There was a time when the idea of a spacious kitchen was nearly unheard of for the average family. Kitchens were designed to be functional work rooms. There were no microwave ovens, breakfast nooks, or kitchen islands. The room was not meant to be a social area, only a functional one. For that reason, the typical kitchen consisted of a refrigerator, a stove, a small counter area, and a small sink. People made do with the space they had at the time, trying to maximize the cramped food preparation areas as best they could. Today, however, kitchens are as large and spacious as any other room in the home. They have all the conveniences of modern living and kitchen technology, counter space is bountiful, and some are even blessed with not one sink, but two. The secondary sinks, commonly referred to as bar sinks, serve a variety of purposes.
What is A Bar Sink?
A bar sink is the name given to any small sink used for kitchen related purposes. They can also be found in indoor and outdoor wet bars as well. A kitchen bar sink is typically installed in the counter top area furthest from the main sink. While the role of the primary sink is reserved for washing dishes, the bar sink is generally used for smaller tasks, such as washing vegetable, rinsing off utensils, or other light duty kitchen tasks. A bar sink not only provides a separate area dedicated solely to these smaller tasks, it also provides access to running water at both ends of the kitchen. When a bar sink is installed in an actual bar, it is designed to be used for washing individual glasses, small plates, utensils, and for obtaining water, as needed, for drink preparation.
What Types Of Bar Sinks Are Available?
The two main types of bar sinks on the market are undermount bar sinks and standard rimmed bar sinks. The under mount design allows for more simplified kitchen use. By eliminating the outer rim of the sink and making it flush with the counter top, it makes it much easier to not only slide objects from the counter into the sink with ease, it also makes the cleaning process much simpler and less time consuming. A traditional rimmed bar sink is typically found installed in an indoor or outdoor bar area. Since these areas are designed for drink preparation more so than food preparation, a standard rimmed sink tends to suffice just fine.
Bar sinks also some in a variety of shapes and sizes. While most bar sinks are rather small, designed primarily as a secondary sink indoors, there are some available that are fairly sizable. These are intended more for actual bar use where a primary sink is not present. The most common shapes for kitchen bar sinks are square and round. These compact shapes allow the sink to take up very little room on the counter top, maximizing the food preparation surface available. Kitchen bar sinks are almost always single basin designs. Bar sinks intended for bar use, however, are often rectangular in shape and can be found in double basin designs. For more frequently used bars, this allows one side of the sink to be used for washing and the other side for rinsing.
The most common material used to make bar sinks is stainless steel. This mixture of steel and chromium is preferred for several reasons. Stainless steel is highly durable and long lasting. It is fairly resistant to scratching, as well as stain and scorch resistant. Stainless steel requires very little maintenance and is extremely easy to clean. Unlike more luxurious materials being used to make sinks such as marble or granite, stainless steel is extremely affordable.
How Do I Choose The Right Bar Sink?
The first step to choosing the right bar sink is to determine what its primary use will be. This includes deciding whether it will be used in the kitchen or in a bar, whether it will be designated for indoor or outdoor use, and determining what size best suits your needs. Once you have the technical specifications decided, decisions such as shape and sink style can be chosen based on personal preference and visual appeal. You will also need to select a bar sink faucet to match your new accessory, ensuring that the overall visual aspect of both the faucet and the sink is coherent. Some manufacturers will offer matched sets to ensure the proper visual match is obtained.
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