Apron-front, farmhouse sink options… and why I decided AGAINST FIRECLAY.
I thought there was one kitchen decision that was finished… But then I remembered that if you think something is not a problem, it is most likely because you have not yet determined the extent to which it is actually a huge problem.
This is what I want in a sink:
single bowl.
apron front.
offset drain.
undermount.
white.
I had originally wanted the 36” Rohl Shaw farmhouse sink… the larger size is visually appealing to me. But I’ve scaled back to the 30” sink because I’m not planning to bathe in the kitchen, and we don’t have a huge amount of space.
However. Over the last week, I’ve gotten my PhD in fireclay… I ended up in the quagmire of 500-open-tabs, trying to convince myself that a sink that gets half 5-stars and half 1-star doesn’t equal a possible problem.
The review here pretty much sums up everything I read about installation issues: it will be amazing to look at, but you your husband might abandon the project halfway through.
What I already knew:
Ooooh pretty.
$$$$$$$$$.
Heavy.
What I did not know:
–fireclay can crack.
–or discolor.
–or craze.
–it can develop pitting.
–the sink measurements vary by as much as +/- 2%, across ALL PLANES.
–sometimes people have issues with drainage: if the pitch is off slightly, the water can pool in a shallow area away from the drain.
Basically, fireclay is a natural material; AND the sinks are handmade… which means, depending on your personality, EITHER:
Perfection is in the imperfection.
Or it will make you crazy.
I usually skew towards crazy… especially in the service of something shiny, but I think this is going to be a rare practical exception.
PLUS, I have to consider that my sink-installation-guy is brand new to the process.
I can guess how he will feel about me supervising the job; clutching my pearls, playing YouTube installation videos, and reading aloud instructions, (via bullhorn) that explain how YOU MUST BE CAREFUL WHEN TIGHTENING THE FLANGE.
I gave Paul a brief overview of this potential in-home circus, and he said getting it level wasn’t even his biggest concern… he was worried about the issue of how a true farmhouse sink shows the face of the cabinet’s rough opening.
And how for someone who has done this 500 times, no big deal… but for a guy who is married to the customer, and ALREADY perceives the customer as being “difficult,” there is the concern of mis-cutting / not-NASA-level-alignment / +/- 2% variation / and the extreme unlikelyhood of the lady of the house being satisfied with “we’ll just fill that space with caulk.”
This review details (with photos,) how a woman bumped her fireclay sink with a crockpot and a huge chunk fell off the front… This was sort of the deciding factor for me because regardless of whether this is a miniscule possibility:
A– I am a risk-adverse person who likes to control all factors.
B–my installation guy is NOT going to want to replace the sink… ESPECIALLY if it involves mathematical sorcery and removing the countertop.
So I started looking at other sinks… I really like a wall-mounted sink with an integrated backsplash.
I revisited the vintage option. I do really love an old sink, and they can be had for next to no money… but ultimately I think I’m addicted to the practicality of an undermount/being able to wipe the counter directly into the sink.
Below is my dream sink amalgamation. If I were a foot shorter, I’d do this… those are old utility sinks, and they are DEEP. But already I feel hunched over washing dishes, I can’t imagine reaching down another foot.
I see this version on craigslist from time to time or at the salvage yard and they look amazing in person– super thick and solid. Although you’d have to retrofit the drain to fit a garbage disposal. Most vintage sink drains aren’t large enough.
Considering everything– that I like the look of a farmhouse sink, I want to undermount, and it needs to be apron front because I’m 6’, Paul taller, and I’m hoping that installing the sink closer to my body is going to be a big improvement.
So I think what I’ve ended up with is the Kohler Whitehaven… these are sort of a faux farmhouse. They have a self-trimming face that covers the rough opening of the cabinet. So it LOOKS like you cut the cabinet to fit the front of the sink, but the lip of the sink is actually covering it.
