It really depends if you cook a lot on your island. It is sometimes useful to be able to wash fruits a few inches from the place your cutting on. It is also useful if someone is washing there hands in the big sink you wash fruit at the same time with the prep sink. Make a list of pros and cons and discuss it with the rest of the family. Maybe ask friends for votes.

Really don't think you need it. You don't do much entertaining and there's a real sink right behind you. Not worth it if you ask me.

No prep sink. I think they're silly unless there are multiple cooks vying for a sink.

I prefer islands with sinks, stoves, etc

our main sink is in our 8x4 island and we put the prep sink next to our fridge (similar layout to where your fridge is) It does come in handy especially when two people cleaning at same time but not 100% needed "Its a nice to have". Actually, we mostly use it for our coffee set up/ clean up in the morning. As that counter area by the fridge has turned into the perfect coffee station more than food 'prep' area. Perhaps move the prep sink over from island to where the fridge/ microwave counter area is planned? Also you will find it will be a nice area to make drinks when company is over as its away from the main sink stove area and guests will have a place to stay out of the way when preparing drinks etc.

Looks to me where the placement is would cause a bottle neck in the kitchen if you had someone working between the main sink and stove and another person at the prep sink. And if you take anything out of the fridge to use at the prep sink, the landing for the food is either behind the faucet or having to walk to the other side of the sink so by then you might as well go to the main sink.

How many times have you wished you had one when you've been in your current kitchen? How will it be used and is it large enough for that purpose. My last house had 2 prep sinks (previous owner's decision) that I deemed useless as I couldn't even get a colander to fit in either of them. I would have rather had the counter space. I know there are people love that them but I know more people that have them that don't use them than people that do.

I think Lynn Paul's suggestion of putting it over by the microwave is a great idea.

I find that a prep sink is invaluable. Bringing items in from the garden, prepping things for canning or freezing, doing ice bath during freezing, soaking anything...to name just a few things I prefer not to have in the way of my normal sink use needs. I also do like to use a prep sink for icing drinks during Superbowl, keeping dips or jello shots on ice during summer parties. I think it really just depends on the owner of the space - no one design is for every home.

Wow, Thanks everyone! Such quick and thoughtful responses! I realized just a few minutes ago that this sink would collect: sponges, water glasses, soap dispenser, things that should go into the dishwasher... SO. That' final. I think I will deal with the occasional inconvenience of not having one in the island, but be OK with less surface clutter around the prep sink. I think the idea of putting it by the refrigerator and beverage/microwave area is excellent though! I will think about that.

I don't think they are necessary based on my personal kitchen use. I like an island that has no appliance/sink in them. We just redid our kitchen this past summer. We cook & entertain a lot. We serve on the island. We would find that it would be more in our way than it is worth. I agree that you need to really think hard about the pros and cons of the island prep sink. Is the "occasional" use worth it for you? Good luck!

Think about how your kitchen and will you use it. I envision from the top view utilitzing the different areas and how I would use them. If you won't use it or it becomes a catch all place then maybe you don't need it. If you have more then one person cooking it can be invaluable to keep your walkway open.

I often have a helper in the kitchen (thanks hubby). If you are lucky enough to have someone helping with prep or cleanup, the second sink so great. Just make sure it is big enough to be useful, and make it functional with a sprayer and garbage disposal. if it is usually just you, then a second sink is not so important. (Hmmm, could that explain why husband doesn't want it? LOL!)

LOVE the prep sink in our island. We put it in on a whim and now couldn't live without it...so convenient :)

Just fyi here is an actual pic of my kitchen (you can see both sinks) my cabinet maker Ken Bauer posted here on Houzz. Its the perfect size sink too. Not too small so still functions as a real sink.

Custom Grey Painted Kitchen · More Info

Take the celery out of the fridge. Go wash it off. You've got to chop it now, because that pan on the stove is getting to the right temperature. Where do you do that? Do you turn around to the island and do it there? Or do you do it right there next to the sink, so that you can put it into the pan?

The whole point of a prep sink is that prepping requires water. How you manage to wash off your knife, or cutting board, or hands is going to determine where your focus will be. When you have the elements in line like you have, the most natural spot for prep will not be the island. It will be on the smaller spot between the sink and the range.

The dynamic can change is there is a source of water on the island. The food goes from the fridge to the island to be washed. Then prepped right there.

It also allows someone to be involved in the cleanup tasks at the same time as the food prep is going on. You just toss that cutting board into the clean up area.

I always prep between sink and stove, so I see no need for a prep sink.

For a larger island, a prep sink is the way to go.!

Hmm, since you are doing away with the prep sink, I wonder if it would make sense to move the microwave over into the island now which would hide it from view from the other rooms and add to that low key kitchen look you are wanting to achieve.

A prep sink is handy if the fridge is too many steps away from the sink, and the prep sink is not.

Oh, more good feed back! Thanks everyone! I know a sink would be practical, and efficient, but I keep thinking about the visual clutter it will attract. I have about 8.5 feet from fridge to big sink. I think I will mentally walk through some of my tasks again without the prep sink, and see how that feels.

RE: moving the microwave - that's something to consider too. Although, our last kitchen had an undercounter microwave on the island, and there were a few times that someone's hip or bum hitting the appliance made it turn on and they didn't notice! We 'fried' one out that way. Kind of surprising that this would happen, but it did!

get a micro drawer then. the components are hidden in a pull out on top.