Lisa...I think in your kitchen you could go either way. Regardless of where your (main) sink ends up, it will still be close to the cooktop & you will have room to prep b/w them. If the sink moves to the refrigerator wall, you will have even more prep space b/w them. While a prep sink would be nice, I don't think it's a necessity to make your kitchen work. Yes, it would add an additional prep area for you at the island (b/c there will be a water source) and, possibly, reduce some zone crossing, depending on the location. Right now, to get to the refrigerator from the cooktop you have to either cross the Cleanup Zone or go around the island. How many people will be using your kitchen at once? Will they all be prepping/cooking or will there be a mix of prepping/cooking/cleaning up? If cleaning up is in the mix, then the zone crossing could become an issue, especially when the DW is open. As to location, I like Elizpiz's setup best, but I can see where it would definitely reduce available counter space. If you put it on the left side across from the cooktop, it would be readily available from the cooktop as well as the "outside" part of the island for prepping there while someone else is cleaning up on the "inside" as well as be available for outsiders for a drink of water, etc. However, it will reduce that 42-1/4" to approx approx 24" of workspace directly across from your cooktop; but, as I mentioned b/f, you will still have add'l room on the wall run. If you put it on the refrigerator end, I think you're right in your assessment...I find that I use the counters across from both my refrigerator & ovens much more than the counter next to them...both for removing things from them as well as staging things to put in them. (I have approx 32" b/w the Ref & DR peninsula end and approx 44" b/w the ovens & the end of the "mini peninsula". Both have landing space right next to them as well.) We do have a prep sink, but in our kitchen it was a necessity to make it work. Our cooktop & sink are opposite each other, separated by approx 6'6" of aisle...the main aisle through the kitchen. By adding a prep sink on the cooktop wall, we were able to separate the Cleanup Zone from the Prep & Cooking Zones as well as protect both zones from kitchen traffic (inside a "U" w/short legs but long base). During the week, there are usually two of us in the kitchen...one prepping/cooking (me) and one cleaning up (DH) with an occasional child helping make veggies. On the weekend, there are sometimes all four of us working in the kitchen! When baking (usually a marathon!), there are usually two or three of us. (I seem to bake in spurts...when I bake, I seem to go all out!)

SouthernStitcher....your mom sounds a lot like mine! All the kids wanted to come to our house b/c it was the "fun" house and my mom was always feeding everyone! I have fond memories of the various KoolAid flavors...we each got to choose the "flavor of the day" on a rotating basis...even some of our friends got to pick! My mom also has a SS sink...not quite 50 years old (maybe 30 years...)...but she was just commenting yesterday that when she remodels her kitchen she thinks she'll keep the sink b/c it's in such great shape. I don't know what "brand" it is, but I'm not sure it matters much if you get a sink from a reputable manufacturer. ++++++++++++++ If you do a search, you'll find a lot of threads about sinks...depth, grids, single vs double, SS vs fireclay vs cast iron vs granite composite, etc. Here are some things... If you will be under mounting your sink, the depth will be the depth of the sink + the thickness of your countertop. So, my sink is 9" deep with 3cm (~1-1/4") granite. That means that my sink is approx 10-1/4" deep. The taller you are, the harder a deep sink is on your back b/c you have to lean over farther to get to the bottom of the sink. The larger the ledge in front of the sink, the more you have to lean in to get to the sink. Sink grids will raise the bottom of the sink up an inch or so. They also keep things off the bottom so that it's easier to rinse the sink (items aren't sitting on the bottom blocking access to the drain), they're flat so things don't tilt, you can drain dishes on them w/o re-immersing them in dirty/soapy water, they protect the bottom from scratches, etc. You'll find this information and a lot more if you do a search. Search one of two ways: (1) Directly in GardenWeb. Use the search button on the bottom of the thread list page, not the the top of the page. (2) Using Google or other search engine. If you do it this way, be sure to specify "site=ths.gardenweb.com" as part of the search (at least for Google).

Thanks, I had seen some larger fireclay sinks. I know it's a bit of a different product than the Silgranite. For the counters, here's the source Cement Elegance They've done quite a few homes in town and have good results according to builders and owners I've talked to. They do integrated sinks but not in the kitchen.

I hand wash dishes alot. I have a large kitchen and getting a 36 in. sink base cabinet. ... would you go with a double sink with a low divide or a large single sink with ledge accessories?? It seems the largest low divide double sink is only 18" side to side as the large basin. Thoughts? Thanks.