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Reply to: With the improvement in LED, the people who still have issues with it tend to be those with mild to major visual impairment issues. Very often it’s the first stages of cataract formation that create a halo effect and intensify glare. Or it’s corrective lenses without anti glare coatings. Or it’s astigmatic contacts. The common denominator is visual issues. One aid to that issue is to use diffusers over the recessed lights. Much like the ones approved for wet area recessed. Disc lights diffuse the light, but because they hang below the plane of the ceiling, they tend to create even more glare instead of reducing it. Diffuser channels for the under cabinet LED tape lights also works well. Always over lamp, and then use dimmers to control specific circuits. Never put everything on the same circuit. You need 4-6 circuits here. 1 for under cabinet. Plus dimmer. 1 for the general lighting perimeter cans, plus dimmer. 1-2 for the over the sink, plus dimmer. One for the island pendants, plus dimmer. Perhaps even another for the island recessed that supplement the pendants, plus dimmer. It depends on the pendants chosen. Many are really just decorative and provide poor work surface lighting.

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Reply to: From your photos the limestone looks like it has a greige tone. If that is accurate then I would stay away from paint colors that have a yellow undertone. Instead I would try Benjamin Moore Cloud Cover OC-25. It's a warm white what will also coordinate well with the wood flooring. Another option would be Benjamin Moore Sea Pearl OC-19. It has a little bit more color and a greige undertone.

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Reply to: Bonnie: That's a fine sink, but on a "total kitchen redo" I can't imagine why you'd pick a drop in apron sink over an undermount. The Kohler 3943 is the short apron undermount version of that sink: The more rounded the edge at the sink, the better.

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Reply to: Bonnie, I took the advice of a pro who posts on Houzz (replaces sinks as part of his work - Joseph Corlett) and also chose the demi bullnose in a kitchen refresh about 5 years ago now. Joe was adamant that a rounded edge was crucial to avoid chips, especially around the sink. Since we live in a little farmhouse, I didn't mind if the edge was deemed old fashioned. We have granite and a farm front sink from a school that I think might be slate. No chips on our granite edges. I would think your soapstone fabricator would be a help in your choice.

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Reply to: TJ Smith: There are 3 kinds of sink reveals. The first is a "Negative" reveal which means the countertop overhangs the sink flange and none of the sink flange is exposed. I call the unexposed difficult-to-clean top overhang a "crud lip". The second is a "flush" mount which means the sink and top are flush. When a stainless steel sink is mounted flush, there is an elongated line of silicone because of the radius at the sink flange. Nothing wrong with that, but compared to flush with no exposed silicone, as with the Edge, it sucks. What you've pictured is a "positive" reveal, my favorite for undermounting stainless steel sinks. There is virtually no exposed silicone to clean or maintain and nowhere for germs to hide. Fabricators love the negative reveal. If they screw up the cutout size or the sink placement a bit, it is unlikely anyone will ever know. You've got to nail a positive reveal; even the untrained eye will see it.

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Reply to: I would think a 1/8" reveal will be great. As long as your sink doesn't curve or slope downward at that last 1/8" it will let you get a nice tight seal and will be easy to clean. My main sink does have a downward slope at the last 1/8" which is why the 1/4" was recommended for my sink. But if your sink's top edge is perfectly flat then the 1/8" reveal should be excellent. (The bigger question is why does your contractor keep talking in tongues? It's kind of odd ... hope he knows what he's doing.).

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Reply to: Expanding on what @ci_lantro mentioned earlier regarding a workstation sink, keep in mind that the ledge that holds the cutting board, rack, and the other accouterments intrudes into the usable space of the sink. Whatever is the length and width of the sink, subtract about 1-1/4" all around for the ledge that holds the workstation accessories. In a larger sink, this is not a big deal, but in a 30" or so sink, you might not like that. The Kraus KWF10-30 that wdccruise mentioned is a sink you should look at as more bang for the buck. Kraus gets very good feedback on this forum. That sink is about $450-500. Note that the apron on that sink is 2-1/4" thick, since you mentioned that is a primary concern of yours. The apron thicknesses do vary by manufacturer. Also I agree with @Fori that one of the leading reasons for backache at the sink is a faucet that does not have a long enough spout reach. Many websites let you search for faucets with spout reach as a criterion. You want at least 9" spout reach, maybe get away with 8-3/4" at the most. I don't think though that the height of the faucet has anything to do with backache that was mentioned in an earlier comment. Here is a drawing of spout reach so you can see what it means.

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Reply to: We have the same Kraus sink and love it. Love the size and love the grate. Also love that we didn't have to spend a fortune for a kitchen sink. Also have a Kraus prep sink which is great as well. Main sink has more of a polished finish and the prep sink is satin. As far as cleaning we use Bio Cleaner. We tried many different cleaners and this was by far the best. Cleaners we tried were bar keepers friend as well as Hopes. Neither were as good as the Bio Cleaner. https://www.qvc.com/Bio-Cleaner-Set-of-3-Supersize-Cleaning-Clay-w-Accessories.product.V36122.html?sc=SRCH

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Reply to: Careful- Apron front farm sinks MUST have wood between the sink itself and the dishwasher. Not just for looks but for support. This is why the sink cabinet is normally 3 inches wider than the farm sink you are installing. You can see the 1 1/2 inch wooden style between the sink and the dishwasher in the photo above. Cast Iron farm sinks can be closer to the dishwasher as in the first picture posted, because the front of the sink extends over the cabinet. Fireclay farm sinks all need the 1 1/2" reveal.

