The Evolving Landscape of Sink and Faucet Design in 2026

Dual-tier Paragon™ workstation sink in Millennia™ stainless steel. Two 9700 Waterstone faucets, soap dispenser and disposal air switch in stainless steel.

Introduction: In the ever-changing world of kitchen and bathroom design, it seems that marketing departments might be taking the lead in shaping sink and faucet trends. This post will delve into both commendable innovations and frustrating missteps within the sink and faucet industry in the U.S., with a focus on lavatory faucets, popular sink accessories, workstation kitchen sinks, and double bowl sinks.

 Kitchen Faucets - A Critical Look at Ergonomics and Design  As kitchen sinks continue to expand in size, faucets, curiously, have remained static in terms of reach. Most mid-range and luxury sinks boast internal widths of 17 1/2" to 18", while the majority of faucet manufacturers limit their reach to a range of 8" to 9". Let's delve into why this design choice falls short of ergonomic functionality.

Faucets are typically installed about 2" behind the sink. With water dropping 8" from the center of the faucet's base, the effective reach into the bowl is a mere 6". This misalignment creates substantial ergonomic stress when working under the water flow. For comfortable use, the ideal scenario allows the user to stand upright, reach forward effortlessly, and be directly under the water. Bending at the waist and stretching forward is uncomfortable to virtually everyone.

The optimal faucet reach is around 11", centering the water flow in an 18" wide bowl. Yet, only a handful of manufacturers offer a reach exceeding 10". Waterstone Faucets stands out as an exception, with their extended reach faucets providing an 11" or 11 1/8" reach. Their diverse selection of styles and finishes, combined with an ergonomically thoughtful design, sets a benchmark for modern faucets. Other manufacturers would do well to recognize this shift in sink sizing and adapt their faucet designs accordingly.

A Closer Look at Sink Accessories - Function or Folly? While many sink accessories are aesthetically pleasing, practical flaws abound. The glass wash accessory particularly perplexes me. What's its true purpose? Can it genuinely clean a glass? A proper cleaning requires soap and high heat, unlike the water friction it offers. Even commercial glass washers function differently, employing hot water, detergent, brushes, or jets, and often include a sanitizer function. From my perspective, this accessory is nothing more than a marketing gimmick. I invite you to share your thoughts on this. I suggest you scrutinize every sink accessory in terms of how you would use it. I have found that the vast majority of our customers use three accessories. A butcher-grade cutting board, our multi-purpose grid, and a sponge caddy. Professional chefs that have invested in our sinks always indicate simplicity is equal to efficiency. If you load up a workstation sink with accessories, you might just find you are spending more time shifting them around than the accessories save in time. The ultimate goal is saving time, and that demands efficiency. 

Workstation Kitchen Sinks - A Question of Design High-end workstation sinks are trending towards dual-tier designs. However, some manufacturers utilize the flange of the sink as the top tier, leading to potential problems with water accumulating at caulk joints. A better approach, such as the one introduced by Rachiele and adopted by Ruvati, which uses internal steps or ledges, avoiding these issues. With Rachiele exclusively offering a consistent 18" width at both the top and bottom of the bowl, it's time for other brands to consider this thoughtful design.

Double Bowl Sinks - Time for a Change? Even as we approach the end of 2023, the sink industry clings to double-bowl sinks, seemingly ignoring the advent of dishwashers. A single bowl sink with a rear corner drain can offer washing and drying functionality without a divider, accommodating larger items easily. A shift in thinking is overdue here. The high cost of modifying sink molds may deter manufacturers from adopting more suitable designs, but the sluggish pace of embracing single-bowl sinks needs addressing.

Lavatory Faucets - A Missed Opportunity? Have you spotted the trend of larger lavatory sinks? Personally, I view this as a positive shift. However, it seems that faucet design has lagged behind, especially regarding larger sink basins. Most faucets direct water towards the back of the sink, causing unnecessary bending to reach the water. Imagine the convenience of bathroom faucets with pullout sprays—no more manual washing away of toothpaste or shaving debris! Surprisingly, such practical designs remain outside the mainstream. It appears that style and color options take precedence, with little regard for ergonomics.

Conclusion: The sink and faucet industry continues to evolve, with some exciting developments and some perplexing choices. From overlooked ergonomics to questionable accessory functionality and design considerations, there's still room for growth and innovation. As consumers and industry professionals, our voices and choices can help shape the future of this essential part of our daily lives. Let's continue the conversation and strive for designs that blend aesthetics, functionality, and practicality.