October 15, 2015 @ 10:46 am
Very nice choice…looks effortlessly chic. I just completed a year-long top-to-bottom kitchen remodel and I went with an undermount apron-front farmhouse copper sink. Double bowls, not single though. It’s beautiful to look at but if I knew going in that every little spec of food or drink that sits in it for more than 10 minutes would turn the copper a puke green color, I may have gone a different route. Scratch that, I know I would have gone a different route. Even Dawn bubbles that get left behind when you wash dishes turn the sink green. Dawn bubbles?!?! I keep a little “CSI” flashlight in the drawer next to the sink and everyday I inspect it for anything that might be lurking to ruin the patina. I believe that falls into your category of “skewing towards crazy”.
October 15, 2015 @ 10:52 am
I would like to know how you do dishes in a one basin sink? I have always had two basins. One for soapy water and one side to rinse the dishes. How do you rinse without a soap free basin? Hold the dishes up and over the suds? I have always wondered about the one basin sinks. I just do not get it.
October 15, 2015 @ 12:03 pm
I have the one basin, and I love it. I can put sheet pans, skillets and my big dutch oven in the sink and soak/scrub them. Best thing ever. I use a would use dishpan in the sink if I needed to do lots of stuff (and it can hold stuff under the sink most of the time so it’s not in the way). I haven’t had to do that yet, as I primarily use the dishwasher but for the big things. I just fill up whatever large item is in the sink and use to hold the soapy water, and yes run the water over the other part of the sink where it isn’t to rinse stuff. But I’m not handwashing loads of dishes. Just knives and the undishwasherable stuff. Had the two bowl sinks for almost 20 years, and I’m so, so happy with the one big one. Did a 32 inch one as I had the space.
October 15, 2015 @ 6:46 pm
What she said! Everything. I don’t wash many dishes – just the undishwasherable (What a great word!) things. I so love not hitting items on the center divider.
October 27, 2015 @ 11:23 am
One bowl for life! I agree, it’s probably not ideal if you don’t have a dishwasher, but I only handwash knives and big pans, so one bowl sinks are awesome. We have a kohler knockoff undermount stainless steel sink and I love being able to sweep the crumbs off the counter directly into the sink. We had a scratch and dent Kohler in our last house (mounted so the scratch was at the front, which was unseeable unless you literally put your head in the sink and looked back towards your belly) and honestly the quality between the kohler knockoff and the actual Kohler is nil. I made sure to look for a higher gauge of stainless steel and went with rounded inside corners (the squared off ones look fab but are hard to clean). Overstock.com and under $200.
October 15, 2015 @ 11:05 am
I have three Kohler farmhouse sinks – one in my B&B and two in our other house that are part of an ongoing huge kitchen remodel. The two new ones are the Whitehaven – one is 30″ the other is 36″. Love the offset drain. The big one is fabulous for those huge turkey roasting pans, sheet pans, etc. that need to soak. Handwashing dishes in a single basin sink is easy – just put a plastic dishpan in there with the soapy water. Not rocket science. For me, the large basin is key. I have soapstone counters and had sloping drainboards routed in the counter on either side of the 36″ sink in the clean up kitchen so everything drains into the farm sink. Love it. Good choice Victoria!
October 15, 2015 @ 11:14 am
All those sinks look great to me. I have a large 2 basin cast iron white enamel that is Very deep, about 14″ deep in the left basin, which I love, is great for big pots and pans.
Paid about 20 bucks for it at a local junkyard. Cleaned up great. Weighs a TON.
It is in a cupboard like the photo of the one you have above with the claw feet-my cupboard is not that fancy. Just a plain one my guys built for it.
If you are six feet-be sure you build the sink cupboard extra tall, I am only 5’6 and mine is standard size and still too short, now that photo has me thinking……..
October 15, 2015 @ 11:20 am
I love my apron front undermount sink. It suits my house which is an 1874 farmhouse. I really like not having to reach across 4-6″ of counter to get to the sink like my last two sinks. It’s big enough for my large roasting pan. I got a single because I didn’t have the space for a double and feel you don’t really need one if you have a dishwasher.
Although it’s fireclay I haven’t had an issue with it. I was warned not to use bleach. If you do it will affect the finish and it will stain easier. You will end up having to bleach frequently if you start.
Installation was no problem, the kitchen guys filled the space under and around the sink nicely (mine has sides that taper in just slightly at the bottom). No problems with draining.
