Cast iron, apron front, farm sink… Kohler, Whitehaven
I wrote a very detailed post about our considerations in choosing a cast iron kitchen sink, rather than fireclay; and also why we chose self-trimming/overlay, vs a true apron front farm sink.
This was the sink I settled on:
Kohler, 30” Whitehaven. FYI: this sink also comes with a shorter apron that would allow you to replace a sink you already have installed, without requiring that you replace the cabinet!
They show up on Craigslist from time to time, (because when you are rich, you can change your mind after you have already spent money!)
But they sell FAST, (and are unlikely to be located right next door to your house.)
I paid $250!! (but drove an hour and twenty minutes, each way.)
Now that we’ve moved the refrigerator, either wall of the kitchen’s perimeter/L-shape can have the sink (or the cooktop) centered, and design out from there.
Originally I’d put the sink on wall B; see the blue text on layout below… also note the position of the doorway, (lower left corner of layout) I’ll explain below.
When you walk into our kitchen, your initial line of sight does not include wall A; so my original plan had been to put all the stove/fridge ugly, kitchen-y stuff there— in the least-noticeable place— and leave the rest of the space as kitchen-FREE as possible.
But now that we are doing an induction cooktop, (rather than gas) I’m inclined to swap them again… that way you won’t immediately see the drain rack, (which we always leave out on the counter)… and we’ll have an uninterrupted run of countertop– which will be least-distracting under whatever mirror ends up on that wall.
Originally, I was planning the lady head mirror, but might end up with this auction mirror instead… I think I have to see them both IN the space to know which I prefer.
Aesthetically, I love the lady… but the shape and relative-simplicity of the auction mirror might work better.
Or maybe I will NOT choose.
MAYBE I WILL HANG THEM SIDE BY SIDE.
ON THE CEILING.
And when people enter our kitchen, THEY WILL KEEL OVER FROM THE SHEER MAGNIFICENCE.
Not a bad way to go.
If you’re new, don’t miss turning an antique grand piano INTO our kitchen island!
Vickie H.
April 12, 2018 @ 9:49 am
SWOONING!!!!!!! What AMAZING LUCK!!!!
Lora Hart
April 12, 2018 @ 9:51 am
Cooking grease on the mirror. That’s all I’m gonna say.
Paige Sander
April 12, 2018 @ 9:53 am
I actually think the lady is better. The simple auction mirror seems to fight the piano to me. The dark wood of the piano and the dark wood of the lady mirror seem to play off each other. Plus curved lady mirror + curved piano legs = all the yes. I imagine the mirror would hang over a fireplace with the piano next to it in the music room of a grand palace. Which suits the kitchen just fine, in my humble opinion.
April
April 12, 2018 @ 2:14 pm
I second Paige’s thoughts on the curves of the Lady Mirror. Even without the piano consideration, I love seeing curves thrown in with all of those straight lines!
The Whitehaven sink is a great choice, BTW. Of course, it was also my choice for our cottage 2 years ago, and I have no regrets. Looka beautiful, drains well, and the side drain takes a garbage disposal and still allow lots of storage below. We have a simple edge on our soapstone counter, but it looks like it was meant to be with that sink!
Barb Ben
April 12, 2018 @ 9:55 am
I personally solved the dish drainer ugliness with an unobtrusive microfiber drying mat. It is grey and blends in well with my grey toned granite countertops.
Barb
Bleubook
April 12, 2018 @ 12:23 pm
I too struggles with the dish drainer ugliness…I have a french bottle dryer rack that kind of works to drain glasses if you carefully prop them up just so. (my husband is not a fan, but I don’t like to give him too many options.) Otherwise I just dry the items as I wash them. And I use the dishwasher heavily.
Anna
April 15, 2018 @ 9:49 am
In Finland we have these https://99percentinvisible.org/article/finnish-dishes-simple-nordic-design-beats-dishwashers-drying-racks/
April
April 12, 2018 @ 2:15 pm
Second the mat, Barb!! I have several that I rotate, just throw one in the wash and pull out a clean one. They never get gross like the nooks and crannies of dishracks.
penny
April 16, 2018 @ 8:38 am
YAY!!!!
