Cookaholics Bulletin Board

I like black and have used it with some success in the kitchen (cupboards) and other areas of my home. Here is what I have learned. Shiny black stuff will make you lose your will to live. I'm not super keen on the shiny stuff of any color because of the work involved in keeping it shiny and spotless. Sinks should be the same color all the way through or made of metal, which I personally find easy to care for. I always just gave them a quick going over with the sponge or a scrubber in the same metal (with the grain) as the dishwater was draining.

So, I'd do soapstone in a less-than-mirror finish or laboratory surface material. Someday, when I have that dream kitchen, I will probably use that lab stuff for my counter-tops. It is insanely durable.

Still, for a sink, I'd check out metals. They are less likely to chip your dishes and easier to care for. Get the "hammered" surface; it will camouflage a plethora of wear and hard-water spots.

I might just get hammered instead...

I have black granite, black cook top and black glass and brushed chrome on my ovens. The granite is not pitch black but does show up water spots more than other counters I have had. The sink is also brushed chrome (or stainless, not sure on th translation) and is very easy. When I thought about it, I realized there are no white sinks here in kitchens, just bathrooms. All kitchen sinks are metal. Funny that I never noticed that before.

Mary

I just have to say that this is the funniest thing I have read all day.

--Lisa

I have not had a black sink, but did have a black JennAir. It was gorgeous, but with our extremely high calcium water, it was impossible to keep nice. I switched back to white. I have an old fashioned white sink. I love it. A little Barkeeper's Friend ever so often and it looks like new. Now, if I could only get DH to change the faucet, I'd be in heaven. DD has granite black, charcoal gray with lighter flecks countertops. Hides all sorts of spots which is not always so good. Sinks are SS and I find mine easier to keep nice.

We also had red sink and toilet seat in our hall bath years ago and had white and red floors to with it. It was interesting, and folks either loved it or hated it (I call it my bowling alley bathroom because it is so long). It always looked liked white and red Dalmatians lived there. So glad to go back to white.

Ditto!

I want a copper sink. May go steal Darcie's when she's not looking. We have undermount stainless and hard water. Bar Keeper's Friend is my best friend.

Spot blindness and dishes in the sink (as camouflage of course) are my best friends. (we also have an undermount stainless sink)

I use this technique with all sorts of other household chores as well....

After trying many different sinks made of different materials over the years, I'm back to SS (undermount, of course). If I were doing it again, I'd go SS only I'd go with the very expensive SS. I think you get a lot better, easier to maintain finish.

Does undermount mean flush with the counter? One of the things DH decided when we remodeled the kitchen was to have the sink flush with tile and expand the window behind the sink to a "garden" window. I did not understand before, but I am so glad he did. I get lots of extra space behind the sink for hand soap, lotion, etc. plus a place for paper towel holder, tiny vases for fresh herbs out of the garden (or store bought) extra landing space for big dirty pots so I can still use the sinks etc. Really recommend it.