Love my Orca. I have had it for about a year now and don't regret the choice at all. Its about time someone else starting offering the shelf, it makes the sink much more versatile I think. I think you would have room for what you want with either sink if you put the SD and Hot water next to each other in the corner opposite the faucet. Make sure you get a faucet that pulls out far enough if you are going to have it at one end of a large sink. Part of the choice is simply what style appeals to you more. The Elkay shelf is nice, but I think the Orca is still more functional with the additional optional accessories and doesn't limit your layout as much. I have 3 grids for my sink, one on the bottom, a right self and a left shelf, and a colander that sits on top. I don't have it, but you can also get a second sink insert that fits into the sink and makes it a double. I that accessory would be a pain store, though. Really only useful for someone who wants a double sink most of the time but the option to remove it occasionally when they need the large single. You will probably live with this sink for a long time, though and if you don't like the style of the Orca as much and the Elkay would just as versatile for you that don't get anything else.

Sue

Sue, Thanks for taking the time to help me out. Your sink looks great. I've never seen a soap dispensor like that - it's neat. I believe one reason I was leaning towards Elkay was that the shelf comes with it for about the same price as just the Franke sink. So it would cost about three hundred for the extra grids and colander. I think I have to visit some design centers this week since I have never seen one in person.

What do you use your colander for? And do you leave all of the shelves in all the time? One more question: do any of the shelves scratch the sink? and do you have to be extra careful putting them in the sink? Sorry I guess that was two.

Where did you purchase yours? I think I may try online. Went to a local plumbing supply place and they could only give me a $150 discount.

Thanks again for the help.
Mavia

I got mine at Faucet Depot. I priced them, made a list of what I wanted and then called. I asked the their best price on the phone, not just for the sink but for each grid, colander, faucet and soap dispenser, then asked if they would take any more off if I purchased all of it from them, and they did. They were just awesome. I paid about 1200.00 I think for all of it, including the sink, all grids, colander, Brizo Floriano faucet and soap dispenser, as well as a few other misc. items. It arrived quickly with no damage and I was very happy with the entire transaction. I would definitely only go credit card these days with anyone, though, due to the economy. You never know who might go under.

I keep all the accessories in place all the time. That is just because of my own personal habits. I put most items in the DW and rarely if ever fill the sink to wash. I stack dishes on the grids and water runs freely without blocking the drain. I place bowls, etc. on the grid to do prep and it makes them a comfortable height for working, but peels, etc go through the grid and get washed into the GD. If I need a deeper area, I remove the grid on one side. If I need to wash something really large, I remove both. I use the colander all the time. Small items get placed on it so they don't go down the GD, I use it as a silverware tray, I drain pasta and rinse veggies there, small ones esp. like strawberries, blueberries and other items that would fall between the sink grids. I had a difficult remodel and a place for the washed shot glass I used for the strawberry daiquiri on more than one occasion! :)

I have a large cutting board on the counter next to the sink so I didn't need that, but they do have one. Ridiculously expensive. Worse, even than the grids.

If your habits are such that you would need somewhere to store the items I would plan for that. All except the bottom grid would fit in a divided cabinet like I have for cookie sheets.

You could also use a dish pan, but I was a little worried about giving up my double sink, and I liked the fact that they make an insert that would make it into a double if I really hated not having two sinks later. But then again, I am a girl that likes options. :) I have no problem making a decision if I know I can change my mind later. :)

Sue

Sue, again, thanks so much for taking the time to help me make this decision. I'm off in a little bit to go check for some design centers.

Sue is right on point, wanted to mention a few other things. If you are planning on using more then just a faucet then the shape of the Franke Orca would most definitely accommodate 3 to 4 components although Elkay is also a very nice design but does not have enough room in the corner for more then a faucet. Franke Orca has to be the more accessorized sink out there one very important thing to keep in-mind is if you are considering getting the cutting board (OC-45SP) you definitely want to purchase it together with the sink and give it to you fabricators when doing the cut-out reason being is the cutting board has a slight grove on the bottom to keep it from sliding forward, if the cut out is not done perfectly the grove may not fit inside the sink which will make it useless so make sure to tell the fabricators to keep the cutting board in-mind when making the cutout.

I will post a link below, hopefully it helps. Good Luck!

P.S. mention that you are a GardenWeb user we have great discounts available or just ask for George.

Here is a link that might be useful: Franke ORX110 from KBAuthority

I forgot to answer one of your questions. I am not sure they are scratches, exactly, more darkened in a couple of areas where the upper shelf sits on the sink. I don't want to hold back on any negatives, but I do really like the sink, so I don't let the small negatives bother me. It does water spot and needs some barkeepers friend and a very occasional polish with stuff they give you with the sink. The grids are covered in plastic, so they shouldn't scratch, but put very hot pots on the ss colandar tray, not the grids or you could melt the plastic.

Sue