Villeroy & Boch on the Focus Küche & Bad 2008
Ceramic kitchen sinks - for kitchens with character
The kitchen sink is the centre point of the modern kitchen. According to a study carried out by the study group "Die moderne Küche" ("The modern kitchen"), even households with dishwashers spend more than 60 percent of their working time in the kitchen at the sink. This is where meals are prepared; fruit and vegetables scrubbed, cleaned or cut; pasta, rice and potatoes drained and rinsed; fish, meat and poultry cleaned and prepared; frozen food defrosted; and pots, pans and used cutlery deposited, washed, rinsed, and dried. Then there is the psychological aspect: The ifm Köln describes the built-in sink as "a product between brilliance and chaos, and a playground for adventurous daydreams and "mini-escapades" from daily chores and kitchen monotony." No wonder, therefore, that the sink is becoming increasingly important in kitchen designs. Modern users not only want the sink to be positioned carefully, ideally in front of a window, they also want it to be of high quality in terms of design, material and colour.
The perfect combination of tradition and modernity
Villeroy & Boch's premium ceramic sinks more than fulfil these requirements. The company, which is based in Mettlach and this year celebrates its 260th anniversary, has a long tradition in this area. It first manufactured ceramic sinks and washbasins around 1870, followed by the so-called "Granny" sink in 1921, and the first ceramic surface-mounted sink unit around 1950. Since 1971 Villeroy & Boch has also manufactured built-in sink units. Villeroy & Boch's current range of ceramic sinks represents the perfect combination of tradition and modernity. The sinks are impressive both in terms of looks and functionality. Carefully designed to meet the requirements of modern kitchen designs, they offer the advantages of natural ceramic material, and have a wide range of practical functions. At the same time, Villeroy & Boch's kitchen sinks are available in a large number of shapes, sizes, designs and colours, and are therefore ideal for creating "kitchens with character".
Kitchen ceramic - a fascinating material
Ceramic is used in bathrooms as a matter of course, and is now also well established in kitchens. This natural material is a modern material whose use is particularly advantageous in kitchens - not only as crockery but also in the sink area. After all, this is the area that is used most in a kitchen, and the one upon which most demands are placed. For this reason, it needs to be made of especially robust, easy-care and aesthetic materials. A ceramic sink represents the perfect solution in this respect.
Ceramic sinks have pleasant surfaces, and are very robust. As they are burnt at extremely high temperatures, they can easily withstand both hot pots and pans and ice-cold containers. In addition, they are shock-proof, impact-resistant and scratch-proof, and are insensitive to common household alkaline solutions and acids. Ceramic sinks are also tasteless and non-odiferous, i.e. food can be both deposited and prepared on them without any adverse effects. Ceramic fulfils hygiene standards, even in clinics, and is also easy to care for, with no need for polishing. All Villeroy & Boch ceramic sinks have an easy-care Ceramicplus surface. Water, oil and dirt are all unable to gain a hold on it, and consequently simply rinse off. Even stubborn remains and limescale can be easily wiped off with a damp cloth and some washing-up liquid. This makes washing up easier, helps the environment and saves money. Moreover, ceramic is environmentally-friendly on disposal – another environmental plus.
The type of sink - a suitable solution for every dream kitchen
Everyone has their own idea of a dream kitchen. For this reason, Villeroy & Boch offers different types of sinks for different needs, all of which allow space for new design ideas. The most common sink is the built-in or surface-mounted sink, which is inserted into the worktop cut-out, with the sink edge lying on the worktop. In order that users have maximum flexibility when it comes to the design of their kitchen, Villeroy & Boch offers built-in sinks for seven different cupboard sizes: 120 cm, 100 cm, 90 cm, 80cm, 60 cm, 50 cm and 45 cm. There is a choice of various shapes and designs, including round, classic and linear/modern. In addition, there are angled versions that allow interesting surface divisions and optimal use of corner space. Depending on size, one and two-basin versions are available, including with a waste disposal outlet.
One simple and low-cost version is a built-in sink which is mounted onto a suitable undercounter. Such a module can also be fitted retrospectively, for example when a kitchen is refurbished. Cleaning is especially easy, as there is no encircling edge. Alongside a practical corner sink, Villeroy & Boch also offers a classic sink as a single- and double-bowl version.
An undercounter sink is attached from below to the natural stone worktop. Stepless and edgeless installation beneath the worktop increases the available work surface and makes cleaning the sink area easier. In addition, an undercounter sink has interesting appearance and turns the sink area into a real eye-catcher.
Design, colour and decoration – for individual designs
Apart from top quality material and a large number of designs, also important to Villeroy & Boch is the design of its ceramic sinks. All designs unmistakably and individually carry the typical signature of Villeroy & Boch and at the same time are suited for all lifestyles - from classic to modern. To further strengthen its reputation as the design leader in this field, the company works with a number of renowned designers. This means that, in addition to its own in-house design department, specialists such as Reiner Moll and his team .molldesign, via 4 and Frog-Design have all designed sinks for Villeroy & Boch. In the case of the successful Subway range, for example, Reiner Moll and his team .molldesign have come up with an innovative design that combines purism with a high degree of functionality. The flamboyant NewWave sink is also unmistakably the work of Villeroy & Boch, featuring the cult design from the tableware and bathroom areas with the characteristic wave for the sink area. The latest sink design was created by Oliver Conrad for Passione. He has chosen a design that combines linearity with an elegant, sweeping flow.
In addition, Villeroy & Boch have developed 20 lightproof ceramic colours for harmonious or contrasting colour designs with kitchen fronts and floors, with the range of sink colours extending from the classic to the modern. Villeroy & Boch has also taken up the theme of "decoration in the kitchen" and created a decorative pattern for kitchen sinks. Based on the successful crockery patterns Grey Pearl and Ivoire, White Perl is a subdued tone-in-tone pattern that plays with the contrast between gloss and matt ceramic. Whether coloured or decorated, the sink is invariably an eye-catcher in a kitchen. This is especially true when the sink area includes a matching-design tab fitting as offered by Villeroy & Boch for all sinks. Depending on the model, the premium fittings can also be supplied in the same colour as the sink. When combined with matching Villeroy & Boch walls and floors, the result is a kitchen with a perfect colour scheme.
Accessories - sensible additional equipment for ceramic sinks
To make working at the sink more pleasant and comfortable, Villeroy & Boch offers a large selection of optional accessories. The screen basket outlet with excenter operation is used to collect food leftovers, and is operated using an overhead adjusting knob. A mini-bowl sink with its own outlet pipe serves as an additional working aid, while another outlet in the draining area allows it to be used as a wet working area, e.g. for defrosting. In addition, each sink model has different insert trays or sieves made of stainless steel for draining vegetables or salad, and compatible universal cutting boards made of wood, which can also be used to cover the basins. A stainless steel wire basket, used as a dish rack, and an integrated soap dispenser round off the ceramic sink, making it the perfect washing-up area.
For further information please contact:
Simone Kempf
PR-Manager Bath, Wellness and Tiles
Phone: + 49 (0) 68 64 – 81 21 10
E-Mail: kempf.simone@villeroy-boch.com