All about home, bathroom and kitchen design ideas

Upmarket high quality kitchen sinks are always made from grade 304 stainless steel and are at least 1 mm thick. One of the upmarket Teka sinks sold at Chilli-B (www.chilli-b.co.za) So many people have asked me what is the quality difference between various kitchen sinks. It is a very difficult question to answer because there are so many factors that one should consider. Obviously the first thing comes to mind is your budget.  So the question is more, what is the best quality sink I can buy within my budget.  That changes the problem slightly and I can break it down to a couple of important features what to look for. Price In general the higher the price the better the quality. We all know that but if you are worried then go with the higher price but also look at the warranty period and what is covered.  The sink with better warranty specs is a lower risk to the supplier or manufacturer so he is prepared to give a longer warranty. One other thing on price, be car...

Stainless steel sink can last a lifetime but this does not mean we can neglect the care of this essential kitchen item. As a rule, stainless steel’s best friend is cold, clean water or a mild detergent solution, applied with a soft sponge, rinsed well and wiped dry. Here are some of the products or elements that can damage your sink: Chlorides: Chlorides are found in almost all soaps, detergents and cleaning products and can be damaging to stainless steel. They are water soluble, however, so if you rinse away residues after each use, a weekly scouring is all that is needed to keep your sink looking bright and shiny. Scratches: Like most metallic surfaces, your stainless steel sink will scratch. Don’t worry, these are simply usage marks which will eventually blend into the overall finish of the sink.  Use stainless steel cream (very similar to Braso) to remove light scratches and bring a shine back to the sink. Knives cause a lot of damage: Your sink is designed to se...

Single white butler sink Farmhouse sinks for your kitchen.  They are big and beautiful.  Made from engineered stone, which is better than the ceramic farmhouse kitchen sink since they will not chip.  These engineered farmhouse kitchen sinks are the same material right through.  Though ±20mm thick, they look solid and can handle even the biggest stew pots in your kitchen. Although slightly more prone to scratches, they can at least be removed with a 1200 grit waterproof sandpaper.  Farmhouse kitchen sinks come in a single and double.  They are usually under mounted with a small section sticking out at the front.  That is why the name "apron sink" has also stuck. In South Africa farmhouse kitchen sinks are also called butler sinks.  The most popular material is engineered stone since it looks just like ceramic.  Engineered stone butler sinks are much less prone to chipping which is a big problem with ceramic sinks.  As a matter of...

Franke Admiral Fragranite Composite kitchen sink. Fragranite contains the largest quantity of quartz filler on the market. Why is this important? The reason for using quartz as a filler is for its durability. There are only three natural minerals in the world with a greater solidity; Topaz, Ruby and Diamond. This quartz filler provides the fragranite sink with the best protection against scratching, resisting scorch marks from high temperature pots and pans placed onto the surface, and staining from everyday items such as red wine and coffee. Fragranite contains 74% quartz filler and 26% acrylic resin. The acrylic resin is used to bond the quartz filler together to create the sink form. Franke ADG 621 Specification Franke Admiral Inset Sink model ADG621, 1160x500mm, unit to be manufactured from Fragranite with a Graphite finish, and supplied complete with 90mm basket strainer waste fittings. Sink to be fitted to kitchen counter top (counter top elsewhere measured). Franke ADG ...

The new Franke Galileo stainless steel drop-in kitchen sink is designed in Italy. 　The sink features a unique design, with large bowls and a recessed draining board preventing water from overflowing onto the work surface, the work area will remain dry and hygienic. 　The Franke Galileo stainless steel sink features an overflow and 90 mm basket strainer waste fittings. 　There are two models to choose from, the smaller Franke Galileo GOX651 and larger Franke Galileo GOX621, please specify when making orders. 　Both Franke stainless steel kitchen sinks are manufactured from Austenitic Stainless Steel and comes in a satin finish. 　The 90 mm basket strainer waste is supplied with the sink. Plumbing fittings below the sink are not supplied and must be purchased separately. 　The Franke Galileo kitchen sink must be installed as an counter-top or drop-in/inset sink. 　 Franke Galileo Stainless Steel double bowl kitchen sink in drop-in format. The sink is simetrical so left and right ver...

The Franke Neptune range of stainless steel single and double bowl drop-in kitchen sink range features 200 mm deep bowls. 　The sleek stainless steel kitchen sink design and recessed draining boards prevents water splashing on work surfaces, ensuring the work area will remain dry and hygienic. 　The Franke Neptune stainless steel kitchen sink features an overflow, a pre-cut tap hole and basket strainer waste fittings. Franke stainless steel Neptune kitchen sink. The latest in the new line of kitchen sinks from Franke. Available in double or single bowl with drainer. The Franke Nept une drop-in or inset sink comes with either single bowl with drainer or double bowl with drainer on the left or right hand side (please specify when ordering). 　The stainless steel kitchens sinks are made from Austenitic Stainless Steel with a satin finish, and supplied complete with 90 mm strainer waste fittings. The stainless steel kitchen sink must be fitted as a counter top (dro...

Drop-on or Lay On kitchen sinks: Most stainless steel kitchen lay-on sinks come in a wide range of measurements, so you can find the best fit for your cabinet size. Select between different configurations of drainers, bowls, reversible or back-stand models, overflows, tap holes, wooden frames, etc. The options are as varied as your needs. Lay-on kitchen sinks can be delivered with wood supports at the sides (below the rim) which aid installation while providing structural reinforcement. Drop-in or Inset kitchen sinks: Kitchen sinks were traditionally of the ‘drop-in’ type, that is, with the rim of the sink sitting on the work surface. Drop-in kitchen sinks can be mounted on virtually any worktop using the provided clip-and-bolt fasteners, which adjust to the thickness of the surface for a tight, non-slip fit. The kitchen sink is fastened to the worktop from underneath, so no screws or bolts show. The drop-in kitchen sink design has a small rim to stop water s...

How to select a kitchen sink Kitchen sink design Even though the bowl (number size, depth and shape) is the main feature of the kitchen sink, it is not the only thing to bear in mind. You have other options that can make your kitchen sink more user-friendly and provide you with a more functional working area. Over and above deciding on an undermount or drop-in kitchen sink, the following configurations are important. Drainers extend your working area and allow easy clean-up as well as food preparation. They will also keep the work surface clean and dry. Kitchen sink designer, Teka, make colander bowls that are available in either half or quarter bowl sizes. They can be used for rinsing, draining, straining and cleaning up. Adding a colander bowl will give you another functioning utensil in and around your kitchen sink. A stunning undermount sink is the Franke Centinox Ktchen sink size and kitchen bowl capacity Bowl depth, taper and radius are the three basic mea...