself!

 

 

 

Why choosing a BLANCO SILGRANIT^®  Sink is the right choice!

1. strong and durable
2. won’t blister, burn, melt, or discolor from heat
3. has a non-porous, food-safe surface
4. easy to clean
5. comes in 8 different colors
6. available in warm and cool neutral tones

 

Please PIN for easy reference

Fashion in the Kitchen

What I also really love about the SILGRANIT^® sink is the ability to personalize it to our kitchen and lifestyle. We can match the sink and faucet in 8 different on-trend colors: White, Concrete Gray, Cinder, Anthracite, Metallic gray, Truffle, Cafe Brown, and Biscuit. It also comes with wonderful accessories like a built-in cutting board and soap dispenser.

In addition, BLANCO has a wide variety of stylish faucet’s from which to choose. The ARTONA faucet with a pull down spray below is what appealed to us most. As you can see, it has personality and is very chic!

Please PIN for easy reference

 

Here are a few of the SILGRANIT^® colors to coordinate with your sink.

BLANCO Sink Buying Guide

I love the BLANCO Sink Buying Guide because it outlines many factors you have to consider when selecting a sink.  I hadn’t even looked at kitchen sinks for our kitchen in about 20 years, so this guide was super helpful.

Here’s a few things i knew I wanted in our new kitchen sink:

1. White
2. High-quality product that would last a lifetime
3. Has anti-bacterial properties
4. One that wouldn’t stain or scratch easily, and
5. Definitely an “undermount”, as I’ve always felt that that exudes a more modern look and is much easier to keep clean.

 

PLEASE Pin for easy reference

 

The BLANCO Buying Guide also helped me figure out many other factors to consider. Things I really hadn’t thought about before.

For example:

1. Cabinet Size
2. Counter Depth
3. Material Options
4. Sink Styles
5. Bowl Depth + Configuration
6. Installation

 

I had NO idea it was so complex to select the right sink!  I learned a great deal of vital information in this process. Like how with an undermount sink, we will have to cut about 2″ out of the top of the side cabinets, for it to fit. But it is going to be soooo worth it. No more stained grout!! YAY!!

If I hadn’t followed BLANCO’s trusty Buying Guide I would have made some serious mistakes.  And thankfully, I also had my interior designer Patrick Landrum, of PL&D Patrick Landrum Design, to ask questions cause he’s installed hundreds of sinks.

One more BLANCO product for you to consider

Introducing the BLANCO SOLENTA hands-free faucet. While we had looked at this one, it was a little too tall for our kitchen sink because we have a pass-through window above the sink.  Albeit, considering the state of affairs in our world right now with the global pandemic, if I were you, I would definitely consider this BLANCO SOLENTA faucet for your kitchen remodel!

 

Yikes! Construction has begun, but there’s still final decisions to make for our countertop and tile.  I hope you’ve been inspired and are ready to remodel your kitchen with a BLANCO sink!

Many thanks to BLANCO for sponsoring our kitchen sink, faucet and compost. Be sure to check out all their incredible products on their new website HERE.  I can’t wait to rip open the box that recently arrived with the white Performa sink in it!

Please follow me and my Stories on Instagram to watch us install it later this month. Also, get more inspiration from the 300+ Guest Participants HERE and the 20 Featured Designers HERE.  And remember to follow hashtags #thepillowgoddess #oneroomchallenge and #BHGORC so you don’t miss a beat.

Tune in next week for more kitchen updates and learn all that goes into selecting a countertop surface. It still amazes me every day how many decisions there are to a kitchen makeover.  Trust me, you’ll want to hire a professional interior designer to get the job done right.  Till then, stay safe and well, and be kind and helpful to others my friends.  Thank you for your support during the One Room Challenge. XO PG

Note: This is a sponsored post by BLANCO. All photography of product and information is by BLANCO (except two photos noted); opinions my own.)

Thank You to All Sponsoring Partners