Robin
April 12, 2018 @ 9:57 am
We are planning to construct a new kitchen addition soon – but it will be added to our 1903 Folk-Victorian farmhouse. I’ve been following your journey, and pinning the heck out of details like that marble counter edge. I think we will have fancy touches (like a FAB Schumacher dragon fabric, and an amazing glass backsplash), but I want to mix in a bit of industrial/farm (jade enamel light fixtures), and some vintage advertising art (I’m a graphic designer). It will take a bit of juggling to make it all work, but I have confidence. I CAN DO ALL OF THE THINGS. Thanks for all of the great ideas. Next, please add a party garage to your home: with drive-through functionality, and drop down door screens to make it a tricked-out screened picnic shelter for family reunions. That’s where we are headed next, and I need to pick your brain! 🙂
Allie
April 12, 2018 @ 9:58 am
I was only indifferent about my stainless steel sink until seeing yours – now it must go immediately! Also, where will the chandeliers go? I think over the island and the sink and the cooktop could work. Plus with the mirrors it will look like you have more! xAllie http://www.theallthatglittersblog.com
Brenda
April 12, 2018 @ 10:00 am
I definitely would NOT put the stovetop under the mirror. Only because it will absorb all the cooking particles. Even if you don’t cook with oils, etc, there is still steam and that will ruin the finish on your mirror. Otherwise, everything looks awesome and I cannot wait to see the finished product. Especially that Piano!!!!
Di
April 12, 2018 @ 10:01 am
ohhh magnificence…faints….hits head on isLand dead from magnificence…Victoria cleans blood stain evidence lol
Toni
April 12, 2018 @ 10:02 am
Super modern cook top.
mid range old/new apron front sink. Super tall pull down faucet to match?
repurposed old piano island
“no” refrigerator
From your diagram I can’t figure out how many feet your work triangle would be but more than 10 feet from the refrigerator to B. Add a couple of feet so you can walk around the piano. Is this your current triangle?
teri
April 12, 2018 @ 10:04 am
fab video!
Jane Baginski
April 12, 2018 @ 10:26 am
I totally love your project and your humor. You made me laugh out loud today with the keeling over image. I’m also ‘doing’ my kitchen and am considering some of your thoughts and experiences in its redesign. I’m in a Florida beach cottage with 18’ vaulted ceilings. It’s a fixer upper, so the projects are very exciting.
Jayne Zabala
April 12, 2018 @ 10:30 am
I like the idea of the sink on Wall “A” because it is closer to the refrigerator and when you’re washing fruit/veggies etc. it is a shorter, straight diagonal line to the refrigerator. That way you won’t have to walk around the piano to get from the sink to the refrigerator and you can look sideways out the window while using the sink. Additionally, it’s always nice if you don’t have to have plumbing on an outside wall if you live in an area where you have freezing temperatures. Like you, I would like to see each mirror in place to make the decision!
Jennifer
April 12, 2018 @ 2:53 pm
This was exactly my thought about the sink placement!
Also, how did we make it through an entire post without a cat picture…I might be suffering from some withdrawal.
kmkat
April 13, 2018 @ 11:51 am
Having lived my entire nearly seven decades in Minnesota and Wisconsin — mainly in the northern parts of those frozen states — I can testify that having the sink on an outside wall is a non-issue. Almost every house I have lived in since age ten had the sink on an outside wall, some of them on the north wall of the kitchen, and it was NEVER a problem. One word: insulation. Heard of it? And if, somewhere down the road it does become a problem, say, when Philly nighttime temps hover at -30˚ to -40˚ F as they do occasionally in my northern MN hometown, the simple solution employed by everyone in a similar situation (oh, the alliteration, it burns!) can be your rescue: turn the water on at a slow trickle and let it run overnight. Presto, no frozen pipes.
Pam
April 14, 2018 @ 1:23 pm
I live in Canada in a condo and have a kitchen sink on an outside wall. I heard the previous owners once had the sink pipes freeze so if it’s extremely cold _15-30C, I open the doors of the cupboard under the sink. People don’t consider a closed cupboard against an outside wall, the air inside can be quite cold. Letting the heat from my kitchen fill the cupboard is enough to offset the cold from outside the building and the pipes don’t freeze.
