KRAUS Stainless Steel Workstation Sink
I ended up finding the KRAUS KWU110-32 32-inch undermount stainless steel workstation kitchen sink, and here is why I Love it!
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Why I Changed My Mind About a White Fireclay Sink—and Chose a Stainless Steel Workstation Sink Instead
One of the hardest decisions for me during our kitchen renovation was surprisingly the kitchen sink.
I had spent so much time thinking about cabinets, countertops, appliances, hardware, flooring, lighting—you name it—but I was completely set on one thing from the beginning: I wanted a giant white kitchen sink.
I loved the look of those beautiful white farmhouse sinks you see all over Pinterest. They are classic, bright, and look so pretty in a kitchen. So pretty early in our renovation, I ordered a huge white fireclay sink.
It was actually one of the very first things I bought for the kitchen.
And then it sat in my living room for months.
The entire time it was sitting there, I had this little nagging feeling that maybe it wasn't the best choice for our family.
Why I Started Second-Guessing My Fireclay Sink
First of all, the sink was incredibly heavy.
I knew fireclay sinks were heavy when I ordered it, but seeing it in person made me realize just how substantial it was. I also started reading more about installing fireclay and ceramic kitchen sinks and some of the problems homeowners had experienced.
Fireclay is a very durable material, but it isn't indestructible. There is still a possibility of cracking or chipping from things like a manufacturing defect, a hard impact, improper or uneven cabinet support, or extreme temperature changes.
Were any of those things guaranteed to happen? Of course not.
Plenty of people have fireclay sinks for years and absolutely love them.
But I know my family.
We actually USE our kitchen.
And now I have two pre-teen kids who are starting to cook, which means pots, pans, silverware and dishes are constantly going in and out of the sink. I could already picture myself cringing every time someone dropped a cast-iron pan into my beautiful white sink.
That was not exactly the relaxing kitchen experience I was going for.
My Countertop Installer Changed My Mind
The real turning point happened when my countertop installer came over to measure for our quartzite countertops.
He saw the giant fireclay sink sitting in my living room and basically said, "No way. You don't want that."
That got my attention.
From his perspective, installing such a heavy sink required more labor, additional support, and took up valuable space inside the cabinet underneath the sink.
But the thing that really scared me was what he said about replacing it later.
We were installing real natural quartzite countertops, and once those countertops were installed and glued into place, replacing an undermount sink underneath them could potentially become a much bigger project than simply swapping out a sink.
If something ever happened to the fireclay sink and it needed to be replaced, there was a possibility that removing it could damage the stone countertop or cabinetry around it.
After everything we had invested into those countertops, that was not a chance I wanted to take.
That conversation was really the tipping point for me.
The Other Thing That Worried Me: Marks and Scratches
There was another issue I couldn't get out of my head.
White fireclay and ceramic sinks can show metal marks, scratches, scuffs and staining from everyday kitchen use.
A friend of mine has a gorgeous fireclay sink in her kitchen. It really is beautiful. But it already has dark marks on the bottom from pots and pans.
One night after dinner at her house, I helped clean up and actually tried to remove some of those marks.
I couldn't get them off.
That experience stayed in the back of my mind.
I knew myself well enough to know that seeing dark marks on my expensive white sink every day would drive me crazy.
So between the weight, installation concerns, possible chips and cracks, and worrying about marks on the white finish, I finally decided I couldn't handle all the "what ifs."
I didn't want my kitchen sink to become a source of anxiety every time someone did the dishes.
The one place I really don't want anything delicate is my kitchen sink.
Too much goes on in there.
Saying Goodbye to My Dream White Kitchen Sink
So I gave up the fantasy of my giant white farmhouse sink.
And I had to do it quickly.
My countertop installation was coming up, and suddenly I needed to find a completely different kitchen sink and have it delivered within a week.
No pressure!
I knew two things:
I wanted stainless steel, and I wanted a workstation kitchen sink.
My appliances were already stainless steel, so I thought, why not carry that finish over to the sink?
Looking back now, changing my sink was honestly one of the best last-minute design decisions I made in our entire kitchen renovation.
