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In any Toronto house, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It is where family and friends automatically gather. Since the kitchen sees so much use – it is only natural to want good finishes and amenities included in it. One of those crucial elements is the sink. A solid, serviceable sink is essential for so many reasons – it must handle temperature extremes, pots and pans, kitchen implements and everything you want to wash in it.

In the past sinks were rather basic and utilitarian – either stainless steel or enameled cast iron. But today, there are a number of very interesting options including granite composite, copper and stone. Your ultimate choice will depend on design, your cabinets and also on how you work. Do you require a double sink, an extra deep bowl, a triple bowl, a drain board? Before rushing out to buy the first sink you see, you should carefully weigh your options and choose based on your lifestyle and needs.

Overmount vs undermount

The first thing to think about is whether you want an undermount or overmount sink. Overmount sinks are easier to install as you simply drop them into the precut hole in your countertop. The lip of the sink forms a seal that prevents water from leaking underneath it. Undermount sinks have become trendy because they expose more of the counter creating a better visual. They can be trickier to install as the edges need to be sealed from underneath to prevent water damage.

Materials

Yes, you can stick with stainless steel, but unless it is a high gauge of steel, these sinks tend to get scratched up easily and will look worn quite quickly. However, they are a tried and true option that have served very well for generations.

Enamel cast-iron sinks are another stable option, however, unless properly cared for, the enamel can wear off, which can leave the coating dull and discoloured.

Granite composite sinks are newer but get very good reviews since they are tough, they don’t scratch easily and they don’t stain. They can also be found in a number of colour variations to suit your design needs.

On the more premium-end of the scale are copper sinks. These beauties last a very long time and retain their good-looks for generations – however, they are sensitive to acids, heat and harsh cleaning agents and are also susceptible to dings and scratches, which often end-up adding to their cachet. However, be prepared to pay for their elegance and to spend more time maintaining them.

Bowls and drainboards

Choosing the correct number of bowls is very important. If you wash a lot of large pans or pots, then one bowl might be more convenient than two because you will be able to fit them in completely. On the other hand, if you wash a lot of dishes, then you might want two sinks so that you can wash in one and rince in the other. The depth of the bowls is also important. They usually range between seven and twelve inches. Although very convenient, the deeper the sink the harder it can be to wash in the corners – unless they are rounded.

Finally do you need a drainboard or not? Drainboards are not as popular in Toronto as they are in Europe but they are convenient no matter where. If you wash your dishes and dry them on a drainboard on the side of your sink, then having an integrated board might be the right option for you. Having them built in means easier clean-up and fewer chances of water spilling over.

With the number of sink options on the market today, it is easier to choose the model that will most suit your needs and design preference.

Summer has hit Toronto. The heat is palpable and perfect for barbecues, swimming and heading to the beach – that’s under normal conditions. Due to the pandemic most people are staying put and sticking close to their home. Keeping cool on hot days doesn’t necessarily have to include air conditioning. For those who don’t have an air conditioner at home, here are some handy ways of staying cool even at the peak of a heat wave.

Close your blinds! Yes, having beautiful sunlight streaming in through your windows can cheer up any room, however that sunlight is increasing the heat in your Toronto home by 30%. One of the simplest ways of keeping the heat down is by closing your blinds – even better, invest in black out blinds. Blackout blinds can actually lower temperatures inside your house by upto 20 degrees.

Open your windows at night. Temperatures naturally drop at night when the sun goes down, making it the best time to get the heat out of your house and let in that fresh night air. It is best to open windows on opposite ends of your home to encourage a crosswind to blow to really get the air circulating. Then just before the heat of the day starts to increase, close your windows and lower your blinds or close your curtains.

Another good way to keep the temperature in your house down is to keep rooms that are rarely used closed. By closing the doors to rooms that aren’t used on a daily basis, the heat from that room doesn’t spread to other areas of the home and conversely, any coolness in the house doesn’t need to be shared with that extra room.

Use your fans wisely! Did you know that ceiling fans have two settings? In the summer, they should be set to turn counterclockwise to create a cooling wind. If you only have pedestal or table-top fans, try setting up a bucket of ice in front of the fan – as the wind blows and the ice melts, it will send a refreshingly cool breeze into the air.

Another good hack to staying cool in the dog days of summer is to cook outside on your grill. Using your grill is fun, easy and will keep the heat outside. If you don’t have a grill, then avoid using your oven. Use the stove top sparingly and avoid the oven altogether. The heat from an oven can dramatically increase the temperature in your home, so keep the cakes on hold until the temperature dips.

Staying cool during a heat wave can be done – by following just a few of these tips, you can control how hot your home gets.