Kate Sawyer
April 12, 2018 @ 10:32 am
I have to say, I don’t think you should ever consider leaving the PA/Philadelphia area to live anywhere else in the US. I’ve lived on the west coast, in the PNW, in the SW and currently in the upper Midwest and *never* have I seen so many treasures listed on regional Craigslists as you seem to find in your region. Your area is like a GFT gold mine. You’ll be horribly disappointed if you ever leave! Or . . . you’ll spend a lot more time driving in pursuit of GFTs.
RobynB
April 12, 2018 @ 12:11 pm
Right? That’s what I’m always thinking, reading this blog in California. If something wonderful does get listed, it’s crazy expensive and there are 200 people after it. Sigh.
Lesley
April 12, 2018 @ 11:00 am
I just attempted to order this sink new on Monday. Kohler’s cast iron factory burned in January, none of their cast iron products are available until late summer! Thanks for the Craigslist tip. You are a lucky lady to find it!!
Janet
April 12, 2018 @ 11:21 am
Love the sink choice- I have three of them! Also if we are allowed to vote, I would choose the auction mirror. Looking forward to seeing what develops…or redevelops. Changing our minds isn’t a bad thing, it just proves we have one.
Laura
April 12, 2018 @ 11:26 am
There’s a custom rack that fits in the sink, so all my dishes drain in there and are out of sight!
Cenepk10
April 12, 2018 @ 12:01 pm
I vote for Lady Head. Love her with the piano…Loving that new sink.. ( she shoots, she scores !!! )
Mary
April 12, 2018 @ 12:04 pm
A couple of years ago (yes I have had it that long) I found a Kohler farm house sink in cobalt blue at a Habitat ReStore for $50 in almost new condition – currently $3000 at Lowes. I wasn’t planning on a kitchen remodel and didn’t want to waste it on the house I had at the time but knew I had to have it. It sat in my garage for 2 years until I recently found a house worthy of it lol. First thing I said when I found the house is “My sink is going to look perfect in here!” Cant wait to put it in my “new to me” 1940 cottage in Tucson! Going to look amazing with the butcher block and backsplash I picked out. When you find a bargain you just have to grab it.
Lolly
April 14, 2018 @ 1:50 pm
Oh funny! We were thinking about kitchen renos in the first house we owned, and I found a huge, white farmhouse sink on ebay….about 75 miles away. I called the guy (he was one of those businesses that sold ebay listings for people), and asked if I could pick up the sink vs him shipping it to us (cause how expensive would THAT have been?!?). He told me it would be $11 to pick it up. I won the ebay bid at .99! So a new to me kitchen sink for $11.99+ a trip to the city. We never reno-ed that first house, but entered into a contract on our 2nd house when the insides were bare to the studs….and I got to use my sink then….5yrs later!!!
Cenepk10
April 12, 2018 @ 12:08 pm
Also ! Love the design in your drawing- With sink where it is shown … Can’t remember if mirror will reflect window & bounce around the light. Hmmm – but that would be fabulous!
Nadege
April 12, 2018 @ 12:20 pm
If wall A is your hide_away wall, I’d say that it would be better suited for your induction cooktop, because cooking is a messier task than cleaning and I seem to need the fridge more when I have something on the fire, a dab of butter here, a little cream there, a swig of wine everywhere. Now That might not be your case if you do not use dairy or substitutes but what you might not escape is the grease buildup on your fantastic mirror. So if seeing the mirror first thing as you go into the room is your priority, I’d say the sink / mirror combo will be better on wall B . However the sink position is closely dictated by the dishwasher’s. So you’d need to have enough room on that B wall . Also worth considering is where your everyday crockery and cutlery live, close to the dishwasher is always a step saver.
We have an apron farm sink and I leave a small drying rack on a cushioned pad in one f the bowls , the sink is deep so even if a couple of things are drying there, you can’t see them.
Last but not least , are you not considering a pot filler ? We did our kitchen last year , I spent what felt like a lifetime weighing options, planning, straining my eyesight on Pinterest and either because of my own shortcomings or to save my husband ‘s sanity ( installation guy of course), let this particular tap out of the design. Now hardly a week goes by that I do not bitterly regret such lack of determination. I can’t wait to see your kitchen done, love drooling over the character you build into all your reno projects.