Clever kitchen sinks for every kind of space
You can track societal evolution in the state and design of kitchens and more specifically, the kitchen sink. They're not only the lifeblood of the house (providing direct access to clean water) but a rooting point for activity. Neanderthals used concave stone slabs eroded and filled with rainwater to wash their hands and food. The Roman Empire saw a huge leap forward in culinary design, with wealthier families having access to running water (supplied from a nearby well) and the kind of built-in stone sink that provided a blueprint for contemporary farmhouse sinks. The Middle Ages saw a decline in development, and kitchens were generally incorporated into the wider living space and would have included a hearthstone, a wood fire, ‘dry sinks’ (essentially a zinc or lead-lined bowl to be filled with water) and ‘slop stones’ for dirty water and food scraps. In 16th-century England, the modern kitchen began to take off, as the country became wealthier and more people could afford a separate cooking space.
We've seen a wide array of kitchen sink designs throughout House & Garden's history. From rugged stone sinks, plumbed into rustic freestanding kitchens, to sleek stainless steel designs in state-of-the-art apartment blocks. It's not only useful to peruse our collection for inspiration if you're redoing your kitchen and you're stuck on which basin is best, but to notice it as an object that so often summarises the aesthetic and story of a house.
Avoid kitchen sink dramas with a perusal of our favourite sinks in marble, stone and stainless steel.
Mark Anthony Fox1/17Patrick Williams of Berdoulat was commissioned to plan the kitchen in this Bath project by Anna Haines and has used many pieces that he designed, including the plate rack and a stand for the sink, plus a drawer unit in ‘Berdoulat Green’ – a paint colour he created with Farrow & Ball. A freestanding kitchen is a wonderful way to create a dynamic roughness in a rural space.
Mark Anthony Fox2/17Christian Bense's tiny Battersea flat has an even tinier kitchen at just 1.5 x 2.2 metres. This involved a ‘a millimetre by millimetre autopsy in order to make it work.' One space-saving solution was the sink, with taps mounted to the side to allow for a bigger basin and more counter space.
Boz Gagovski3/17This sink has an ingenious lid that fits perfectly into it, plugging the gap and enlarging the countertop area. “We based the kitchen on the sort of details you see in service areas in country houses,” says Benedict Foley of the cleverly-designed flat in Hackney that he shares with Daniel Slowik. It is “simple but well drawn.” The shelving is based on the design of the base and feet of a provincial George III cabinet, the oven and hob was recycled from the previous kitchen as they both work well.
Michael Sinclair4/17This clever, energy-efficient newbuild rises from fields at the foot of the Mendips in Somerset. The kitchen is strikingly contemporary without being cold or stark. Designed around a stainless-steel sink found on Ebay by the house’s owner, Orlando, the birch-ply units by CM Pretlove Cabinet Maker are finished with stainless-steel worktops.
Christopher Horwood5/17The copper sink in the artist Natasha Mann's house is from The French House and the kitchen is by Pluck Kitchens. The copper material is both practical, classic and playful, perfectly toning with Farrow & Ball's ‘Palm Green’ walls and complimenting tiles from Milagros.
Mark Anthony Fox6/17The kitchen in this Regency era London pied-à-terre was designed by Veere Grenney Associates. Unusually the taps are plumbed into the wall above the sink, which is a visual statement and allows for a larger sink. Slabs of Belgian Fossil granite have been used as work surfaces and as an elegant backdrop and shelves.
Michael Sinclair7/17The two oak sinks in the galley-style space in this English country house feel similar to an antique vanity in a bathroom. It fits well with the scullery or ‘downstairs’ feel of the room, which is also brought out by the ‘Wing Green’ gloss paint by Papers and Paints, which has an appropriately heritage feel.
Michael Sinclair8/17In the same house belonging to Keith Johnson and Glen Senk, another preparatory kitchen room features a shallow English sink bought at a local antique fair. The antique sink is in keeping with the aesthetic of the Grade II-listed house. Sourcing an antique sink on eBay, Vinterior or at a car boot sale allows you to avoid a jarringly modern or ‘clean’ feeling sink.
Paul Massey9/17In this interior designer's peaceful Christmas retreat on the Stockholm archipelago, a La Cornue range and claystone sink add to the rustic feel, while bespoke ceiling-mounted glass shelves make the most of the space and provide storage, without blocking the light or views from the window. Adding valance or café curtain is a useful way of bringing some femininity into a space, and avoids having to build storage around a freestanding sink.
Simon Bergström10/17The kitchen was the biggest project when Sebastian Bergstrom first moved into his tiny flat in Stockholm. The farmhouse kitchen sink dominates a lot of the worktop, but feels clean, classic and stylish. If you're very into cooking or hosting, then a large sink is essential.
Owen Gale11/17The kitchen of this jewellery designer’s playful house is a kaleidoscopic room that best shows the Spanish influences in the house. Practical and clean, the sink is a neutral zone that allows the colourful tiles, cabinetry painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Calke Green’, Paint & Paper Library’s ‘Geisha’ and ‘Rowan Berry’ from Sanderson, and the walls in Farrow & Ball's paint ‘Orangery’ to really sing. “It’s the room we knew we’d spend most time in,” says the owner Sandra, “so we spent the longest making sure we got the design right”.
Paul Massey12/17The kitchen of Rosi de Ruig's Victorian west London home is a great example of a big, bold look achieved with minimal budget. The simple white sink is set against kitchen cabinets from Ikea and painted in a vibrant ‘Parrots Plume’ gloss from Dulux.
Paul Massey13/17This dresser by Plain English, painted in the company’s ‘Army Camp’ green, holds a sink from Howe paired with brass taps from Barber Wilsons & Co in the kitchen-cum-dining room of Rita Konig's farmhouse. Rita’s collection of antique glassware is displayed on the top shelf.
Eric Piasecki14/17The indoor ‘potting shed’ in this New England house was enriched by plenty of open shelving and a deep work sink, custom-made from slabs of black granite. While not essential, custom-making a sink allows for a nice flow between countertops and sink.
Ruth Ribeaucourt15/17This is a lesson in retaining and restoring pieces you might find in a house when you move in.Maison Lescop's kitchen was undoubtedly the room that required the most attention. ‘In the 18th century, the outhouse would have been the kitchen,' the owner explains. 'There was a beautiful stone sink and a fireplace in there that we knew we wanted to use.’
Richard Powers16/17This avant-garde kitchen in Esherick House in Philadelphia was designed by Wharton Esherick and was preserved and restored by the owners. The basin is neatly sunken into the mass of wood panelling to great effect. This is complemented by a pair of his wooden stools acquired at auction, which used to belong to his son Peter.
17/17Alastair Hendy's converted Shoreditch loft follows a very minimal design principle. The layout, anglepoise lights, large professional oven and sink fitted into a freestanding wooden unit create a professional, urban feel that's in keeping with the loft aesthetic.
