Stainless steel has a timeless, elegant look that fits any décor and looks beautiful in any setting. A stainless steel kitchen sink is durable, easy to keep clean and disinfect, and will only grow more beautiful with age – if you take proper care of it.

Stainless steel sinks are made from stainless steel made with nickel. The finish is usually satiny and smooth rather than chrome-shiny. Stainless steel is tough – it resists rust, chipping, nicking and cracking. It won’t stain or fade or discolor. It’s easy to clean with a household cleanser, and believe it or not – it helps protect glasses and dishes from breaking if you drop them. With that much going for them, it’s no surprise that stainless steel is the most popular material for a kitchen sink.

Despite all that, though, there are a few things that can damage your stainless steel sink. Problem: Chlorides that are used in most soaps and bleaches these days can eat away at the steel.
Solution: Rinse sink well after each use.

Problem: Scratches.
Solution: Some scratches are natural and will blend into the sink’s finish. You can avoid the worst of them by avoiding the use of steel wool on your sink. Instead, use a soft scouring liquid (Soft Scour) to avoid scratching the finish.

Problem: Hard water can leave stains or wear on the finish.
Solution: Wipe the sink dry after use, and clean it thoroughly once a week.

Problem: Salty foods can damage the stainless steel finish.
Solution: Always rinse your sink thoroughly after using it.

Routine Care for Stainless Steel Sinks
- Clean the sink with soapy water, or a stainless steel cleaner (Spray N Sheen Stainless Steel Cleaner/Polish/Protectant) once or twice a week.

- Disinfect the sink surface regularly with an all purpose disinfectant, remembering to leave the solution on for the recommended length of time.

- Don’t use your sink as a cutting board. A knife can leave deep nicks or scratches that may rust and destroy the sink’s finish.

- Once or twice a month, fill the sink half full with a 50/50 solution of bleach and water or a special stainless steel cleaner (Stainless Steel Cleaner). Let it soak for about 15 minutes, then wash the sides and bottom and let it drain. Remember to wipe dry when done.

Choosing appropriate faucets for your kitchen sink is as important as choosing the shape and size of the bowl. Faucets come in all shapes and sizes. Avoid a tiny faucet on a big, bold sink, and vice-versa. Be sure that the faucet you have chosen directs water into the center of the bowl. Also, make sure your new faucet matches the correct hole drillings in your sink.

Faucets come with a one or two handles. With one handle, you have the convenience of controlling water temperature and volume with just one hand. Two-handled faucets offer more styles and spout designs. Look for a long-lasting, low maintenance finish to complement your decor.

The most important aspect to look for in a faucet is its durability — how long it will last without dripping? Faucets should perform for a long time and be drip-free for life.

A faucet must have anti-scald features such as hot-limit safety stops, pressure-balancing valves to protect users from drastic temperature changes and thermostatic valves that allow users to select a favorite temperature on an easy-to-read dial.

You can purchase a faucet that requires one hole (single-handle), or three holes (separate hot and cold handle). However, if you are planning on purchasing an accessory as well, such as vegetable spray, soap dispenser, or hot water dispenser, they each require a separate hole.

Faucets come with various features such as pull-out faucets, widespread faucets, bar faucets, and wall-mounted faucets. You can choose faucets based on functionality, size, finish, spigot, or handles.

When deciding between different types of kitchen faucets, consider design compatibility with other hardware in the room, as well as how you use your sink.

One easy way to identify the different types of kitchen faucets is by the material from which they are constructed. Stainless steel and chrome are popular choices since they can be shined to a high polish, looking sleek and contemporary. For a more traditional style there are nickel, brass and copper faucets.

Have you ever heard that expression, “They threw everything out but the kitchen sink!”? Do you know why they didn’t throw out the kitchen sink in that saying? It is because the phrase originated when the average kitchen sink was made from cast iron. If you are unfamiliar with cast iron then you may not be aware that this is a very heavy and dense material. Simply put, a kitchen sink made from cast iron was too heavy to throw out the window!

A cast iron sink was commonly coated in enamel. Now this enamel was baked onto the cast iron so that it would not come off. If you have ever seen a damaged cast iron sink coated with enamel, then you have noticed those “brown spots” in the sink. Those brown spots are what happens when that enamel coating is broken off and the cast iron underneath is exposed to water. Naturally it, like all metals, rusts.

One of the great things about an old cast iron kitchen sink coated in enamel was that you could get them in almost any color. Although white was the most common, a wide variety of other colors were available. A lot of people matched their cabinets and counter tops with their cast iron sink.

Unfortunately, the cast iron sink is virtually a dinosaur of days past. People have opted instead for a lightweight kitchen sink made from a composite material or perhaps a solid surfacing material like some of the countertops are made out of as well. Occasionally you will see a stainless steel sink but many of the contemporary homes are built with non-metallic materials.

