Should I Put a Kitchen Sink in My Island?

I have this debate/discussion at least weekly (sometimes more!).  I am a huge advocate of sinks in islands (assuming you only have room for one sink - two sinks changes this up a bit)!  Here are my top reasons why:

1.  It is very social.  We spend the majority of our time at the kitchen sink.  It is the workhorse of our kitchens!  Normally most people are hanging out around the island, so we get to spend more time with our friends and family.

2.  It is a the natural "prep zone".  Having a sink for prep work is really helpful for washing, peeling, and so much more.

3.  Wall and window space are valuable.  It often comes down to the range or the sink in the island - I really don't like range hoods hanging down in the middle of the house.  I also don't love downdraft hoods.  They are not that effective.  (The few I have seen also tend to be fussy).

4.  We are moving toward workstations in the kitchen - sinks that multi-task and provide multiple functions in one location.  The ideal location for these is the prep-social zone (#1 & #2 above).

Obviously, if there is room for two sinks, then I would choose a prep sink in the island (still a workstation) and clean up sink elsewhere. We don’t always have this luxury in terms of space.

I think the biggest hurdle to the sink in the island is the thought that everyone will see my dirty dishes.  I had this fear. I have changed my tune though now that I have one. It is a kitchen!  It is meant to work hard - it is not perfect - it is real - it is where we "live", nourish, eat and be ourselves.  Relax!  Get a big sink where you can place your dirty dishes and then easily load them into the dishwasher. If need, the sink can hide some of the dishes.

The only downside I have experienced with the kitchen sink in the island is water splashing out onto the island. This can happen no matter where your sink is - it is not always great if it is in someone’s face. Ideally, I like to have at least 24” of countertop behind the sink faucet. This is a little shield from the off spray.

This is just my two cents on the topic, but hopefully it adds to a larger discussion as you begin the kitchen design process.