It’s no surprise that a transitional kitchen combines the best of traditional and contemporary styles. Since this style embraces such a bright and relaxed setting but still maintains a sleek and streamlined appearance, choosing a kitchen sink might sound confusing. Here are the styles that are the most popular for transitional kitchens.

Undermount sink

An under-mount sink is installed underneath the sink and there is no visible rim which keeps the sleek appearance for the countertop. These sinks are fitting for any transitional kitchen since they still have just enough of the modern traditional look but can still translate the contemporary feel.

Farmhouse sink

Some designers are also calling this a skirt or apron sink since the outer edge of the sink wraps underneath the outer edge of a countertop giving an apron-like look that gives a great old-fashioned look. Because it fits into the theme of transitional kitchens so easily, this is always a perfect choice no matter how your kitchen embraces contemporary aspects.

Split sink

Not just a style but meant more for function, a split sink is great for separating ingredients that need to be cleaned and prepared in your kitchen. Split sinks come in a variety of configurations that will all feature larger or smaller sink chambers that sit side by side. One side can be used for rinsing while the opposite side can be for soaking.

Rim mount

Whenever the edge of a sink is seen above the countertop, this is how a rim mount sink is supported. It’s also called a drop-in sink and has attachments underneath that aren’t seen. Unlike an undermount sink, rim mount sinks have a traditional appearance that’s making them perfect for the transitional kitchen.

Tile edge

One of the most common sights in any transitional kitchen is the addition of tiles that are laid in a geometric pattern. Tile edge sinks are a bit different than the typical rim mount since they don’t have an overlapping rim that circles the sink. This variant is designed so the edge of a countertop is the same level as the countertop itself but isn’t completely flat. It will have a small lip that is conservative by appearance.

Workstation sink

For those who like multitasking in the kitchen, a workstation sink is designed to provide a variety of built-in tasks. It can also support a cutting board and built-in shelves. Depending on the type of workstation sink, it can offer a single or double sink configuration. Workstation sinks are more effective for those who like to work over a sink to prepare foods that need to be close to running or standing water.

Stainless steel sink

One of the most accepted materials in the transitional kitchen is obviously stainless steel. It will complement the range of sleek surfaces that are seen in contemporary kitchens but have all the charm of traditional kitchen designs. It’s also easy to clean rather than porcelain and is better for reducing the issue of germs or bacteria.

Porcelain sink

With so many marble or stone countertops in a transitional kitchen, the use of porcelain is going to be more commonly seen with apron sinks. Porcelain sinks are going to be more work to keep clean but are a great traditional look that still fits nicely within transitional décor. Nearly all of the porcelain sink colors will be white, which fits in with the color scheme that’s found in many tradtitional kitchens which is why it’s an accepted color in transitional kitchens overall.

Shallow basin sink

You might consider a shallow basin sink that is certainly modern looking but isn’t going to look out of place in the transitional kitchen a single bit. Some basin designs will further be angled so water or liquids always drain into the drain. Another variant is a deep basin on one side with a shallow work area off to the opposite side.

Deep basin sink

If you have a kitchen that needs to have deeper basins than usual, this won’t be out of the question if you have large pots that need cleaning. It’s more of a design choice than anything else and still fits into the transitional theme. These sinks are perfect for cooling off deep pots that need to be immersed in cool water to stop the boiling process likewise.

If you’ve been thinking about what to do with your existing kitchen but aren’t completely invested in changing the cabinetry altogether, then don’t worry- there is still hope. It takes a lot of time to change a kitchen if you’re looking to upgrade and transform outdated kitchen cabinets, but there are some subtle tricks you might not have considered that work just as effectively without doing a full redesign. Here’s why:

Ways to Resurface Your Existing Cabinets

We’re not talking about replacing existing kitchen cabinets, but giving them new life with a different look that will give the appearance that your kitchen cabinets are replaced. There are many ways you can do this without having to work yourself to the bone. In reality, home improvement centers offer many modern materials that will allow you to change the look of cabinets making them look very different from how they appear now. Whatever décor style you’re after there are endless ideas to obtain the cabinets that will best complement your kitchen.

Repainting

There are a few different routes you can go to update an old kitchen and this includes repainting your cabinets. The paint, however, must be the kind that’s going to be durable enough so it doesn’t come off so easily. You will also need to examine your existing cabinets to see what kind of cabinet material they’re made from. If they’re made from wood and covered in paint, this is very simple for repainting. All that’s needed is to sand them lightly so the next paint layer will adhere a lot better.

