As many of us already know, in any residential space, a kitchen is one that experiences the most frequent usage. It serves as the backdrop to many meals being prepared and consumed, both alone and in the company of friends and family. In many ways, it is both the hearth and the heart of a home. As such, the design of a kitchen will hold great value in the heart of any home owner.
Each aspect of the kitchen, every nook and cranny, every tiny detail is eventually, if not regularly, used, experienced and loved. To idealize your ideal culinary space, it is important to consider in great detail the selection of even the most seemingly mundane of items. In this vein, how much thought have you ever given to your kitchen sink? That most durable, and uncomplaining of soldiers on the frontline of every culinary adventure.
The two most popular options when it comes to kitchen sinks are stainless steel sinks and granite sinks online options. In order to give the selection of the kitchen sink all the importance we have compiled a list of items for you to consider when selecting between these two materials.
- Cost
For any homeowner, budget usually ends up being the major deciding factor for every choice. Therefor it is important to consider that in terms of budget, you will find that granite sinks are most costly as compared to stainless steel sinks. When assessing stainless steel sink prices with those of granite sinks, it is important to consider what each one offers and what that is worth to you, in more than financial terms.
You may be willing to extend your budget for the design aesthetic offered by a sink made of granite over one made of stainless steel. In any project, you will always end up with one or two situations where you may be willing to extend your budget just to include a product that your heart is set on. If granite sink prices seem irrelevant in the face of your choice, in that case, try to make room for the piece that has already made room in your heart. You won’t regret it!
- Aesthetic
Another essential aspect to consider is the design aesthetic offered by each material. While stainless steel offers a more modern and high-tech design sensibility to a space, granite offers one that is more organic, with a traditional design sense.
Which is not to say that this traditional aesthetics can’t be subverted. Granite can blend into a modern interior when it is used in a modern design with straight lines and angular edges. Similarly, stainless steel can reflect a more traditional design aesthetic, such as that achieved by single bowl sinks placed on top of a counter.
It is ultimately up to you, to decide what kind of material is better aligned with the envisioned aesthetic of your kitchen interior.
- Maintenance
In such a functional space as a kitchen, each item incorporated in its design experiences a degree of wear and tear seldom experiences in any other residential space. Therefore, it is important to be prepared to maintain, repair and even replace the various parts that make up the whole of your kitchen.
In terms of maintenance, both granite and stainless-steel sinks in UAE require upkeep to keep them functional and presentable. Stainless steels are easier to clean, but even they require protection from water stains. Granite sinks however are susceptible to both water stains and food stains, the porous nature of the product tending to absorb liquids placed on them for longer periods of time.
There are ways to subvert damage in either instance: for instance, using good quality cleaning products for steel and sealants for granite, it is the decision of the user, what level of commitment one is willing to take on.
- Durability
The life expectancy of a product is paramount to the worth it offers its user. A beautiful sink that disintegrates within a year of use is a poor investment. One should always look for products that last much longer than their expected lifetimes.
In this sense, granite and stainless steel prove to be good competitors, as both options offer a considerable amount of durability. Both have extended lifetimes and are good for kitchen usage, holding up well under wear and tear and proving to be resistant to both heat and scratches, which are the primary deteriorating effects in any culinary environment.
- Popularity
Staying up to date with current trends helps you to not only make a selection that is currently in vogue, but also one that will prove to be a timeless design, never losing relevance, and never fading in its charm. While stainless steels are the most popular option in current markets, it is undeniable that granite sinks, following up at a close second, have proved their mettle in the test of time. Did they ever fade from popular opinion or have they always been present in the design aesthetic of the time?
Browse our range of granite sinks online to get an idea of the range this material has to offer. With Franke sinks and Fragranite sinks proving to be popular choices, granite sinks have cemented their place in the halls of timeless design classics.
- Variety
Each material offers its own charm and its own sense of character to a space. However, that charm can be further articulated and manipulated by the shape attained by the product. In this sense, the more variety of options available in a certain material, the more design language it can appear to be fluent in.
Put plainly, a greater ranger offers greater opportunity for design innovation. In this case, stainless steel offers a greater variety of available options that are ready to purchased and installed. However, granite offers a greater opportunity in customization, where the value of craftsmanship can be harnessed to create bespoke pieces for a particular space.