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Reply to: I really like this layout and the idea to put the sink in the mud room. It won’t be but a few extra steps to bring the meat there and so much more convenient to cleanup when coming in. How many kids do you have and does anyone prep with you? To me that would tip the scales on another sink. If you do two faucets that helps, but when I’m in a major cook mode my island is spread with fresh veggies and meats in various stages. My DH will sneak in but I really prefer cleanup to wait till I’m past that stage. I usually load the DW as I go and stow empty cans and larger dirties under my boards. Two faucets will help and the shelf is great for meats and keeping counters clean. Kohler has made many changes to the Karbon since I got mine 5 years ago, I’m sure correcting the leak issue.

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Reply to: The quality of my Stages is very good. It's 16 gauge steel and very quiet. I don't have hardly any minor scratches because I use the grid. It cleans up beautifully - shiny and absolutely not hard to clean. This is my first hand experience, not heresay. Nothing like my previous stainless sinks. I really don't know of the concern Ispo has, and I'd love to see proof of this rust on Kohler Stages sinks. Please provide the info to support that claim. Stacy, put a shoutout to Joe Corlett on FB. He knows sinks and has seen plenty of Kohler first hand! I would absolutely hate to clean the crud out of the texture in that Havens sink. My sink is a workhorse and beautiful. i didn't answer your question about the Karbon very thoroughly as I had company and had to watch GOT! Last year It began to drip at one of the articulating joints that gets lots of use. I called them and they sent a replacement. Kohler has been around a long time. I trust them to stay around and honor their warranty. I hope others chime in with their actual experiences with the workstations they've chosen to help you make the best choice for you.

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Reply to: It’s interesting, I was afraid to show my DH the price tag. He saw me watching the video of it in action and was intrigued. He told me life is too short to not have what you love. He said, “You love to cook and this will make you happy. Order them.” If he had not said that I would have been thrifty me and never would have ordered them. I don’t even flinch at the price any more because it’s been worth it for me everyday. When so much of our time is spent in the kitchen, it should be efficient and enjoyable. I will have a workstation sink in our forever home that we build. Likely the Stages. I want to share some thoughts about the Karbon. It doesn’t have an extremely powerful spray as compared to pulldowns. That’s one of the reasons I love it. It does not splash all over. I love the fact that I position it and work hands free. You do need to be aware of the differences between It and the pull downs. Some have been dissatisfied with the spray power. I’d rather conserve water and avoid water everywhere. Just like with everything, it’s a personal preference.

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Reply to: Hi there Robin. From my experience, Julien builds a high quality sink. I don't know anything about the other brand. You might want to check where the other brand is actually manufactured. Stay away from Chinese made sinks! As far as drain location, that depends on whether you are right or left handed. Generally, the drain goes on the right if you are right handed and on the left if left handed. I hope that adds some insight for you.

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Reply to: I just installed 2 Julien sinks in our remodel. The main sink is the J7-003935 (30"x18"x10") and the island sink is the J7-003938 (18"x18"x10"). I did undermounts and the Julien cutting boards fit just fine. They aren't supposed to fit inside like some of the ledge sinks. They sit on your counter top sink edge, so too big of a reveal could cause a problem. Pretty happy with the Julien sinks. I have the bottom grids, but you still have some food/bits chasing with the larger sink. I think it is just what comes with the design. To have enough slope for water to drain real well, you won't have a flat sink surface, which would be hard to work with. My only issue/complaint, which isn't Julien's fault, is really bad water spotting from our hard water and with these bigger sinks there is just more of it to get splashed and spotted with water stains. I think I'm also having "new car syndrome" with my new kitchen!! I want my sinks to look perfect, which isn't possible with hard water, normal use and other people in the household who would never think to do a quick wipe-down.

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Reply to: The wood handles on Julien accessories was the reason I chose against that brand for a workstation sink. Wood around a sink is for a show kitchen, not a hardworking one.

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Reply to: I purchased the 37" ledge sink from Create Good Sinks, and I have been truly impressed by their quality and customer service. The owner is very involved and is quick to respond to any questions/concerns you might have. I did a positive reveal so I would have 2 ledges to work with, and it with a 1" cutting board I found, the height matched up perfectly and I love the seamlessness of this workstation. The other reason I like this sink is because it is not zero radius. This sink has sharp enough corners to create that sleek look, but slightly rounded for ease of cleaning. I was looking at Galley (beyond my budget), Julien, Kohler, Ruvati, etc... but cost performance, non-zero radius, 37" vs 36" or smaller, etc... led me to go with create good sinks and I'm happy with the decision.

