An update on kitchen sinks

If you haven't looked at kitchen sinks in a few years, you might be surprised.

Now you have a choice not only of style (farmhouse, undermount) and colors, but more materials: Silgranit, for instance, is an engineered stone of 80 percent granite and 20 percent acrylic resin that shouldn't chip or show dirt.

Plus, sinks now come with more accessories. Some sinks have colanders and mixing bowls that nest inside.

Six sink-accessory prep bowls available through Kohler allow the user to gather ingredients before cooking and add them as needed to a recipe. The bowl can be used on a plastic flip tray that can function as a prep or serving tray; flip it over for a cutting surface.

Metal sink inserts offer protection from surface scratches and act as drying racks for pots, pans, dishes and glasses. Stand-alone baskets hold utensils.

Designer Sue Shinneman, co-owner of Kitchen Studio showroom in Kansas City, initially laughed at the recent surge of sink accessories, but after using them, she concluded they come in handy.

HGTV designer Candice Olson also is a fan.

"More people are downsizing, so counter space is at a premium," Olson said. "Kitchen sink cutting boards add additional work surface. Flip boards with integrated bowls can turn the sink into a buffet. Chef-style sinks have integrated steamers for vegetables and boiling water. It seems like the only thing kitchen sinks can't do is clean themselves."

But Olson doesn't like the popular single-basin sink, which many kitchen designers prefer for its clean look and capacity to hold large pots and pans.

"There's no place to rest [drying] dishes with a single basin," says Olson, whose family is renting a house with a single-basin kitchen sink. "And you don't want the kids' water bottles to go in this big single basin with dirty pots and pans. I prefer a double- or even triple-basin sink."

Manufacturers such as Kohler have come up with a compromise: single-basin sinks with a 6-inch-high divide that maintains the streamlined look yet keeps functionality intact.

As for appearance, colors beyond stainless steel or white -- think browns, beiges and grays -- are becoming more popular. But consumers are also going for reds and yellows in the kitchen, especially in farmhouse-style sinks, says Adam Horowitz, director of marketing for Kohler kitchen products. The company offers 20 kitchen sink colors.

New countertops and cabinets are usually necessary when a new farmhouse sink is installed because of its wide girth. Stainless steel farmhouse sinks weigh 150 pounds; cast iron, another 50 to 75 pounds. Kohler recently introduced a farmhouse style that doesn't require new cabinetry.

Undermount sinks in general call for new countertops. But today's drop-in sinks are looking more streamlined. Blanco's Micro-Edge sink has a 1.25 millimeter edge that's flush to the countertop, says Blanco marketing manager Christy Emens.