A New Sink On The Block: Composite Granite

Much like how solid surface quartz materials took over the counter top market a while back, we now have another engineered material for sinks! Composite granite is a solid surface material made from granite stone dust and acrylic resins molded into a sink form. And I am seeing more and more composite granite sinks popping up...

While the material is made from granite, it has a uniform color and appearance, unlike actual stone. But the true advantage of this material is its extreme durability. Where porcelain can chip and stain, and stainless steel can dent and scratch, composite granite is highly scratch resistant, and in fact might break glassware should you drop any in the sink. Its non-porous nature also makes it stain resistant.

Many companies now manufacture composite granite sinks such as Kohler and Franke.

Blanco has a line of newly reformulated composite granite sinks made from what they are calling SILGRANIT®.

Features of a granite sink in SILGRANIT® :
- Rock hard granite durability
- Heat resistant up to 536° F
- Unsurpassed cleanability backed by industry leading 7 patents
- Resistant to scratches, stains and all household acids and alkali solutions

As you can see, the sinks from all manufacturers are available in many different styles and sizes, including single or double bowls, farmhouse or apron sinks, and drop-in or undermount applications.

Happy designing!

Crazy or Cool? Wood Sinks

It may seem crazy to make a sink out of wood, but if created and finished properly, a wooden sink can function like a sink made of porcelain or glass.

Happy designing!

Question of the Day: Single Hole or Widespread?

Chicken or beef? Heels or flats? Coffee or tea? New or vintage? Sweet or savory? Life can be full of so many choices and so can a remodel!

I've been doing almost exclusively bathroom remodels for the past several months (sometimes it just works out that way) and one of the things that surprises clients when we go to make decisions about bathroom hardware is what I call The Faucet Dilemma. I will show clients faucets that are traditional widespread faucets and then single hole faucets, and invariably they respond, ,"Gee, I've never noticed that before. Which one should I get?"

While there is no right answer to that question, there are a few things to keep in mind when making this decision.

A traditional widespread consists of three pieces: the center faucet and hot and cold handles on the sides. It is called a "widespread" because the handles can be positioned away from the faucet, traditionally 8" on center. Some models claim that distance can be up to 12" or even 22" if you have a lot of counter space! If you get a true widespread and not a mini-spread (which is a much smaller 4" on center), cleaning the area around the faucet is easy. Here are some photos of spaces I have designed with traditional widespread faucets.

Photo by Bernardo Grijalva

Photo by Bernardo Grijalva

You too may have never given much thought to a widespread or a single hole faucet. The following photos illustrating bathrooms I have designed with single hole faucets represent clients who want a look that is more streamlined in terms of how many pieces of hardware is on the counter. Another advantage is that cleaning is much easier when you only have one stem around which to wipe. And it only takes a single hand to turn on the water and balance the hot and cold. These are all things to think about when considering ease and function!

Photo by Bernardo Grijalva

If you are considering a bathroom remodel but are overwhelmed with options, give me a call. I can help.
Happy designing!