Ergonomics, the difference between comfort and a back ache!
Drain location, the difference between up-to-date sensible design and 2000 year old thoughtless design.

There is little doubt that the kitchen sink is one of the most used appliances in the home. For generations, we have ignored this active area, force fitting stock sized, obsolete designed sinks into custom kitchens. If you have considered purchasing a sink with a center, or rear center drain, it will be obsolete before you even install it. Your custom kitchen deserves a custom sink... it is not truly a custom kitchen without one.

As a veteran kitchen designer, appalled by the total lack of well-designed sinks in the market, I began to design and manufacture my own sinks in 1999. Sinks may appear similar, but there is a huge difference when they are properly designed. The best analogy might be the difference between a $10 and $100 pair of sneakers. They may seem outwardly similar, but on the inside, comfort levels are worlds apart.

When you use your current sink, I bet that you have to hold your pots, pans and platters partially outside the sink when you wash them. They don't fit down inside the bowl like they should. That is because you are using a sink with an obsolete sink design. The drain is either in the center or the rear center.  When you have a properly designed sink - a single bowl with a rear corner drain, you will be able to place everything you wash at the bottom of the sink without covering the drain. With a Rachiele sink, you will work at the bottom of the sink much more often, thus a deep sink will be inappropriate. Deep sinks are necessary only when the sink is poorly designed. Folks, center drains were used by the Egyptians over 2000 years ago. It is about time we used some common sense and moved the drain out of the way of the work area. A properly designed sink will allow you to wash and prepare foods on one side and set off dishes, etc. on the other side (without a crazy center divider). No... the rinsed dishes will NOT get wet when washing the other dishes. We have thousands of customers, that originally called in to order double bowl sinks and now own single bowl smart sinks. They were all skeptical at first. It took some convincing, because the rest of the world is still selling obsolete designs. They all tell me they love the single bowl sink with the rear corner drain and could never go back to a double bowl sink. I had the same hesitation when I designed my own kitchen 10 years ago. It was a big leap of faith, as I was the guinea pig for my well thought out design. Even thought I was certain the design was better, it was still difficult for me to make the big step. There would be no turning back. I, and thousands of others, are glad we did! Just read some of the testimonials. If you need further convincing, call me. I will give you names and phone numbers of customers to chat with.

Combining ergonomics, cutting edge style and design, Rachiele has realized the true custom sink. Our sinks are handcrafted with the finest quality material, according to the personal requirements of each client. They reflect the handedness, height and personality of the owner, ensuring optimal functionality and distinctive appeal. Consequently, we have become a designer's dream.

Things to consider:

Yes, a 9" deep is too deep for an intelligently designed sink! An intelligently designed sink has a rear corner drain. Stupidly designed sinks have center drains or rear center drains. (Sorry folks, I call them like I see them). You need a deep sink if you have a stupidly designed sink. Why?  You are always washing items half in and half out of the sink.  You can not put the pot, pan, platter, etc. inside the sink to wash it or it will cover up the drain. So you do the dishwashing "spin routine". You know... you do it! You wash the bottom half, spin it around, then wash the top half, then rinse the bottom half, spin it around and rinse the other half. In a Rachiele sink, you can place virtually any pot, pan or platter right down inside the sink without covering the drain. No more spinning! You will find that you work at the bottom of the sink all the time, hence a deep sink is not only unnecessary, but inconvenient!

Most sinks are undermounted under granite, which effectively makes a 9" deep sink 10 1/4" deep. That is just too deep if you are going to be working at the bottom of the sink. Think about this... the countertop (36" tall) is designed to be a comfortable work surface. Now subtract 10 1/4" from that comfortable height. You are effectively working at a 25 3/4" height. Take this test and then tell me if I am not correct. Make a work surface that is 25 3/4" tall. (Just to give you some perspective, a desk is 30" tall) Get a paper and pen. Try writing a letter while standing and using the surface height you have just made. One more thing, make sure you are standing several inches back from your work surface (just like you would at a sink). Go ahead, write a long letter. I can assure you, the pain in the back will come shortly!

User Height: Did you know that there is an optimal sink depth proportionate to your height. Oh yes, your height does matter! Do you get tired while working at the sink? Or worse yet, get back aches like I used to? If so, your sink is not the right height. After 25 years in space planning and kitchen design, I have observed the following consistencies between user height and bowl depth.