i suggest that super neat people who wash up and clear the island sink every time it's used would have no problem with a sink in the island but i suggest that the rest of us need the island quite empty ready for action even if the sink is still piled up

Our kitchen sink is in the island bench and we like it there. We have a wonderful view of the outdoors so it is no hardship to work away at the sink & dishwasher. In my last house there was nothing installed on the island, and the sink was on an opposite benchtop, but right in front of a window, so again there was a view to the outdoors. For me, it all came down to what I wanted to be looking at whilst doing some of the more mundane kitchen chores. I liken it to this: would I rather work in an office without a window or would I prefer one with a view?

I agree with the washing up with a view, definitely more attractive than the wall! Do you find it gets messy though, having the dishes in the middle of the island?

The kitchen will be quite small and I thought having the whole island for prep would be more functional in the space perhaps?

I suppose it might depend on the size of your island. Sure, the bench gets untidy right near the sink while we are in the throes of meal preparation, but we clean up afterwards. We also empty the dishwasher after a washed load and everyone knows to put their dishes in it straight after a meal. Cleaning up is just part of the routine and I don't see the point in hiding the process. And after a good home-cooked meal, nobody is concerned about a little temporary mess; they are just happy they have been fed.

Bianca, I believe the person who does the most cooking/cleaning, etc. ought to have the most say in how their work area is arranged. How things LOOK is far less critical to how they function. I'm in complete agreement with you - have it how you see it working best for you. Efficiency, economy of movement and safety are important considerations.

Just a side story: when my husband cooks he makes an unholy mess, but boy is he ever a good cook!

Do you put most things straight in the dishwasher after use or prefer to stack them up then load the machine all at once, or do you have a lot of items you prefer to wash by hand, or that need soaking?

Do you do a lot of cooking that uses the sink for prep, such as using fresh vegetables and fruit, or is most of your kitchen work baking or fridge/cupboard to cooktop/oven?

Do you work in the kitchen with others around, or is it a task that one person often does alone without interruptions?

What is on the other side of the island? will you be talking to people there while working at all?

Do you really hate seeing anything on the bench waiting to be cleaned? Do you hate others seeing this?

Would your partner answer these questions differently?

Would either of you like to change the way you do things now?

If you like to work with others around, (or need to do this to supervise kids), and spend time at the sink that isn't just a quick wash up of a few items, and a few dirty items waiting won't really irritate you and spoil your enjoyment of company, then a sink in an island will probably suit you, because it will allow you to work while conversing or keeping an eye out, and that will override the sight of a few items soaking.

Also take into account if that prep you mention using the whole island for uses the sink at all, you''ll end up doing it beside the sink or carrying things back and forth.

We have a lot of items that can't go in a dishwasher and every day/night there is a pile of dishes ready to wash or that have been washed sitting on the drying rack. I could never have a sink in the middle of a kitchen as there would ALWAYS be something in it or around it. It all depends on how you use your kitchen. On a side note, in my household dishes only get done at night so a sink with a view isn't necessary as you'd be staring out into the dark!

Thank you, this is what I'm afraid of. I think it is best if we don't have our sink in the island. I don't think it really suits how our family functions. Thank you so much for all of the replies!! It has helped a lot!

As several others have suggested, go with the most practical/tidy solution.

This may help you feel more comfy about your decision not to put the sink in the island; it did for me, anyway.

Our new kitchen has a large island. When the guys installing the stone arrived, they enthusiastically said, “thank goodness you didn’t put the sink in the island!”. After seeing all sorts of kitchens every day, and getting feedback, that was their assessment. And, yep, a sink would’ve ruined ours. It wouldn’t have been practical and would’ve become a scar on a feature.

Good luck with your project. It’s great when the anxiety of making decisions is over, and you can sit back and enjoy the new creation. :-)

Like others have said, it depends on how much time you spend at the sink and view you wish to have when standing at the sink.

I prefer a sink in the island rather than at the side, in front of a blank wall or facing the side fence. The size of sink is very important. My sink is underbench and has double full size bowls and a drainer which is great when washing up by hand.