If you have cabinets that are covered with a laminated plastic surface, these can also be painted with light sanding involved. Just be sure to check with your home improvement center as to the type of paint that sticks best to these surfaces. Perhaps bring a picture to show the person so they can determine which kind of paint will work the best. Another good tip is to remove the cabinets before painting them so it makes the job easier.

As for color, choosing a base color will make a big difference when you want to give old colors new life. Bright and cheerful colors are striking and modern, but you might decide to keep things simple by sticking to the style of cabinets you already have. The best advice is to enhance what you have currently to bring out the best quality and surface detail that isn’t hiding anything.

Adding extra details

After painting your cabinets, you might want to bring out the little details a bit more of your existing cabinets. If you have raised panels or a decorative cabinet frame, it might be more appealing to bring out this detail further with weathering, stressing, or inlay colors to help make these lines more prominent. After a base coat is painted, a variety of techniques can be used to add washes, sponged highlights, or deep shadow colors.

You might further want to give these surfaces a particular sheen including high gloss or simple satin matt finishes. Not only does this help to protect the painted coating, but the clear finish will act as a barrier that makes your cabinets more durable and easier to clean. Before you paint, if you have flat cabinets, you can glue decorative trim around the border to give the appearance of an inlaid panel.

Most home improvement centers have decorative strips made from compressed wood fiber that is cut out like a picture frame and glued to any flat surface using universal adhesives. These can then be painted over adding a new and exciting exterior look for boring old cabinets with little detail. As mentioned before, it’s a lot easier to add these kinds of detail when the cabinets are removed and laid flat on a working table or surface- first.

Changing the handles

It’s amazing how much a new knob or pull handle will update and change the outer appearance of kitchen cabinets. With so many varieties of handles to choose from, you can swap out old hardware without having to drill any new holes too. Just be sure to pick the right pull handle that’s the same distance between existing holes so it can attach in the same way. Most of these handles have screws on the inside of the drawer or cabinet that allows them to be removed.

This way, the colors you diced to change on the outside of a cabinet can further become more pleasing and compliment the different colors that are added. Just the handles or knobs by themselves will help transform the theme of your kitchen to something more modern, or further back to traditional styles.

Using adhesive vinyl covers

Another example of giving cabinets an instant new color or pattern is from self-adhesive vinyl coverings. At nearly any home improvement center, they are selling this type of vinyl wallpaper that can be attached to nearly any smooth surface. Even if your cabinets have a somewhat smooth surface, these rolls of decorative patterns have a powerful adhesive backing that sticks like crazy.

Each cabinet door should be removed and lightly sanded to get the best stick possible. It’s a little bit like wrapping a Christmas present but a lot less messy than using paints. The result is a surface that is just as colorful and detailed due to the technology of printing. Some of these vinyl rolls even have simulated wood texture to make the surfaces look more realistic. This type of covering always works best on flat cabinet doors rather than ones with a lot of surface detail.

Change or update kitchen lighting

One last detail to update is more illuminating than anything else but will give your cabinets a dramatic appearance with lights underneath hanging cabinets. These decorative touches will add more light to counter space and give a dramatic effect that makes your kitchen appear classier. Easy to install kits are found at all home improvement centers and come in all sorts of cabinet accent lighting varieties.

There are continual strip lights, spotlights, and even color-changing lights that can be adjusted to the right shade for decorative moments. Because they can enhance the value of existing kitchen cabinets, it will immediately give more appeal to what is already in your kitchen. In combination with upgrading the outside of your cabinets with new colors or hardware and lights, it can look as if you spent way more than if you replaced your cabinets otherwise.

When choosing a décor style, it can be confusing if not downright annoying to learn which sinks are best for each style. When it comes to contemporary, the rules are often hard to bend, so it can feel limiting when selecting the right sink. Luckily there are many more choices than most experts don’t tell you about, and this is why this brief guide will tell you what contemporary sinks styles work best.

Why Is Contemporary A Difficult Style To Match Kitchen Sink Styles?

Many people might confuse contemporary kitchen design with modern or ultra-modern design. There are strict guidelines between these two styles that separate them easily enough, yet there are similarities that do exist. Contemporary allows a kitchen to retain a sleek and polished look but isn’t as minimal as modern likes to dictate. Since modern can be seen as cold and commanding, a contemporary kitchen is warmer for overall function.

