Kohler Smart Divide Sink Review

The Kohler Smart Divide sink is one among several varieties in Kohler's cast iron sink lineup. The Smart Divide gets its name from it's most distinguishing feature which is a lowered divider between the adjacent bowls.

Kohler Smart Divide Deerfield

If you've ever had a double-basin kitchen sink you know that it's not always the most convenient setup to wash larger pots and pans and cookie sheets.

You usually have to tip the pans sideways into one of the bowls to wash them and then fumble with them again to wash the other side.

When it comes time to rinse you usually end up with splashed countertops because you have to hold the pan up above the sink's divider there's typically not a lot of room between the faucet and the sink divider.

That's where Kohler's Smart Divide sink is targeted. It's designed to allow enough room to wash these larger items more conveniently while still offering the benefits of a double sink.

You can fill up one basin and still use the adjacent bowl for rinsing and draining. When you need to wash larger items or just need greater capacity, fill it above the divide to fill both bowls.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Doesn't cast iron have a tendency to scuff and scratch?
   The porcelain enamel coating can scuff and scratch, the extent depending on how it's used. Scuffs can be cleaned off using Kohler's cast iron sink cleaner or a similar alternative.

   The porcelain enamel is a very hard material and Kohler offers a limited lifetime warranty on its cast iron sinks against chips, cracks or burns. A reasonable amount of care should be sufficient insurance against this type of damage. However over the long term, any sink material, including cast iron, will show scratches due to normal use.

   The use of a sink grate or a rubber mat at the bottom of the sink is recommended to add protection from bumping and dropped dishes and pots.

2. Aren't these types of sinks more costly?
   Costs range from about $290 for a white Kohler Langlade self-rimming Smart Divide sink to about $790 for a sink like a black Deerfield undermount Smart Divide sink. Different colors have different price points. Relative to other types of kitchen sinks the Kohler Smart Divide sink falls in a mid range between very inexpensive builder grade sinks and higher end stainless and multi-function sinks.
3. Aren't cast iron sinks pretty heavy and do they come in an under-counter style?
   Kohler's Smart Divide sinks come in both undermount and drop-in (self-rimming) versions. Yes, cast iron is heavy and undermount cast iron sinks need proper bracing. However there are several companies, including Kohler, that make special inexpensive mounting brackets for these kinds of sinks.
4. Can the Kohler Smart Divide be used like a traditional two-bowl sink, for example, using one side for a dish drainer?
   These sinks work just as effectively as two-basin sinks as others that have a conventional (taller) divider. The only difference is that that the Smart Divide sink bowl capacity is less than a sink with a conventional divide.

   They accept a dish drainer like other two-bowl sinks or can be used in conjunction with a garbage disposal as a prep sink.

   Smart Divide Sink Shown With Strainer

   The divider is still high enough that it separates the two bowls while still offering the capacity of a larger single bowl when needed.

   Another benefit associated with its dual-use design is that if you want to soak something, you can fill just one basin up to the depth of the divider while still having the other side to use as you need.

   With a single-basin large (or small) sink, you have to utilize the whole sink to soak or thaw items.

   Conversely however, if the amount of water you need for soaking exceeds the height of the divider, you'll then have to use both sides of the Kohler Smart Divde sink.

5. Won't the lower divide actually just be a nuisance "hump" between the two basins when using it as a larger single-bowl sink?
   This naturally depends on your preferences but when washing large cookie sheets for example, there's still enough capacity to submerge the pan below the water. It also makes rinsing these items easier because the lower divide creates more clearance below the faucet and allows you to swing the faucet as needed over the pan without it getting in the way.
6. Are all the Smart Divide sinks the same configuration?
   These sinks come in several shapes and sizes where you can get basins of equal size or one basin that's larger than it's adjacent one.

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Pros & Cons

Strengths

Variable Styling
The benefits of the full/divided sink design in a variety of styles including different shapes and basin sizes.

Good Looks
The cast iron has a shine that is hard to beat with other materials for the durability it provides.

Color Availability
Smart Divide sinks come in a broad color palette including black, neutrals as well as vibrant colors in the red and blue families.

Flexible Functionality
Get the benefits of a large single-bowl sink when you need it and the versatility of a double-bowl sink too. Washing, rinsing and moving larger objects within the envelope of the sink is more convenient than a two-bowl sink with a conventional divider.

What To Watch For

Weight
It's a heavy sink so undermount installations require proper support either through special bracket kits for cast iron undermount sinks or with custom-built bracing inside the base cabinet that supports it.

Protection Helps
Porcelain cast iron is durable but protecting the sink, particularly the bottom, from scratching, scuffs and scrapes will minimize the need to clean those scuffs and maintain the sink's good looks long term. Rubber pads or sink grates will usually do the trick.

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