And undermounted

It's all about personal preference. When I look at those pics the only winner, hands down with absolutely no competition is undermount but what looks best to you?

I vote undermount w/positive reveal. How about a wood cutting board made to fit over part to add a little texture and interest?

What color are you thinking? If white, do the undermount, if something different then the drop in if you want. But honestly, I don't think a drop in will make much difference (and I'm not averse to drop ins at all). I would try to find your texture and interest in the faucet and other items you put on your counter.

Amber:

The money in your checkbook will come and go, but you'll stare at your kitchen sink every day for a very long time. There is a time and place to scrimp; this ain't it. Get the one you really want or you'll regret it.

If you're looking for texture and interest, a drop in sink isn't really going to further those goals. What are your plans for a backsplash? Faucet? Maybe a pretty bridge faucet would provide a nice focal point.

A drop-in sink will not add texture and interest. Except the texture that comes from grime and grody bits getting caught in the edge around the drop-in sink. The biggest reason to have an undermount sink is to be able to sweep crumbs and debris from and across the counter into the sink without interruption. Do not forego that. Get an undermount sink. There is plenty of interest to be gotten from faucets, drawer knobs/pulls, backsplash, and other decorations in the kitchen.

regarding your comment about a farmhouse sink being out of your budget, do not overlook the Ikea Domsjo sink, or the stainless steel apron front sinks available on Overstock.

amber girl - you have kids you have crumbs - swipe those suckers (ummm, the crumbs not the kids) right into the sink without the lip of an over mount. It's totally about function for me and not looks at all. In fact what I loved most about my granite counter when I first had one was the undermount sink, I will never go back. For real.

Note: I know you can do some sort of an integrated kind with laminate but at the time it was new and kind of scary around here.

Please note: The countertop showroom I went to recently won't even sell me a white silgranit super single. Their rep told them they fail regularly and advised the salespeople to steer customers to one of the other colors. I don't know what defines fail, but it's something that I don't want to take a chance with.

I'm pretty sure I'm getting the Kohler Riverby because I want white with an offset drain for my 36" cabinet. It'll be a drop-in since we're going laminate and this is a frugal project ($259 @ Lowes) But it does come as an undermount too.

so a couple of months ago, my answer would have been undermount all the way, but i've seen recent photos of top mounts and they look fabulous. there is definitely a new place for top mounts, particularly with thinner countertops like neolith and the fear of chipping. i was swooning at the blanco attika the other day but the high (for me) price sealed the deal and we went with the undermount.

agk2003, I agree with you. I'm also loving the look of the drop in sinks. Maybe it's the nostalgia kicking in.

Amber, i really love my_four_sons' idea of the bridge faucet for adding interest. you mentioned a white countertop- what material are you doing?

My new home will be finished by Oct, All 10 sinks in my home are drop-ins.

Benjesbride - sorry, but that is not true. Just look at all the happy Silgranit white (or "biscuit" which is Silgranit's cream color) sink owners on this forum for many years. I myself have had 2 Silgranit sinks in 2 kitchens, and they both continued to look like the day they were installed for the several years I had them.

Silgranit sinks "fail" when they are shipped with poor packing from cheap online resellers, or during installation by bungling installers. They don't "fail" if properly installed. They are made of 80% granite, heat resistant to 500+ degrees, and scratch proof (except by Trebruchet's diamond-tipped drill one time, and it was an effort to do it).

if that showroom won't sell you a Silgranit sink, I would wonder if something is wrong with that showroom. In any case, I wouldn't buy my sink from a countertop installer regardless - the markup is too high, and sinks of all brands are readily available directly from reputable sellers.

Sorry to go OT - I just had to address that comment.

Sahmmy please reread my comment about failing silgranit.

I was told just the white has failure problems White only is discouraged by that showrooms rep. The saleswoman encouraged me to look at biscotti (I think) instead. She sang the praises of her anthracite super single in her own kitchen.

Just the white. sheesh.

ha benjesbride! your husband sounds like mine lol.

Thanks for the clarification. I still find it odd that your counter showroom is saying what they are about white Silgranit sinks, and we've not heard a peep about this issue, isolated to the white color, on this forum, despite the large numbers of Silgranit enthusiasts and white Silgranit sink owners here. Something just does not add up.

Also, the "biscotti" color has a lot of yellow in it. Look at the "biscuit" instead, which as I mentioned is a creamy white.

I strongly recommend you look at what the Silgranit sink costs online from a reputable seller, and compare it to your counter showroom's price.

I likely should not have provided the last 2 bits of additional advice--they are 2 more paragraphs of unasked-for detail. As you noted, that's GW. There are threads 30 posts long just on things like a sink drain flange, or a thread 100 posts long just on spice storage. People are spending a lot of money on their kitchens, and it can be scary. There is usually no one to bounce these questions off of other than this forum. Just trying to help Benjesbride.

I'm reading all of these, I promise! We just got back out electrical and plumbing overages so those will be coming out of pocket. I looked at the Ikea sink but I want something huge with one bowl, their single bowl is only 24". I really do prefer the farm sink though, Joe, so I might keep looking for those!

What the showroom might be referencing is from the white Blanco sinks from like 2007. They were made differently and some food stain. They changed their process and ( according to GW) they haven't had issues since then.

As far as finishes, counters are Alabama White marble, similar in looks/hardness to Imperial Danby. White inset shaker with ogee framing bead, some fancy toekicks by the range and sink, potentially beadboard BS (I may add a hint of color there, if so it would be a pale blue).. Faucet I have as Danze Opulence ( I'll find a picture), it has to stay around the $350 budget.. Let's see... Glass doors on some uppers, but none near the sink as that wall is just windows.. What if I did undermount then did this..

With the three areas routed out? Overall feel is vintagey-ish..

Sahmmy, This is like sink peer pressure.

Just kidding!

I've probably read every thread about silgranit on gardenweb. That's why I decided to get a stinkin silgranit. It was never my intent to buy a sink from the showroom. in the discussion about the counters I told her I have white appliances and I'm getting a white silgranit. She gave me shpeel about white and set out samples of all the other colors with the counter I liked. Biscotti looked better than bisquit. But Like I said two comments up I want White. Biscuit is not white, Sahmmy.

It was only my intent to relay relevant information to OP since she's truly considering the same exact sink I was. I'm not taking the risk and you can't make me :-)

Hahahhah but we can.. Joe is trying to make me get a farm sink.. We can make you get a white Blanco!