Leading the Pack: Redefining Kitchen Sink Design with Innovation

Throughout my life, I have naturally gravitated towards leadership roles. It aligns with my inclination to identify and act on opportunities for improvement that others may overlook or choose not to address.

 For example, I have another small company, Drum Muff, where I've developed innovative products that enhance the sound of cymbals and drums. These inventions have been embraced by Grammy-winning artists and renowned bands like Pearl Jam, The Moody Blues, and Manhattan Transfer.

While working as a kitchen designer, I became increasingly frustrated by the lack of practical sinks on the market. In 1999, I resolved to take action and address this issue.My first sink design replaced the double bowl sink with a single bowl. These sinks, designed with a rear corner drain, improved efficiency by preventing pots and pans from covering the drain hole during hand washing, unlike center drain models. I also found that by asking my clients if they were right or left handed, I could place the drain on the left or right rear corner, making the sinks much more comfortable to use. 

Soon after, I designed the very first single bowl corner sink. At that time, 100 percent of the corner sinks on the market were  highly impractical double bowl sinks with very small bowls. To this day, over 95% of corner sinks are still made with this antiquated design. 

 A few years later, I recognized the need for a farm sink that would fit within a conventional non-farm sink cabinet. Consequently, I obtained several patents for my innovative design, which facilitated families to swap their double bowl undermount sink for a drop-in farm sink featuring a single bowl. This design not only provided a more practical sink solution but also allowed customers to order a farm sink after their cabinetry had been ordered with a standard sink-based cabinet. 

In 2008, I observed that sinks marketed to individuals in a wheel chair were simply shallow versions of standard sink designs and not at all practical. The center drain designs made it challenging for an individual to get their legs underneath the sink. My design pushed the drain far to the back and to the corner and also allowed for a faucet to be installed toward the front of the sink in the right or left corner. By bringing the faucet forward, and pushing the drain backward and to the corner, this allowed individuals in a wheelchair to work comfortably in the sink and reach the bottom of the basin.  

Early 2008 was also a pivotal point for my company. Up until then, my sinks were sold through a network of kitchen cabinetry dealers throughout the United States and parts of Canada. Even though I had visited at least 50 dealerships throughout the United States and spent at least an entire day at each one educating their designers, I was receiving orders for poorly designed sinks, and I felt that it was not in my best interest to continue on that path. I called each and every dealer and explained that I felt it was important for me to personally design every sink based on individual family needs. To my surprise, they all understood. By the end of 2008, thanks to numerous referrals from those who believed in our product, we stopped advertising. Referrals and repeat customers still drive most of our business, for which we are incredibly thankful 

In December of 2009, I had a customer, Robert Pennybaker, with a very specific request. He wanted the ability to set a cutting board on his apron front sink. He and I chatted, and we tossed ideas back and forth. Between the two of us and our team we designed and developed what we now call our Signature Series workstation sink design. To the best of my knowledge, this was the very first workstation sink design offered to the public. The design was fairly simple. It was a built in step system that allowed a cutting board to sit on the step.  As time went on, many other sink manufacturers began to take notice of our innovative design. Initially, a few major manufacturers started utilizing a modified version of my original design. Eventually, the majority of sink manufacturers, both domestically and internationally, began incorporating a version of my original design into their products.  Upon observing the Galley sink design, which was a two-tier design derived from my single-tier design, I noticed that they simply exposed the front and rear flanges to create a second tier. I knew that this could create problems down the line, because of the standing water at the grout line. Subsequently I designed a sink with two internal steps. I named this innovative design "Evolution™" and was granted three patents for it in 2014. 

In 2018, I thought there must be a better way to design a workstation sink. That's when I came up with the idea for my NexGen™ workstation design. This ledge design system recaptured the lost width below the step design system. NexGen™ continues to be a very unique design that allows any accessory that fits on the ledge to fit on the bottom of the bowl in the same orientation. Traditional workstation sinks typically have steps which force the sink to be narrower as you get deeper into the bowl.

 In 2021, a new team member named Jessica Faisca proposed the idea of merging my NexGen™ and Signature Series designs. This led to the creation of our Paragon™ dual tier ledge system workstation sink. As a result, there was no longer a need to utilize my three-patented designs with two interior steps. I began leasing my patents to Ruvati and eventually sold all three patents to them, as they were no longer necessary for as our new innovative design was far superior. 

The Harmony™ sink design came about when I had a couple where the husband was right-handed and the wife was left-handed, and they were looking for a large sink where they both liked to do food preparation at the same time. That posed a significant problem as to where the drain should be located. My welder at the time, Norman, quickly said, "Why don't we just make a sink with a drain on the right and a drain on the left?" I thought he was joking, but I had our team make a sink, and we now call our dual drain single bowl sinks Harmony™. Our Harmony™ design graces dozens of sinks, from 36" up to 72". We also have a design for two left handed users and two right handed users. 

Another pioneering achievement was our fusion of different metals, welding a brass apron onto a stainless steel sink. The sink pictured below is a 60" Harmony™, Paragon™ E-Z Reach farm sink featuring a 3/4" thick apron. The thin apron enhances the sink's ergonomic comfort, making it the most ergonomically efficient sink on the market. We welcome other manufacturers to consider our innovations, as our custom sink production is limited to fewer than 300 units per year. We believe our innovations hold significant value and we are eager to provide opportunities beyond our current capacity. 

2022 was probably one of  the most rewarding years for me. That's when I began speaking to all of my prospective customers using Zoom meetings. It allowed me to efficiently show options on our website and often photos on my computer that did not reside on the website. 

What has been most gratifying, for me, is the ability to meet, and often see, my customers - many being past customers that I now finally get to meet virtually in person.  With Zoom, we can see each other's facial expressions and body language, which helps to build stronger connections and understanding. 

I am humbled by the many long term friendships that I have made over the years. Even before Zoom meetings, we received several calls from past customers at the beginning of the COVID pandemic - just to see if we were all okay. Some had not had contact with us for over 10 years! I am truly blessed! 

Being a pioneer offers a more thrilling and satisfying experience than simply following the crowd. By forging my own path and pushing boundaries, I have had the opportunity to explore new ideas and create something truly unique. This leads to a sense of accomplishment and pride in my work, as I bring something fresh and innovative to the table on a regular basis

As a pioneer, I also inspire others to think outside the box and challenge the status quo. This can lead to a ripple effect of creativity and progress, as more people are encouraged to take risks and pursue their own ideas. In this way, I play a vital role in driving innovation and change in my field.

While being a trailblazer comes with its own set of challenges, such as facing resistance or skepticism from others, it is precisely this willingness to confront uncertainty and overcome obstacles that makes the journey so rewarding.

Ultimately, the satisfaction comes from knowing that I have made a difference and left a lasting impact.