But a cast iron sink is an absolute classic and is a great addition to any restoration project. Vintage lake cottages look wonderful with a cast iron kitchen sink because most were equipped with one when they were new. But what do you do when you come across an old cast iron sink—especially if it has seen better days?

A fully restored and functional cast iron kitchen sink can actually add value to your home—they are that rare and coveted! If you find one that has the “brown spots” mentioned earlier or other damage to the enamel finish, there are still experts out there who specialize in resurfacing enamel and porcelain. For a fraction of what it would cost you to buy a comparable sink, a resurfacing expert can make your cast iron kitchen sink look like new.

Are you thinking of decorating your bathroom? Thinking of adding some personality and pizzazz to the lavatory? You don’t have to spend a fortune to add elegance and ambience. Follow our suggestions and you can put the room back into bathroom

Converting your old bathroom into a blend of style and sophistication doesn’t have to break your budget.

Choosing the right mix of paint color, paint texture and selecting complimenting bathroom fixtures, including bath tub, sinks and commodes. The good news is that in doing all of this, you wont have to break the bank. If you do a bit of shopping, you can find deals, and more often than not, you’ll find a great discount on all three.

The first place you should start off with is your bathroom fixtures. Its not necessary for you to replace your bath tub, toilet or sink, however, special attention should be placed on their overall condition and color. Normally, your bathtub should be the same color as your sink and commode. If its not, it will stick out like a sore thumb. Next, look at the surface of your bathtub and sink. Should you consider reglazing them?

Some terms to keep in mind…

What does Close-Coupled mean?

Close-Coupled is used to describe a type or style of toilet wherein the cistern attaches directly to the pan.

What does W.C. mean?

W.C. stands for ‘water closet’, but is more widely known as a toilet.

What is a Cistern?

A Cistern is the compartment of a toilet that contains the water needed for flushing.

Varieties and styles of bathroom fixtures abound and if you are content with your choices of bathtub and sink, then let them be the basis for your interior-decorating plan. First, determine if there are any striking features of your tub or sink. For example, are they antique, does your tub have claw feet, what color are they, what are they made out of? Answering these questions will give you plenty of starting points to begin your decorating scheme. A good idea is to put all of the answers to the above questions down in a notebook. This may help you brainstorm some decorating ideas and strategies. By using the best features of the fixtures already in your bathroom, you can simply redecorate with items that will accentuate the undying fixtures that are already in place.

Bathroom sinks, also called lavatories, are available in an infinite range of colors, patterns, styles, designs, heights, depths, widths, and materials. They can be pedestal style, wall hung, under-counter mount, above counter vessels, integrated, self-rimming, or freestanding. This variety affords you a great opportunity to express yourself.

Materials

Sinks are available in many materials including vitreous china, enameled cast iron, fireclay, glass, stainless steel, brass, nickel, copper, marble, and both real and synthetic stone. Each material has its own unique characteristics.

Clay is one of the oldest material used for sinks, but can be chipped or broken.

Earthenware has a very porous clay body and is usually glazed and decoratively painted. Because it tends to crackle over time, most people opt to use china and cast iron.

Fireclay, which is sometimes called ceramic offers a smooth, non-porous surface that won’t fade, discolor or rust. These sinks can be plain, sculpted, or hand-painted to produce many different looks.

Vitreous China is an earthenware product that is cast and glazed to provide a glossy, durable and stain-resistant surface. It is available in many different colors, as well as in hand painted, etched, hammered, matte, and carved finishes.

Glass and crystal sinks are the hottest trend in high end bathrooms. They are available in vessel, pedestal, wall mount, over-the-counter and under-the-counter models. While glass sinks are a little more durable than you may think, they will and do break. Visually your bathroom sink may be stunning, but practical it is not. Even the best of tempered and laminated glass will crack and break - the only comforting thing about it is it won’t shatter into a million pieces. Glass sinks come in a variety of finishes like textured, colored, frosted and etched. If it’s a must have on your design list then caution would be the advice of the day.

Metal is the most durable of the sink materials and is available in stainless steel, cast iron, copper, brass or a combination of these metals. (see kitchen sink materials for more information)

Styles

Pedestal sinks feature a basin that rests on a pedestal base to conceal the drain and supply lines. They are generally made from vitreous china, but can be found in porcelain coated steel. They may look good, but the provide basically no counter or storage space. Because pedestal sinks require specific placement of supply and drainage lines, it is best to select your sink before construction of your bathroom begins.

Vessels are very elegant and usually made from spun glass, lead crystal, china, fireclay, earthenware, cast iron and stainless steel. Vessels can rest above the countertop, be wall-mounted or installed in a self-rimming application or under-the-counter. Because these vessels are usually fully exposed it’s not the type of sink you want in the family bathroom.