The keyword here is the function that allows the contemporary style to overcome the modern décor of rigid lines that never break. Warmer colors are more acceptable since natural beauty includes items such as flowers and plenty of light. Almost as if the rules of a modern kitchen could allow a human touch rather than the strict Bauhaus style of the early 1920s and 30s. Because of these differences, choosing a functional sink is more open to discussion.

Sinks That Work Best With A Contemporary Kitchen

Here are some excellent examples of sinks that work within a contemporary kitchen and provide plenty of functions based on your needs. Since each style can be selected based on the type of décor that is added to a contemporary kitchen, the choices will come down to countertop design, color, and available features. Here are the top examples that fit best that will be more fitting to the contemporary style.

Drop-in sinks

Not all sinks are considered a drop in models and are the type of sink that has a rim around the edge that essentially drops into a precut hole in the countertop. The sink is then secured using special plates that clamp underneath the drop-in section and the outer edge of the countertop using screws. Nearly any kind of drop-in sink works for contemporary kitchens if the style is fitting.

Commonly, this type of sink is also called a ‘Top Mount’ sink and the two names both describe the same sink based on how it’s installed.

Under-mount sinks

These are sinks that are attached underneath the countertop and will require a special gasket placed in between the gap where the under-mount sink and countertop are butting together. This helps to prevent water leakage, but more importantly, helps create a cleaner line for contemporary kitchen design. Countertops that don’t have a top mount sink usually look cleaner since there is no rim along the sink edge whatsoever.

Some people do not like this stark comparison since it might look too modern for their kitchen. Then again, it all depends on the choice of finishes and materials the sink is made from.

Apron sinks

These sinks are also called Farmhouse Sinks but aren’t exclusive sink that’s used for farmhouse kitchens. There are several styles of apron sinks that will be appealing since they all have appeal when it comes to contemporary kitchen décor. The best choices are white porcelain and polished stainless steel, but not limited to composite materials including fireclay, cast iron, and copper.

Dual sinks

A dual sink is separated into two separate tubs and might be more appealing for soaking or chilling specific food items. For those who are gourmet-centered, a dual sink is perfect for separate sink tasks of all kinds

Workstation sinks

The advantage of workstation sinks is to add more functions for tasks that are specific to food preparation rather than just cleaning dishes. Separate shelves and racks within the sink make it simple to separate select items rather than lose them in a single spot. Many of these workstation sinks come with a built-in cutting board for prepping veggies, meat, fish, and other items that need to be close to the water for rinsing.

Just hearing the words Farmhouse Kitchen Sink sounds immediately of a particular style that’s meant for a country-style kitchen design. You might want to think otherwise since this style lends itself to many other styles that you may not have considered before. Learn how the Farmhouse Sink can be an excellent addition to your kitchen for all the right reasons.

Where Does The Farmhouse Sink Style Originate From?

It’s the name that tricks most people into an image of rustic farmhouse designs or perhaps some old-fashioned farm-themed kitchen that often kills the thought right away. Most people would never expect that upscale British and Irish families were huge fans of this modernized sink that featured a variety of uses. Only those who were wealthy enough to have running water installed could enjoy this sink in the late 18^th century.

The iconic apron that sits much lower over the edge combined with a deep trough appearance was not developed for washing-up loads of greasy bacon and grits dishes, but more for the convenience of bathing a small baby. Farmhouse sinks also feature an iconic white porcelain color that was truly hygienic for its time. It was also the very first to include a built-in Weir overflow drain which prevented overfilling.

In the city of Belfast, these sinks were called Belfast Butler Sinks and were ideal for wealthy families who had a Butler. As you can already imagine, these sinks were used to wash and prepare food in addition to washing up dishes by a family Butler. These sinks became so popular across Europe that upscale French country kitchens began to use this style of sink.

What Type Of Kitchen Does The Farmhouse Sink Belong To?

The choice of this style of sink will fit into almost every kind of kitchen because of its elegance and design. It’s hard to imagine this sink will fit into ultra-modern kitchens as well as transitional. Those who have a traditional kitchen will find this sink adds a bit of nostalgia which is why it fits so perfectly in colonial and Victorian kitchen designs too. Even the cutting-edge Scandinavian and French kitchen influences will find this sink choice perfectly suited.

