Here's my short list of things I didn't know about Swiss manufacturer Franke: 1. they're privately owned; 2. they're the world's "largest manufacturer of kitchen sinks"; and 3. though headquartered in Switzerland, they operate 85 subsidiaries in 41 countries. This means you'd be as likely to come across a shiny new "Peak" sink in Uzbekistan as in Hatfield, PA-which is, incidentally, the locale of Franke's state-side presence. And here I thought the best peaks were in my hometown state of Colorado… As far as mountainous correspondences go, though, the Peak Sink shares the icy glimmer of the Rockies in winter time, sporting, as it does, a touch of the golden sheen that gives the splendor to this seasonal spectacle. But the sleek modern look of Peak is only where the story starts.

Peak. Designed by Franke.

A Stunning Sink with an Integrated Colander

Though Peak could certainly live on looks alone, it's not content to rest on its pulchritudinous laurels. Rather, the piece aspires to nothing less than "the single biggest innovation in a residential sinks in many years." That's Charles F. Lawrence, the GM of Franke's Luxury Products Division in the US, talking, but just because he's intimately affiliated with the brand doesn't mean he's not speaking the gospel truth. So which among Peak's many innovations reaches the uppermost environs of this rarefied air? It's got to be the integrated colander. This feature allows perfect straining for untold quantities of all varieties of comestibles. The stainless steel colander fits snugly into the sink courtesy of Peak's patented and proprietary sink ledge. This effectively turns the entire basin into an over-sized strainer-definitely a boon for chefs who admire excellent organization and high function.



And that's just one of the many advanced features that set this sink above the fray: attractive square drain covers harmonize the look of the whole by concealing the waste kit while simultaneously increasing straining capacity; the integrated cutting board of sustainable Iroko Wood fits in the sink at an ergonomically appropriate height, thus saving your back while helping to save the atmosphere; and an array of exciting add-ons including but not limited to bowls, drain covers, drain control knobs, soap
dispensers, and coordinating faucets all match Peak's aesthetic heights. All this-in concert with Franke's commitment to "be able simultaneously to hit the mark in both handcrafting and consistency"-makes Peak a must for the concentric nexus of function and form that is the well-run kitchen.

Via KBBOnline.