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Reply to: Not trying to be funny, but I have this Simple Human stainless steel sink caddy. It has both the suction cups and a hanger. To be even less obtrusive, you can get the ones that are just suction cups, and place it on the inside-front of the sink, you won't see it, but those tend to slip over time. Cleans easy. It costs $25, Julien workstation sinks cost upwards of $3200 - the one pictured would be several thousands more. I'd rather get a really nice sink with the other features I want like size, SS gauge, offset drain, and spend the money on that, than go on a quest for a sink with that sponge drawer. That sponge drawer will be a PITA cleaning chore with all the little holes, and if you have minerals in your water, even worse.

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Reply to: You can still get the sponge storage option on several models of Julien (Home Improvements) sinks. I have used 4 Julien sinks in 2 kitchens, the last 2 were installed last year, but I never selected the sponge storage option for any of them. I didn't like the thought of having to clean that compartment! My sponge and scrub brushes go in the DW to be cleaned! I use a magnetic sponge caddy from Elkay inside the sink to hold the sponge out of sight. https://www.amazon.com/Elkay-LKSMHSL-Sinkmate-Sponge-Holder/dp/B00VF7D5IQ

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Reply to: @la_la Girl, agree. Both Ruvati and Kraus seem to be at the same level, SS Gauge and all. Kohler is a bit outside our budget.

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Reply to: I have a Franke Orca sink and DD and I can work side by side at it. For a larger sink, Franke has a 2 bowl 40" undermount sink. Pescara PTX160-40 Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink https://www.franke.com/us/en/hs/products/kitchen-sinks/pescara/122-0638-283_detail.html

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Reply to: I wish somebody would help me with cooking lol, I have a Ruvati 33” workstation sink with all the bells and whistles. Make sure you have extra space for all of the accessories that you think youre going to use, but dont. Its easy to clean for the most part, I apply ceramic coat to keep it super slippery so everything gets hosed down the disposal. The corners can be a pain. Its a nice sink. Cleans easily and is deep. Where are you putting yours, on an island or along a perimeter counter? Is this the setup youre doing?

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Reply to: We have had the Stages for 10+ years with 2 faucets (def have 2 facucets to get max utility) - the thing is a workhorse and I cannot imagine not having it

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Reply to: I‘ve had my Kohler Stages 45 for 7 years now and still love it, especially the shelf which I use everyday during prep and cleanup. With 2 tier maybe you get that same functionality. i will always have a workstation sink as the utility works for the way I cook and how my house functions. You really do not need much in the way of add on accessories. See what works with your current cutting boards and colanders first. Here is examples of mine. i typically have several colanders in use and use the shelf to slide chopped veggies and scraps. Hubbie accesses the left side while i use the right. Two faucets would definately be beneficial. We use the shelf to drain dishes, for prep, and for removing large meats from packaging (like a large turkey). It all depends on how you prep and cook. This last picture is my seven year old used and abused stainless. Still loving it!

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Reply to: Distance between is 21 inches. There isn't a rule there. We have the knives so were a bit constrained by that. See photos below for faucet measurement photos. re: walnut board. Yes, as the song goes, "the first cut is the deepest." We clean our wood cutting boards with lemon and salt and then some soapy water. When I am feeling OCD, I have a light sanding block I run over them. You can also do a deep sand a few times a year if it really bothers you I suppose. We also have cutting boards over the sink that get the majority of use. I have on my calendar to oil monthly. You can use straight mineral oil, or This spoon butter recipe

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Reply to: Stages sink reveals - positive on front and back, zero on left and right.

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Reply to: @J Inhof I know it's been a couple of years, but this discussion still seems relevant to some people! The Rachiele Paragon is very nice, and the price starts out reasonable. But once you configure all your options, WOW! I didn't max it out but pushing $6K for a 48" with 1/8" radius, essentials pack, disposal flange, drain board. That may be a lifetime sink, but this isn't our forever home, so… I'm gonna have to pass. The Rachiele makes the 48" Galley seem affordable, since it comes with all accessories (I love how the company calls the 48 inch "SMALL")! You mentioned you made sure to get the Ruvati workstation sink with radius corners and that drains well… I'm not finding that information online. I think all their offset sinks have a 1" slope, but that's a 1" drop no matter how large, so the wider, the gentler the slope. One YouTuber said their top mount sinks have radius corners?

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Reply to: We installed 3 Ruvati sinks. One 30” with all the fittings for our main sink and I just checked and a sheet pan will fit in the ledge. We also bought a laundry sink with a board cover and a rack in the bottom and then a 17” prep sink with a board cover for the island. I bought ours on sale from Ruvati through Amazon. And I was sure to buy the version that allows the water to drain easily into the drain And that had rounded interior corners. Some of the older versions have completely flat bottoms. Also, btw, I saw recently that Costco had a workstation sink online as well. I did not comparison shop the various workstation sinks in person, side by side, but I did notice that you can buy off brand components for much less than the sink manufacturers are selling them for.

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Reply to: We got our kraus from amazon too zero issues well packaged, no rust after 7 years. we use the grid but i’ve always had stainless in apartments and never had a grid then. i would say no standing water but of course you have to scrape crumbs. we have a center drain although the offset ones look nice.

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