Sink Design: Make a splash

Whether in the kitchen or in the bathroom, the design of a sink can make all the difference.

Sinks and vanities on today's market come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and materials. Copper sinks are naturally anti-microbial, easy to clean and simple to maintain. Yet there are plusses and minuses to all sinks. For example, a delicate hand-painted sink may be beautiful in the powder room, but it also may be vulnerable to inadvertent chipping.

An incredible amount of thought and planning goes into the design, creation and construction of a new kitchen or bathroom. According to Angela Bonfante, an award-winning interior designer in Columbus, more decisions are required when updating those two spaces than with practically any other home renovation project.

Aesthetics aside, sinks are an often overlooked, yet imperative, piece of the kitchen and bath puzzle. According to the Global Hygiene Council, a great way to prevent the spread of germs is for people to wash their hands at least six times a day. All that soap and water has to splash somewhere and sinks are a fun way to inject some personality into a space. While there are countless selections at every price point available, feast your eyes on this.

Form meets function

Have you ever stood in front of a sink only to find it's too tall or too short to be used comfortably? Stone Forest has developed a vanity that solves that dilemma, with a crank that raises or lowers its height to the comfort of its users. The Industrial Console is reminiscent of a 1920s cast-iron pattern-making table with a marble top. Here, it is paired with two vessel sinks. Ferguson Plumbing, $9,700 (console only).