In reference to your 30 inch base question... I have a 23 inch SS single-bowl in a 30 inch base and opted for this size because I have a small kitchen and preferred counter space instead of a larger sink (no prep sink either). I measured and found that the sink depth (mine comes to a bit over 9 inches including countertop) - and my choice of a high-arc faucet with a pull-down - was just as important as the width of the sink. I cook daily - and bake often - and wanted to be able to clean pots/pans/cookie sheets easily - which I can do with my 23 inch. I quickly move DW items into the DW so don't use my sink to stack/store so much. Like artemis above, I also have over-sink colanders that I love to use as I do lots of veggie rinsing/prepping and moving the over-sink items around on a single-bowl is super easy. I think it all comes down to use and personal preference. Note how you use your current sink - if you love it - keep it! Perhaps a change in faucet - or some new sink colanders/cutting boards - might make all the difference.

Well, your kitchen is not that different in size from mine. I have a slightly smaller window, my sink wall is close to 11 feet and the opposite wall is almost 12. My island is 3x7. I would get the size that suits your needs and balances the use of the rest of the space. Something in the 30-36 inch range would be pretty standard what I consider a mid-sized kitchen. A 30" single bowl will give you good working room and another 6 inches of counter space. There is plenty to be said for that, but you sink wall is the longer one and you may feel you have the room to go larger with your sink. While I can lay two cookie sheets on either side or one on one side and a large pot on the other, that's not something you really need to do that often. I would make the decision based on the counter space. I would be happy either way.

For those who are interested, the Orca is here and fits my professional Wilton half sheet pans flat with no problem, alhtough without the upper shelf in place. It fits the long way. If you use the squarer cookie sheets like lascatx they apparently do not. None of the more rectangular ones should be a problem. I was even more concerned about the reach needed to get to the faucet with the really wide sinks, since I am not that tall and don't have long arms, than cleaning, and I didn't want too deep a sink because I thought it would be hard on my back. I have heard mixed reviews about keeping the corners clean in the zero radius sinks. I do love the looks. If the Orca came zero radius, it would be awesome. Although, even among zero radius sinks there seems to be some differences in just how sharp the corners are. May the ones with a tiny radius are a compromise. Either way, it depends on what you like. I would be willing to get new cookie sheets for my Orca because I really liked it, and a further reach or changing faucets to make the reach easier, is worth it for a lot of people, with or without cleaning issues, just because they love the look of the zero radius and the really wide and deep sinks are more functional for them. Sue

I had a hard time deciding too. I took a hard look at how I use my sink (currently a double). We have a garden and belong to a CSA, so I soak a lot of veges on the right side while cleanup is on the left. I also like to wash on the left and drain the clean items on the right. I wanted to be able to lay cookie sheets and long pans flat too. I found a sink that satisfied both needs. I'm getting the Franke PRX120. I love this particular sink because it only needs a 39" base cabinet, whereas similarly sized sinks require a 42" base cabinet. Plus it has an integral shelf (optional) that you can rest a grid on that raises up the bottom so you don't have to reach in as far when you don't need to. I can lay flat my biggest cookie sheets and baking pans. It is stainless steel. In the end though go with what you like best, most people have definite preferences one way or the other. Do you know someone with a single bowl that you can try out the way that you'd be using it?