Background: We're doing a kitchen remodel and need to make some sink decisions. I loved the Franke Orca when I saw it because it seemed really well made and I loved the grid because I thought it will very useful for draining pasta or wash/dry vegetables & fruits. The price seemed steep. In the meanwhile a friend suggested Blanco Silgranit. I liked that too, however I could find good accessories for draining washed vegetables (didn't like the basket). So I'm thinking of going with the Orca even though it is almost double the price. My questions - 1) With the Orca sink, if I use the grid on the right, where should the soap dispenser be. In the pictures and displays I've seen, it is on the right side. But if I'm using the right side shelf, should the soap dispenser be on the left? Because if the soap is the right I'll be wetting the things that are draining/drying on the right shelf? Can people who are using the sink please comment on where you think the soap dispenser should be? 2. Should I get the bottom grid as well? Do you find it useful or is it actually not needed? 3. Any thoughts on Franke Orca Vs. Blanco Silgranit? Thanks much.

Franke1962: Beautiful sink! I am looking for a sink as well. I looked up the specs on Orca, it is pretty deep front to back, over 18", please tell me if you feel like you are too far away from the water faucet. Is it a comfortable reach? One more question: how much granite is there between the edge of the sink and the edge of the overhang? I am trying to figure out if I can reach my water faucet. Also, how far is the faucet from the sink? I just looked at the picture again and the faucet is mounted on the 'smaller' side. Would you still be able to reach it if it were mounted on the larger portion of the bowl? Thanks.

The non-coated grids have little plastic pieces that fit over the outside edges of the stainless, so the metal parts never touch the sink. Each plastic piece is about an inch long and there are six total, two on each side that would come in contact with the sink.

If you've read the other discussions on here then there's not much more to add to what I've previously posted (if you haven't read the older threads here use google to search and include gardenweb as a search term). As to your specific questions, I'll add this info. Yes, things on a ledge can get wet while using the other side depending on what/how much is on the ledge and what you are doing in the other part of the sink. The bottom grid is helpful, especially when using colanders, or as you noted, draining. We also frequently set a pan to soak on the grid and push it under the elevated grid to soak, and can continue to use the sink as normal. This sink holds a -ton- of stuff too! We have a DW and also keep a drying mat next to the sink for our cookware since it has to be hand washed. We also frequently eat dinner after 9:30 pm due to our work schedules, so it is not uncommon to have dishes and cookware from 2-3 nights laying around to be delt with all at once (which is a lot of stuff since we cook almost every night). Most of it ends up in the sink, and unless we use several of our larger pots it all fits in the sink. It holds more than we can stack on the drying mat.