Stainless steel is the most popular and typically the least expensive sink option. Look for sinks made from 18- to 20-gauge steel. The lower the gauge, the heavier and more durable the steel. The chrome and nickel content of the steel also affects quality. The ideal combination of nickel and chrome is 18% chromium and 8% nickel; the chrome adds strength and the nickel prevents corrosion.

Pros

• Complements commercial-style appliances.
• Can be molded as a continuous part of a stainless steel countertop.
• Won't chip.
• Easy cleanup.

Cons

• Will show scratches, though over time it will develop a natural patina.
• Thinner gauge steels have a tinny sound and dent more easily.

Price
About $350-$800.

A composite sink is typically made from quartz or granite compounds mixed with acrylic resins.

Pros

• It can be shaped into an integral countertop.
• Comes in many colors.
• You can set hot pots down on it.
• It's stain resistant.

Cons

• Sharp knives can leave marks.

Price
About $350-$800.

Drop-in sinks get their name from the method of installing them: "Dropping" them into a cutout in the countertop. (Obviously, we recommend a more careful placement.) You may also hear them referred to as topmount sinks. Their edges lap the countertop, which is why they are also called self-rimming sinks.

This type of sink is the least expensive and most common option for your kitchen. Installing them is easier than other types of kitchen sinks, because they can simply be set into the counter and attached with caulk or another epoxy.

However, drop-in sinks can make cleaning difficult, as the sink's lip tends to trap food and dirt.

With the exception of stone, most sink materials-including stainless steel, composite, fireclay, cast iron, solid surface and acrylic-easily can be found in drop-in styles. Bar or prep sinks as well as primary kitchen sinks of all shapes, sizes and number of basins.

Common sink configurations include:

• Single bowl
• Double bowl
• Triple bowl
• Main sink plus prep sink

A deep, wide single bowl can be best if you're tight on space or you want a sink where you can rinse plates and silverware before loading them into the dishwasher.

With a double-bowl sink where both bowls are the same size, you can use one side to wash dishes and the other to rinse them. Or you could have a double-bowl sink where one sink is larger than the other; use one for rinsing and the other as a prep sink for cleaning fruits and vegetables.

A triple-bowl sink gives you the wash-and-rinse function plus a smaller prep sink with disposal.

A separate prep sink on your island or by the stove can add convenience when you're cooking, entertaining, or preparing fruits and vegetables.

Use these additional sink accessories to create a more functional workspace:

• Cutting boards that fit securely on the sink's sides and that have holes to empty scraps through
• Colanders that hang on the sides
• A garbage disposal
• Dish racks that fit into the basin
• Hot water dispensers

Note on garbage disposals: Choose a higher horsepower disposal to get rid of tough debris, like meat scraps. Also, the larger the dampening collar, the more quiet it will be.

Your options for the faucet's main material pretty much come down to solid brass or plastic. Brass is by far the most recommended choice because of its toughness and ability to handle extreme temperatures.

Internally, your faucet will control the flow of water using either rubber washers, a plastic or ceramic cartridge, a plastic, brass, or stainless steel ball valve, or a ceramic disk. A ceramic disk is recommended for the same reasons as the solid brass.

The general style of your faucet will vary by the shape of its handle or handles, the height and shape of the spout, its accessories, and the finish. 

Handles
Kitchen faucets are available with either one or two handles. Single-handle faucets can be easier to operate while a two-handle faucet provides a distinct look that fits in with a variety of kitchen styles. When selecting handles, consider how easy the faucet will be to grip if your hands are wet or greasy and whether you can operate it with one hand and with a closed fist.

Height
Faucets can be either short or tall, however; if you have a shallow sink, a high-arching gooseneck faucet might be the most functional option. You may also want to consider installing different faucets for different uses-an extra-tall one on the prep sink by the island cooktop so tall pots can be filled easily, or a pot filler mounted on a wall near your stove.

Accessories
One the most common accessories for faucets is a side spray, which gives your faucet a longer reach for cleaning each area of your sink. Their ability to spray water also makes it easier to clean off dishes. Some faucets have a pullout spray, which turns a regular faucet head into a spray hose.

Other accessories include soap dispensers, hot water dispensers, and faucets that provide filtered water.

Picking the perfect faucet requires sorting out a few important factors that affect not just look and function but also installation: 1) Number of handles, 2) how it will be mounted, and 3) compatibility with your sink and countertop.

Handles
Do you prefer to have separate handles for hot and cold water, or just one handle? Separate handles offer a more traditional look, but single, lever-style handles are popular beause they are easy to use with just one hand or even the side of your hand. Handles can be located on the faucet or off to the side. A faucet with a lever handle will require either a single- or a double-hole setting, depending on the location of the handle. If your sink has more holes than required, you can use escutcheon plates-metal discs-to cover the extra holes.

Faucets with separate hot and cold water handles located on either side of the faucet require a triple-hole setting. They may be either centerset, widespread or mini-spread.

This centerset faucet is on 4-inch centers and used with an entertainment sink.

This wall-mount faucet is also a bridge faucet with widespread setting.

Most kitchen faucets come in a range of finish choices, typically some color of metal. In the silver family, options include chrome, nickel, stainless steel, platinum and pewter. For a warmer tone, you can try brass, gold, bronze or copper. Metallic finishes can be either polished, brushed or satin, depending on whether you want a bold shine or more muted gleam.

Non-metallic options include white, black and biscuit in either enamel or epoxy.

The 2008 Style Barometer survey by the National Kitchen & Bath Association found that satin nickel was the most popular finish for kitchen faucets, according to a panel of kitchen and bath dealers and designers. Stainless steel and bronze came in second and third, respectively.

Nickel
Nickel (shown above) has all the durability of chrome, plus it stands up to scratches and water spots a little better than its shinier counterpart. It also provides a more toned down, softer look. Nickel finishes are generally more expensive than chrome, and work well in transitional style kitchens. Satin and brushed nickel generally have a similar appearance; manufacturers simply use different terminology.

Chrome adds sparkle to a bar or entertainment faucet.

Courtesy of Moen

Oil-rubbed bronze is slightly darker than brushed or polished bronze.

Courtesy of Delta

To help focus your selection process, ask yourself the following questions.