As our arms finally recover from an exhaustive kitchen priming and painting marathon (we shared the full before-and-after earlier here), we wanted to slow the pace a bit and write about something a little more soothing: sinks. Think of this as a mellow post after an energetic dance number.
One of the more interesting parts of owning our second house has been comparing its features to our first home. It’s useful to note what we like better, what we miss, and which elements we’re still unsure about. The new house has many upgrades we love—larger rooms, more open hallways and an en suite master bath—while other parts make us nostalgic for the old place, such as a more open laundry area and an enclosed garage. Then there are features that don’t clearly read as upgrades or downgrades: the kitchen sink is a perfect example.
Our sink is a deep, single-basin model. I like it—maybe love it—but I’m still deciding how strongly I feel. Compared to the double sink we had in our previous kitchen, the single basin behaves differently and creates both conveniences and small frustrations.
Why I appreciate the single sink: it fits more. Not magically, but practically—I can fit large pots and pans, even with their handles, fully inside the basin to wash them. With our old double sink, wide pans often sat half out with handles draped over the counter, and water would splash when rinsing. That led to awkward rinses and occasional dishwashing grumbling. Being able to submerge a 22″ pan including handles without juggling it is a small but genuine relief.
Still, there are reasons I don’t regret the double sink choice entirely. With a two-basin setup you naturally get a “washing side” and a “drying side,” which keeps the counter clearer immediately after rinsing. Without that dedicated drying area, dirty or damp cookware often ends up on the counter for a while after meals. Our pans sit by the sink until we get around to drying them properly, and yes, it looks a bit messy. We could use a drying rack, but finding one that looks good, fits limited counter space, and doesn’t stay out permanently is surprisingly difficult. My temporary pot-drying method only occupies the sink side for an hour or two instead of placing a rack on the counter all day.
Another detail that affects the experience is faucet placement. We usually prefer a centered faucet, but the square, single-basin sink left no room for a center-mounted spout, so the faucet is set slightly to the side. Surprisingly, that has been a nice feature: I can rest a pot on the counter and fill it from the faucet without having to hold it inside the basin as it fills. It’s one of those small conveniences that adds up during everyday kitchen tasks.
Overall, we don’t plan to replace this sink. Between the ability to fit large cookware, the cleaner look when everything is inside the basin, and the convenience of the off-center faucet, I’m leaning toward team single-sink. At the same time, I recognize the double sink’s practical advantages for drying and organization that make it hard to declare a clear winner. Different households, cooking styles, and kitchen layouts will sway the decision differently.
So, what about you? Are you team single-basin or team double-basin? Do you favor an integrated drying area, or do you prefer one deep uninterrupted space for washing? If you’ve made a similar choice, what made you settle on it—space, cookware, cleaning routines, or aesthetics?