Model sinks

Custom Home, March, 2003 by Shelley D. Hutchins

"Looks great, less maintenance" is the slogan best befitting these two stainless sinks that Craig Reece, owner of Indian Rock Construction and Design, Berkeley, Calif., had fabricated for his own kitchen. One-piece construction seamlessly merges extra-deep sinks with their silvery surrounds, while offset drains push plumbing aside to offer more usable space underneath. Beveled edges and subtly smoothed-out corners add a "vaguely Asian touch that I particularly like," Reece says. Normally specializing in restaurant work, San Francisco-based Berlin Foods made these and several other custom residential pieces for Reece, who admires the company's skill as well as its economy. "They're surprisingly cheap," he says. "I paid $1,200 for both sinks with surrounds."

The dramatic island basin employs its sleek, 8-inch apron to protect the bordering mahogany butcher block from too much moisture. The main sink's integrated counter flows into the stove and covers the dishwasher, forming an ideal cleanup spot. For added finesse with functional repercussions, Reece wrapped adjacent windowsills in stainless sheet metal. "It's a good technique for sills near stoves and sinks to prevent decay," he explains, "and because my home is also a client showroom, I used every cool trick I know."