I really dislike sinks in island benches. I spend more time cooking, than washing dishes, and have installed an induction hob in every one of the island benches in the last 3 houses in which I have lived. This enables me to continue talking to people whilst finishing off my food prep, and when not in use, I have a flat surface to put things on.

My sink is out of the line of sight. I don't want guests to focus on the dirty dishes. I deal with those when they are gone and use my dishwasher for almost everything, anyway

My draining area often has things on it (eg colander drying after I've made a salad) so I would not like it in the area that is seen first and that is used for preparing food and plating.

I like not having the sink on the island. Our island is the primary eating space for a family of 4 + who sits together every night. Our island has seats on all four sides though usually, we use the two longer sides. I also have a reasonable length of bench between the sink and stove so there is room for a direct production line for washing/chopping/cooking and back to the sink for pots/too big for the dishwasher. At the end of the cooking, I turn my back on the mess in the sink and on the drying rack when I sit to eat. Everything for dinner goes from bench to dishwasher. When the kids were under 10 they often did crafts/projects on one end the island so that could just get pushed over a bit without danger of it getting spoiled or needing to be totally cleared away to make space for eating.

I am very pro sink not in the island due to tidiness and at our house everyone tends to gather around the bench and this would not have the same appeal if there was a sink and attending mess in the middle . Mine is also on castors which is great for serving from buffet style when I want to lay a really long table down the centre of the room

I'm very happy with our sink being in the island. After every meal, dirty dishes are immediately placed in the dishwasher. If anything needs to be hand-washed, I do it straight away since I can easily see the TV from the sink and it only takes a few minutes. It's an under mount double sink, so I purchased a dish drying rack which fits within the dimensions of the second sink. The drying dishes are "hidden" from sight in the second sink.

We had a sink in a 3m island and I hated it. We have a big family and I needed the space for preparing and serving and also having everyone to help. I've since built and renovated and would never put a sink in the island again. Good luck. Attached is our latest kitchen.

Hi Bianca, I have just seen your post. I personally think the best answer to your question will depend on a few other considerations because it really depends on the kitchen layout as a whole. Considerations may include; how will this affect the work flow in your Kitchen and what are the alternative positions available to you? Importantly; how big is your island going to be; an Island can be a great space for food preparation, meal plating, as well as the island being a social space for family as well as when entertaining.

When placing the Sink in an island you may consider a sink also needs adequate additional space each side of it for the various functions it is used for; whereby placing a sink in a small Island can sometimes take away from the other benefits it provides. There is actually no clear yes or no answer, but to consider your Kitchen layout, appliance placements and its work flow as a whole.

With the other things you have already mentioned here, I hope this extra helps in your decision process.

I had an U shaped kitchen in my last house.. it had an amazing black starry night stone benchtop.. A sink would have ruined the look.. my sink was on the wall, with a high window.. I could see a punga tree and the sky. That was enough for me.. My benchtop was a massive feature and the whole kitchen worked well for me.. my friend had a sink in her island and she was forever wiping water away.. however it worked for her. I think her new house is different..

I like sink in the island because I have a view too. I'm getting a workstation sink so most of my prep would be done on the sink as well. Easy clean up! http://thegalley.com/a-size-for-every-kitchen/

Wow, what a great sink, user1980! Wish they were available in Australia!

@Tilly love your kitchen! would you mind sharing the colours, wood finish and stone colour please? 🙏🙏🙏

Ceasarstone Calacutta Nuvo.
Laminex absolute Matt Black.
Laminex Blackbutt wave on the insert.
Timber corner I think is solid Blackbutt
Sorry I took so long to answer I needed to do a bit of research on my plans.
I used another timber Laminex on my wardrobe and bathroom cabinets and I actually prefer it.
It’s only slightly lighter but it’s also beautifully textured but not as porous.
Pretty sure it’s Honey Elm impressions, but maybe order a few samples that are close to the honey elm.
Laminex are more than happy to post samples.
Love the Laminex Blackbutt how I’m using it but not as a kitchen or bathroom cupboard.
Happy to help if you have more questions.