The Sink I Chose: KRAUS 32-Inch Stainless Steel Workstation Sink
I ended up finding the KRAUS KWU110-32 32-inch undermount stainless steel workstation kitchen sink, and thankfully I was able to get it delivered in two days.
It has:
Heavy-duty 16-gauge TRU16 stainless steel
An integrated workstation ledge
Roll-up drying rack
Bamboo cutting board
Bottom sink grid
NoiseDefend soundproofing
Undermount installation
A large single-bowl design
The second I saw it installed underneath our quartzite, I knew I had made the right decision.
And now that we have actually lived with it and used it every day, I'm even happier about the switch.
Why I Love Having a Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink
The biggest thing for me is simple:
I don't worry about it.
That might not sound like the most exciting reason to choose a kitchen sink, but when you're a busy working mom, there is something wonderful about having one less thing in your house that everyone needs to be careful around.
My kids can wash dishes.
Someone can drop a pan.
Silverware can get tossed into it.
We can wash giant pots after dinner.
I don't cringe every time I hear something hit the bottom of the sink.
Stainless steel is designed to handle a busy kitchen, and that durability has been such a good fit for our family.
Yes, stainless steel will develop normal little surface scratches and patina over time. I actually prefer that to worrying about chips, cracks, dark metal marks or damage to a white sink. To me, those little signs of use are just part of having a real working kitchen.
The 16-Gauge Stainless Steel Was Important to Me
One feature I specifically wanted was a thicker-gauge stainless steel sink.
The Kraus sink uses 16-gauge stainless steel, which feels substantial and sturdy. For a large workstation sink that we use constantly, I really wanted something that didn't feel thin or flimsy.
It also has sound-dampening material that helps reduce that hollow, tinny sound you sometimes associate with inexpensive stainless steel sinks.
That makes a bigger difference than I expected.
The sink just feels solid.
The Workstation Ledge Is the Best Part
If you have never had a workstation sink before, this is probably my favorite part.
The sink has an integrated ledge around the inside that allows accessories to sit directly over the sink.
Instead of using up your countertop space, you can prep, rinse, chop and dry things right over the sink.
I didn't realize how much I would use this feature until I had it.
Now I don't know how I ever had a regular sink without it.
I Use the Roll-Up Drying Rack Every Single Day
The roll-up drying rack might be the most-used accessory in my kitchen.
Seriously—I use it every day.
Mine pretty much lives on the sink.
I can hand wash a few dishes and set them directly on the rack to dry. The water drips straight into the sink instead of onto my quartzite countertop.
You can also use it for rinsing fruits and vegetables or setting down a hot pan.
And when I need the entire sink, I can simply roll or fold the rack back to create more space.
It's such a simple thing, but it's incredibly useful.
Another fun detail is that you can find roll-up racks in different colors. If I eventually get tired of one color—which I probably will because I am always changing my mind—I can switch it out.
White, black, red, yellow…there are so many options.
The Large Workstation Colander Has Been a Lifesaver
One accessory I purchased separately and absolutely recommend is the workstation colander.
It is HUGE.
When I come home from the farmers market or grocery store, I can put a big batch of fruits and vegetables into the colander and wash everything at once.
Because the colander rests directly on the workstation ledge, everything can drain right into the sink.
Then I can leave the produce sitting there for a while to dry before putting it into the refrigerator.
No giant bowl taking up my counter.
No water everywhere.
It's one of those little kitchen conveniences you don't realize you need until you have it.
The Bamboo Cutting Board Makes Food Prep So Much Easier
The included bamboo cutting board also sits directly on the workstation ledge.
I can chop and slice right over the sink, which keeps a lot of the mess contained.
Our garbage disposal is located near the side drain, so I can prep food on the board and easily move scraps right into the disposal.
It makes the entire sink area feel more like an actual food prep station instead of just a place to wash dishes.
And there are even more compatible workstation accessories available separately, which I love because I can add pieces based on what we actually use.
I already know I want more.
Don't Forget the Bottom Sink Grid
Another feature I really like is the stainless steel grid at the bottom of the sink.
