Joy is in a single-bowl sink with a bi-level bottom

(NC)—Kitchens today are the focal point of every home – and at resale, this is the room with the power to return every investment dollar.

So when the time comes to renovate or redesign the kitchen, interior designers tell us to start with our vision for the countertops and sink. With a little guidance, exciting spatial concepts can soon become reality. Today, for example, a show-stopping sink – one that is drop-dead gorgeous but also multi-functional – is the best investment feature you could make. Indeed, designers point out that at the 2013 Interior Design Show (held in Toronto earlier this year) it was the novel Precis Cascadesink that was commanding attention with its lavishly oversized single bowl ready for any bulky activity.

“What separates the Precis Cascade from all other sinks is its revolutionary bi-level bottom,” says Diana Elliott at Blanco Canada, a leading name in kitchen art technology. “The lower level is ideal for large pots and pans and the raised level can function much like a second bowl, perfect for cutlery or glassware or for washing fruit and vegetables.”

In addition, a ground-breaking material for sinks called 'silgranit' was also a star-attraction at the annual trade show – one that is readily demonstrated in the Precis Cascade.

“Silgranit is a patented material by Blanco that combines 80 per cent natural granite stone with a premium acrylic resin formula to deliver unprecedented strength and durability,” Elliott explained. “Silgranit sinks are non-porous for exceptional hygiene and easy care – and it is scratch-proof, chip proof, stain proof, and highly resistant to the heat of saucepans straight from the stove.

“As exciting,” she continued, “our company is known for the rich colours available in our sinks and the silgranit models lead the pack in a range of six, non-fading, densely-textured colour choices, plus a new one, we call Cinder. This one is a beautiful dark charcoal with a hint of brown. All of our colours are imbued with a subtle mineral pearlescence – and wait until you see how Cinder's natural stone texture complements so many other colours in your kitchen. It's complex but velvety warm; dramatic but also serene.”

As well as Cinder, the Precis Cascade is fashioned in Anthracite (black) and Café (coffee brown) and more information is available online at www.blancocanada.com.

Décor Quick Tip: Dazzling meets durable at the kitchen sink

(NC)—Two sinks hit the spotlight this year at the 2013 Interior Design Show in Toronto: one was the Precis Cascade, a lavish single-bowl undermount and the other was the module-style, Blanco Modex, an equally elegant cubic-bowl topmount with a fully integrated worktop. The Modex has a large filigree cutting board in an ash wood composite that can be moved across the entire sink if needed, or positioned efficiently to suspend the stainless steel colander over the bowl at the same time. But the Precis Cascade also attracted serious attention for its revolutionary bi-level bottom. The lower level is ideal for large pots and pans and the raised level can function much like a second bowl, perfect for cutlery or glassware, or for washing fruit and vegetables. Both are made of 'silgranit', a patented material that combines 80 per cent natural granite stone with a premium acrylic resin formula. As a result, silgranit is scratch-proof, chip proof, stain proof, heat proof, and its non-porous properties allow for exceptional hygiene and easy cleaning. Take a look at the black, white, and earth colours for these models at www.blancocanada.com.