Farmhouse sinks also come in a variety of colors and finishes that aren’t limited to white porcelain. This is another great reason that a farmhouse sink can better match your kitchen design if you like a wider variety and choice of materials.

Stainless Steel

This is a good choice for modern kitchens all the way through transitional and any style that needs to appear reflective and futuristic. Stainless steel needs to be coated and taken care of since it can lose its luster if not properly coated.

Stone

Stone is always appealing since it can fit into any kitchen including country or modern. It can work just as fine with modern kitchens provided the type of stone is light-colored. Since stone is a natural material, the color must match the kitchen style to work in favor of the type of kitchen it’s used for. This is why it’s seen so often in rustic or farmhouse kitchens.

Fireclay

If you’re looking for long-lasting ceramic materials, fireclay is much harder than porcelain and is a bit more expensive than ceramic blends. This style works in any type of kitchen theme.

Cast Iron

Cast iron is fine when you want to have a rustic or country theme but to really sell this to other styles you have to have this sink surface polished so it doesn’t look so dull. Unpolished cast iron is good for Scandinavian and rustic styles. In some cases, it could fit into urban-style kitchens if the color scheme is fitting.

Copper

Copper is best when polished but is pretty hard to maintain if you don’t like to keep it nice and tidy. It looks good where traditional and county kitchens mix together but will work just fine with transitional kitchens. Not the best for modern kitchens but copper farmhouse sinks are great for French, Mediterranean, and French-style kitchens.

Porcelain

White is often such a great color to represent cleanliness and fits well for all kitchen styles across the board. Porcelain is also nice because the finished glaze is always nice and glossy which is always a plus for modern kitchen design.

You might say that the typical modern-style sink has a couple of stand-out features including a slim faucet and a deep rectangular sink. With today’s modern look, you can expect that many new variants are changing this concept with new and exciting looks that also add style to your kitchen sink design. Here are some of the hottest tips for choosing a modern-style sink for your kitchen.

Best Sinks For Modern Style Kitchens

One of the first things you’ll need to address with a modern sink style is the overall trait features that go with this type of design. After that, it’s a matter of style and design that contribute to your decision so a sink will fit best within your modern kitchen.

Metal Finish Sinks

Typically what you’ll see are metal sinks that are usually deep and made of shiny metal but this has been changing in favor of metal finishes which give more visual appeal. Everything from hammered metal, copper, and brass finishes, antique weathering, and brushed aluminum are all in high fashion these days. You can’t go wrong with nearly any kind of metal surface as long as it makes a striking appearance in your kitchen.

Farmhouse Sinks

An unlikely choice for modern design, this style of kitchen sink often comes with the iconic apron which is very traditional. Pairing this with modern designs using bare metal that can be textured or shiny, completes a great modern style with a nod to the past. Even if you’re attracted to enamel surfaces or using stone, a farmhouse sink doesn’t always need to appear old-fashioned to make a splash in your kitchen.

Corner Sinks

Not every kitchen is going to have vast amounts of open space, nor does your sink need to be located in a central spot. Corner sinks are great when you decide to put your sink off to the side so you have more counter space. These smaller versions are often pretty deep so they offset the amount of space you would normally take up with other modern sinks. When you have space limitations, a corner sink helps ergonomically solve this problem.

Stone Sinks

Natural stone finishes are indeed a pleasure to look at but do need more care so they don’t become stained so easily. Stone is always an elegant addition to any kitchen so modern stone sink designs won’t feel out of place if you want to include a luxurious surface like this. Many of the modern sink features are leaning toward built-in sink counters made from stone that provide a professional and sleek appearance.

Shallow Vs Deep Sinks

It was very common that most modern sinks would include a wide and deep basin, although this is rapidly changing. Shallow basins are getting more attention since they are convenient and stylish. When it comes to food preparation, this type of sink is certainly more aesthetic for readying food that is washed and prepared in these convenient shallow sinks. Essentially, you don’t really need a deep sink to wash off veggies or other food items.

Faucet Design

Slim faucets are always the trademark image you see adorning modern kitchen sinks, however, that isn’t always the case here. Shallow sinks work best when there are pull-down faucets so you can clean items without so much splashback. Another modern touch is adding a waterfall slot that allows water to stream out horizontally instead of coming from a spout.

No matter what kind of faucet you install, sleek shiny metal in a variety of colors is always in fashion. Always be sure to find a faucet that has a minimalist function mixed with high fashion to give any faucet an elegant style.