It keeps dishes and pans slightly elevated off the sink floor, helps water flow toward the drain and gives the bottom another layer of protection from heavy cookware.
For a busy family kitchen, I think the bottom grid is essential.
I would definitely look for one when shopping for a stainless steel workstation sink.
But Does Stainless Steel Look Good in a High-End Kitchen?
This was one of my concerns.
I didn't want our kitchen to look overly commercial or industrial.
We have creamy cabinets, natural quartzite countertops, warm gold hardware and stainless steel appliances.
Once everything was installed, though, I loved how the stainless steel sink tied into the appliances.
It actually helped balance all of the warmer finishes.
I also added a brushed gold drain cover/plug to coordinate with our cabinet and appliance hardware.
That tiny detail brought the gold and stainless finishes together beautifully.
I think mixing metals in a kitchen can look much more interesting and collected than trying to make every single finish match.
The stainless sink doesn't compete with our quartzite countertops either. The stone gets to be the star, while the sink quietly does its job.
Exactly what I wanted.
Fireclay vs. Stainless Steel Sink: Which Would I Choose Again?
For our family, stainless steel wins.
I still think a big white fireclay farmhouse sink can look absolutely beautiful. If you love one, I'm certainly not saying you shouldn't get it.
But knowing how we live, I am so glad I listened to my instincts—and my countertop installer.
I wanted our newly renovated kitchen to be beautiful, but I also wanted it to work for real life.
I don't want my kids afraid to cook because they're worried about damaging something.
I don't want to panic when someone drops a pan.
And I definitely don't want to spend my evenings trying to scrub black marks off the bottom of a white sink.
For me, function won over the fantasy.
And funny enough, I ended up loving the look of the stainless steel sink too.
What to Know Before Buying a Workstation Sink
If you're considering a workstation sink for your own kitchen renovation, I would pay attention to more than just the overall size.
Look at the gauge of the stainless steel, soundproofing, bowl depth, drain placement, included accessories and—very importantly—the accessories available to purchase later.
The whole point of a workstation sink is that the ledge and accessories work together.
Also think about your cabinet size and how you actually use your kitchen.
Do you wash large pots and pans?
Do a lot of food prep?
Wash tons of produce?
Hand wash dishes?
Entertain?
Have kids learning to cook?
Those everyday things matter so much more than what looks perfect in a styled kitchen photo.
So Many Sizes and Styles
Another reason I like the Kraus workstation sink line is the number of configurations available.
Depending on the collection and model, Kraus offers workstation-style sinks in a wide range of sizes and configurations, including options for kitchens, bars and prep areas.
You can find single-bowl and double-bowl designs, undermount and top-mount/drop-in styles, and even farmhouse-style workstation sinks if you still love that apron-front look.
That means you can get a lot of the functionality I love without necessarily choosing the exact same size or configuration that I did.
Would I Buy the Kraus Workstation Sink Again?
Absolutely.
This is one of those kitchen renovation decisions that I appreciate literally every day.
At first, giving up the white fireclay sink felt like a compromise.
It wasn't.
For our family, it was an upgrade.
I got a sink that is durable, functional, beautiful and incredibly practical. The workstation accessories give me extra prep space, the stainless steel coordinates with our appliances, and the 16-gauge construction feels substantial enough for everything our family throws at it.
Most importantly, I don't worry about it.
I think about how glad I am that I changed my mind every time one of my kids drops something into the sink.
That alone tells me I made the right decision.
If you're renovating your kitchen and trying to decide between a white fireclay farmhouse sink and a stainless steel workstation sink, don't just think about which one looks prettiest on Pinterest.
Think about how you actually live in your kitchen.
For me, the kitchen sink needed to be one of the hardest-working things in the room—not one of the most delicate.
And after living with our Kraus stainless steel workstation sink, I honestly don't know what our family did without it.
Comes in 17-57 inch wide sink. Stainless Steel and black metal. Sizes can be used for kitchen sink, bar sink, laundry room sink. Comes in under mount and over mount , double or single bowls. A few also come with the corresponding garbage disposal to fit perfectly.
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