When planning a kitchen remodel, choosing some of the smaller elements – like the kitchen faucet and kitchen sink – can be daunting, if only for the sheer number of options available. Even if you have a specific style in mind, there are so many slight variations, both in price and the fixtures themselves, that it can be difficult even to know where to start. It can be tempting to go with a brand you know – a very common household name like Delta, or Kohler – but taking the time to shop smaller, niche manufacturers like Artisan can really pay off long term. Artisan kitchen sinks are made with the highest industry standard materials, and Artisan kitchen faucets are all hand-crafted elegance, but contain many of the same sleek, modern features you’d find from a bigger brand. So what makes Artisan worth a look?
Let’s start with Artisan kitchen sinks. They might not be the first brand you think of if you’re in the market for a stainless steel sink, but they should be. Each of their stainless steel sinks, like this Steel Apron Sink, are hand crafted of 16 gauge steel. Put simply, the “gauge” number is how many times the piece of steel has been pressed flat, so the higher the number, the thinner the metal, and the lower the number, the more durable. All of Artisan’s stainless steel sinks are 16 gauge – the lowest gauge and highest quality steel used for this purpose.
That means that Artisan’s stainless steel kitchen sinks are less likely to warp, dent, or flex when heated (none of that awful popping sound after you drain your spaghetti!) than other brands that use the more common, thinner, 18 or 20 or higher gauge steel. The quality shows up in the longevity of sinks like this Staggered Bowl Sink as well – because the steel is thicker, it’s heavier and longer lasting. Steel is also less prone to be damaged, scratched, or stained, than porcelain, stone, or other materials, and it’s much, much easier to clean. The best part? Steel sinks work well in just about any style kitchen, and are both neutral enough to blend with a variety of designs and hearty enough to withstand a wide variety of chefs.
Artisan kitchen sinks are available in single bowl and double bowl styles, and their stainless steel sinks come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, from large rectangular basins to staggered double bowls like this Premium Double Bowl Sink. More than almost any other material, it’s easy to get a stainless steel sink sized and shaped to fit your specific needs and dish washing habits, and all of their sinks have matching sink grids to help further protect the steel surface.
Artisan offers high quality, hand crafted copper sinks as well. Their Handcrafted Antique Farmhouse Sink is the real star of their kitchen collection. With a solid copper construction and beautiful hand-finished detailing and antique patina, this apron sink is not only ultra durable and easy to care for, but are also quite eye catching. These are a great way to jazz up a traditional country style kitchen and make it look just a little bit more formal or classical.
Artisan’s simpler copper sinks, like this Antique Copper Farm Sink, boast the same quality materials and craftsmanship but are a little more subdued – an excellent choice if you want the beautiful antique look and feel of copper without making your sink the main focal point of your kitchen. Many artisan kitchen sinks work well in period or country style kitchens, and this is especially true of their copper sinks. This one in particular adds an ever so slightly decadent touch, while maintaining an overall cozy look and feel.
Maybe even more important than your kitchen sink is the faucet that feeds it. Artisan kitchen faucets come in a wide variety of shapes and styles, but most of them come with pull out or pull down style spigots. This Premium Faucet, for example, is a relatively simple design – a simple brushed nickel finish and a single handled construction – but that makes it he perfect addition for a contemporary style kitchen. The nice thing about these faucets is that they’re quite compact – this one only requires a single hole to be drilled – and have the functionality of a secondary sink sprayer without dedicating the space for one.
If you’re looking for something a little more classical – or something to go with one of those copper sinks – opt instead for something like this Country Style Faucet. The simple, subtle French countryside influence shows through in the design, with bell-shaped curves and a small handle reminiscent of antique water pumps. It’s also available in rubbed bronze as well as the nickel finish, which makes it a better pair for a sink with a luxurious patina.
For a more modern kitchen, though, I’d stick with a polished rather than a satin finish, and a simple but eye catching shape, like this Pull Down Faucet. Paired with a stainless steel sink like one of the ones above, plus a glass tile backsplash, this faucet will look stunning. Again, though, I cant emphasize enough the convenience of a pull-out faucet – at the touch of a button, your main spigot turns into a sink sprayer. That means you can also adjust the flow of water to a lighter spray even when you aren’t using it as a sprayer, which I absolutely love when I’m hand washing dishes.
Certain artisan kitchen faucets like this Contemporary Pull-Out come with soft rubber nubs attached to the mouth of the faucet, or integrated into the aerator. These nubs make cleaning easy, and prevent mineral buildup over time. If you’ve ever had a sink sprayer get clogged – or, worse, stuck on and spray you the next time you turned on the sink – you’ll understand how great this little quirk is. It’s a simple change, but it’ll enable you to literally wipe away mineral and hard water buildup with the touch of a finger (much like similar touch clean shower heads) so your sink will never accidentally squirt you again.
Artisan’s kitchen collection is relatively small, but that means that each and every Artisan kitchen sink and faucet is made to the highest quality standards – even relatively simple ones like this Nickel Pull Out. In many cases, the fixtures are even hand crafted, so each piece is a genuine work of art. Their limited line also enables Artisan to offer the highest quality materials in every piece they make – and you can really feel the difference. Up close and personal, Artisan kitchen faucets and sinks feel sturdy as well as looking beautiful, and are sure to last you for years to come. What sort of decor do you have in mind for your kitchen remodel? Why are you in the market for a metal sink? Have you ever used a pull down faucet before?
Great post. I really like the copper one. It looks classy. Great job!