Homeowners are placing more importance on their kitchen sinks as both a stylish and highly functional kitchen necessity, it has been claimed.Writing for the Washington Post, design commentator and cookbook author Domenica Marchetti said that she likes to spend most of her time dreaming up, and then perfecting, delicious recipes.However, she added In reality, most of my time is spent at the kitchen sink, scrubbing roasting pans, washing out the food processor and rinsing knives and prep bowls.Ms Marchetti said that the growing importance of the kitchen sink as a food preparation and general maintenance tool has prompted manufacturers to create larger utility sinks as opposed to smaller prep options. She spoke to Paul Lobkovich of Lobkovich Kitchen Design in the US who observed Now were doing a lot of big, rectangular cleanup sinks in one area of the kitchen, and a smaller -- but not cramped -- prep sink in another area.Meanwhile, Ms Marchetti noted that the sink has also become a glamorous accessory in the kitchen, now available in a range of finishes like porcelain and stainless steel.This week, interior designer Jonathan Baron told Cooperator.com that homeowners are breaking up extensive kitchen renovations into smaller stages as a way of making the costs more manageable.