Typically the reason the sink is in the island is because the kitchen (in actuality) is not that big. It's also likely that there isn't a kitchen window. In a lot of builder homes, the kitchen is an interior room close to the garage. So the sink goes in the island because there's no other place to put it. I have seen a few builder plans that have sinks on the wall under a window but they're few and far between.

The issue with the sink & DW in the island isn't dish storage. When your DW is open, there is probably only 2' to the cabinets across the aisle. If you have drawers across, you open the DW, open the drawer, and transfer dishes from DW to drawer. You can't possibly get closer than that. If you rather put them in cabinets, it's pretty easy to put them in the upper cabinet across from the DW. If anything it's easier than trying to reach over the DW to put dishes away in cabinets above it.

I don't understand your concern about spilling coffee so I can't really comment on that.

There are a few other issues with the main sink in the island. One is visible mess - the collection of dirty and clean/drying dishes, and the dishsoap & scrubbing brushes on the counter that make it an eyesore. The other is counterspace. Most island sinks are centered in the island because people have a thing for symmetry. Most islands that I've seen are about 8 feet. When you center a ~3' sink in an 8' island, you end up with only 2.5' on each side of the sink. This isn't enough space for prep per NKBA, so a lot of times the best prep space in those kitchens is not big enough, which makes it uncomfortable.

In our new build, I (thankfully) knew these things before we built. We couldn't afford custom so we had to do a tract build. In our home the sink is in the island. I would not choose this configuration, but it's a concession I'm making. To make it workable, I asked for a change order in the kitchen to extend the island 2' to make it 10', and I pushed the sink and DW to the very end. So, I have 5' to the left of my sink for prep. Extending the island meant we eliminated in the eat-in are of the kitchen, but that's fine as our main floor is open and we already have seating at the island and dining room - 3 seating areas within 20 feet of each other seemed excessive for our 3 person family. We couldn't do drawer storage (not offered by the builder) so dishes will be stored in the cabinet across from the DW. I actually think it will be a really easy kitchen to work in. We had the option to expand the kitchen all the way to the windows and put the sink on the exterior wall, but that would have meant that the sink & DW were 20' apart. With no prep sink, that was a no-go for me as well (with a prep sink it would have been perfect).

Connie:

I run a sink replacement business. My favorite calls are to 7-year-old and newer stand-alone condo neighborhoods about 1,800SF each. These people have sold their big house up north (I'm in Florida), don't have any student loan debt, and are going to make this smaller final home as nice as possible. Unless they're for the grandkids, toys on the porch are a bad sign.

Over and over again, with small deviations, it's a center island with a sink and a cantilevered bar at the same level. The big screen television is right across the aisle into the living room from the sink which acts as a focal point on the opposite side so it's gotta be nice.

Be like my customers. Get a really nice large single bowl time and space saving sink. You won't regret it; my customers sure don't.

My sink will be in my island ( its very long) . I have the typical (as of late) Florida kitchen setup with the island dividing the greatroom from the kitchen. For us less than graceful people, spills happen anyway so i wouldnt blame the sink placement, As mentioned above, I think a downside is the clutter and eyesores. Luckily for all of us, that can be totally solved by not piling stuff in the sink and training everyone else not to also. I know easier said than done but can be done. A very deep sink can help disquise dirty dishes until they can be washed or put into the DW. It really boils down to personal preference. I think i can deal with-it (my home isnt finished yet) but its a deal breaker for others.

Wrote extensive note; will briefly comment here so it isn't too long.

I seldom have guests, & never chop veggies. I don't want a coffeepot on the island. It wouldn't look good, thus transporting coffee and water from a counter & back. I don't want to eat less than 3 feet from my garbage disposal. I have a lifelong habit of leaving the DW full of clean dishes, and the dirty ones pile up before I empty the DW. A window can usually be added above a sink, unless the builder is not at all cooperative, and you do it before the plan is finalized.

@M Riz - I have also changed my family's habits to adapt to the new island sink. We run the DW at night and DH empties it in the morning. That way during the day we put the dirty dishes in the DW instead of letting them pile up, and I'll have a clean counter for when I cook. So far it's working really well (even better than previous when he would empty it while I was cooking). We're not in our house yet either, but we changed our methods to do this in our rental.

