Think style and function when shopping for the newest and most popular kitchen and bathroom sinks on the market.

“People really have to sit down and think about how they live and how they function,” said Enrique Crespo, one of the partners of Casa Nova Design Group in Tampa.

“If you really are a cook, you need to know what type of sink you are going to want because you are not going to want to get something that is not going to function for you.”

And there are many styles to choose from. Today’s sinks come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and materials.

“For a long time what we had were cast iron sinks that were enameled, and we graduated to stainless steel,” said Crespo. “Now, what I always recommend is the low mount. It’s a much cleaner look and you can wipe the counter. And you don’t have everything getting stuck under the lip of the sink.”

Another popular trend is the apron-front sink, Crespo said. The new apron-front sinks are a modern twist on a traditional design.

He also said many people are leaning toward modern looks or a combination of modern and traditional.

“I see people going with kitchens that have more modern stainless steel appliances showing, and people who might put a more contemporary sink in the kitchen with traditional cabinets and mixing the two,” he said.