I would go for an under mount double sink, simply my personal preference for look and most importantly easier to clean/wipe around straight into the sink without bits getting caught... as for chips, we chose a Franke sink that was a "real double" sink big enough to fit a fairly large pot which comes with a drain tray... some "double" sinks are more like one & a half so do your research... also on chips, a lot of it has to do with the bench top and not necessarily the sink, as much as I have a contemporary/modern taste I have gone against all odds and chosen a stone top with pencil edge, simply because the I've seen so many chipped square edge stone tops at family & friends who have built or renovated in recent years, although more popular and in trend, they now wished they went with a pencil edge which doesn't chip as easily... but again personal preference, so go for what you like and what works for you and it will look great and you're bound to love it! Good luck :)

I put a lot of thought into what kind of sink to install ino my new kitchen: single vs double, stainless steel vs other materials, dish drainer or not, and finally undermount vs top mount. I went safe and chose industrial grade steinless steel, double sink without a drainer but with aditional part with multi purpose. I was very indecisive about the last thing: undermount vs top mount sink and finally decided after reading this - I will go top mount.

scottevie, unfortunately the whole setup is out of alignment. The cupboards are not centered to the front of the bench which is itself not centered to the window quick is itself not centered on the wall. The center of the cupboards is very close to the center of the windows but just slightly off. The tap will not be in the centre of two bowls because the bowls are of different size. I like your idea of centering the sink using the tap though.

Hello Anne Marie, I am very sorry to hear about your husband's condition. Adapting to such a change will be quite a journey for your family. It certainly introduces another layer to the decision making process. It doesn't mean you can't have a great looking home though! The primary appeal of an under mount sink or basin is visual. They look minimally neat and maximise the presentation of the bench top material. In terms of cost, an under mount installation does mean extra cutting and polishing for the stone mason, as Dr Retro pointed out. I also second his comment about the problematic junction underneath where the sink meets the stone. As you pointed out there is also the risk of chipping the edge, but I haven't seen many instances of that happening, particularly if the cut out is chamfered or rounded at the edge. I prefer drop-in style in most situations. They are easier (and cheaper) to install and maintain. There are some good looking designs on the market, particularly from the high end manufacturers, so the money saved on the stone mason can be put towards a great looking vessel to add "wow" in another way. If we factor in that extra layer to your decision making, your husband's condition, there are further benefits to a drop-in type. The first is tactile; there are more edges to feel which helps a vision impaired person orient themselves to the appliance. The built in draining board is also stable compared to the tray types, so there is no chance of it slipping or moving if bumped. The second is tolerance for error. Splashes and spills are more contained and easier to wipe up with a drop-in unit. If hubby has any residual vision then he will appreciate some contrast to help him locate things. A tonal contrast between the sink and bench top will make it easier to find and locate himself to. Hopefully you are getting lots of support to assist with adapting to your husband's condition. There are several online resources as well. For a really good grounding in awareness I recommend having a look at the Liveable Housing Guidelines. Let us know how your journey unfolds.