Hi Connie - I have no advice; I just agree with you that island sinks aren’t my favorite. Everything is always wet, no good prep space, always seems cluttered, etc. I have sink in island now and hate it (but hate the whole kitchen too). I’m searching for my next home and have ruled out 99% of new builds because I hate the open kitchen, sink in island etc. So, like I said - no advice. Just agreeing that I hate this concept.

We are in a rental too, prepping for the big move and being a bit tidier in the publc areas is a big one lol. In our old home you couldnt see the disasters brewing in our kitchen from the front door. Now it will be on full display so deep sinks and keeping up with the dishwasher is super important. Connie, I think 95 % of us are guilty of a full sink with a clean dishwasher, the other 4% x probably lying, 1% are obsessive cleaners. lol Your sink placement is just personal preference based on your circumstances.

Love my island sink- designed kitchen around it. Kitchen has a window with a secondary window used for drinks.

We were in a rental (brand new, tract home) with the sink and DW in the island. My only complaint was that it seemed my DH and I were always bumping into each other, even though the kitchen was a fairly good size. We’re now in the home we were having renovated while renting and have the “typical” sink under the window, L shaped kitchen with an island and we are never bumping into each other! Maybe we just weren’t there long enough to adapt!

Thank you! I appreciate your thoughts. I also find that by adding pantries that are 6' wide and 10' long, the builders are saving a lot of money by not putting up more than 4 upper cabinets. Personally, I don't want my table dishes sitting on open shelves next to the mixer and the turkey roaster.

The solution to unsightly dishes is to put them into the dishwasher, or gasp dry them and put them away after hand washing them. I have had some of my best conversations with hosts by jumping up and grabbing a dish towel after the meal. There is just something about this simple task that makes conversation easy and fun.

Your dishes don't need to go in uppers or on shelve; they can go in drawers.

I've been thinking a lot about this too and how I would like a kitchen to be. There is a sink in the island in my parents house, its a galley kitchen and the island is in a run of cabinets and there is a big countertop above the dishwasher, if that makes sense. There are things I like about it, and things I hate. Every kitchen is made different so what I like and dislike might not be a problem for others.

First the things I don't like.

The trash can is right across from the dishwasher in a closet, and while that works good, having the dishwasher and closet both there can block people from walking through the kitchen while doing dishes.

The cabinet where we put the dishes is a little far away, but I get them all out and sit them on the counter, like all the plates together, and all the bowls and take them all, or as many as I can carry to the cabinet at one time so I make less trips. Truthfully I wish the cabinet was closer.

The sink does get full of dishes and looks cluttered, but we don't have much company so it's not really a huge issue, and when we do have company we just make sure the dishes are done.

It can be noisy, but I think that's an open kitchen and living room problem and not really the sink in the island.

The one thing I like that makes it worth it.

The sink and dishwasher in the island has a good view of the living room and TV. So it's easy to talk to other family members or watch tv while doing dishes or cutting up veggies on that counter above the dishwasher. I also do laundry at that counter sometimes while I watch TV or talk to other family members.

In summary, for me I like it just because I like being able to be a part of what's going on in the living room and the sink in the island helps with that. I would just make a few changes if i had a choice. And I admit there are some days when it's too noisy when people are trying to watch tv and do stuff in the kitchen at the same time. But as mentioned that's an open concept problem, not necessarily a sink and dishwasher in the island problem. So if I was going to have an open kitchen and living room I would probably do the sink in the island if I could.

You mention not wanting the coffee pot on the island. Ours isn't and it doesn't seem like too far of a walk but it's a fairly small kitchen and the fact that it's a galley kitchen and has cabinet runs on both sides helps.

I guess I'm the one percent because I won't even leave a coffee cup in the sink. I don't understand that. I hate dishes in the sink and full trash cans. So, I agree with what some other people have said. It sounds like you don't think the island sink will work for you, so don't get it. I'm in a new house and I don't have that set up but a lot of the neighbors do. Yes, a lot of new plans are like that but not all. It's the open floor plan obsession. But, I'm sure you can find a plan that works for you with the sink where you want it. You would hate to get a new house and not like it.

I wish I were in that 1 %, I try tho.