Shelley – My faucet is a single mount with pull out sprayer. That’s how I rinse my dishes. Because the sink is fairly deep I only have a few inches of soapy water then hold the item up and spray it before putting on a drying mat to dry (I hate those plastic drying racks with matching drain mat! Not happening in my house!)
October 15, 2015 @ 11:20 am
I was talked out of the fabricated soapstone sink I really wanted (integrated with our soapstone counters) so purchased the 30 inch Whitehaus fireclay single basin. It seems huge compared to my old sink so I am glad I didn’t go for the 36. It drains to the offset side perfectly (and our runnels are carved into the drain board on that side too). We do not have a disposal so I don’t think I need to worry about the crackle I’ve heard about. However, I am a klutz and feel like the front is a delicate tea cup just waiting for me to hit it with a Le Crueset pot. Every few weeks I also soak a mild bleach solution for the few stains I’ve seen. I love your solution for the apron front. I spent a ridiculous time researching and still second guess things. It will look gorgeous!
Shelly, I put almost everything in the dishwasher. A single basin makes washing the large items so much easier. I do hold them under running water.
October 15, 2015 @ 3:52 pm
I wasn’t talked out of my giant integrated soapstone sink and I love it. After two years there are a couple of chips, but its black and you can’t see them! It fits three giant pans inside. And a five gallon bucket when necessary. Bucks County Soapstone — highly recommended!
October 15, 2015 @ 11:20 am
Just my .02… At my last house, I designed the kitchen specifically for me. Wide drawers instead of lower cabinet doors, a giant single undercount sink (I did bathe children and pets in it). My favorite feature was the wall mounted faucet! I so miss it! I H.A.T.E. Cleaning around all the spouts and handles and whatnot. The wall mount removes the opportunity for all the gunk build up. If you can put that spigot on the wall, sunshine and joy will fill your days. Pinky promise!!
October 15, 2015 @ 11:23 am
STOP STOP STOP!!! Don’t make a decision until you look at my sink. I have the best sink for you. I read about it on another blog, I read about all the Shaw problems and decided to go with a Reinhard sink. I have a picture of my sink here: http://antiquestyle.blogspot.com/2015/01/kitchen-before-after.html
I based it on the recommendation of Brooke Giannetti here:
http://brookegiannetti.typepad.com/velvet_and_linen/2013/09/patina-farm-update-kitchen-details.html
It’s a German sink, made without all the imperfections that the Shaw has. I also liked the fact that it is deeper than the other sinks you are looking at. It drains well. The surface is amazing, I swear I hardly ever clean the sink, the porcelain is so slick nothing sticks to it.
It wasn’t a big deal to install, yes my husband did it and NO he is not a plumber. The cabinet maker left a plywood deck for it, and we cut a larger hole around the drain to make room for the disposal, and it went fine.
Email me if you want more photos.
October 15, 2015 @ 11:24 am
I LOVE it!! I think you’ve made a fantastic choice that is both practical AND beautiful and looks like the same asthetic as the fireclay! Smart shopper!!!
October 15, 2015 @ 11:25 am
PS. I bought it here, on Brooke Gianetti’s link:
http://www.signaturehardware.com/30-reinhard-single-bowl-fireclay-farmhouse-sink35.html
at $668 it is quite a good buy!
October 15, 2015 @ 11:30 am
I love the sink. I’ve got a 2-basin sink and always worried that while I love the look of a farm sink, would I be happy with the lack of a second sink? I’ll enjoy hearing your report on this topic…in a couple of years when you’ve used it past the honeymoon phase of a new kitchen! Which faucet are you leaning towards? I really love the little sink set in the vintage piece with stone walls. I want that kitchen!
xo.
Karen
October 15, 2015 @ 10:20 pm
Hi Karen! I love my big single vintage sink. It’s so spacious, and mine’s not to deep to be uncomfortable on the back. For all my regular dishes I use the dishwasher, but for oversized things and plastics I just wash them in the sink and run the water to rinse. I’ll be a single-bowl person for life!
October 15, 2015 @ 11:30 am
Farmhouse sink researchers of the world, unite! I’ve spent years on Gardenweb for just this subject, even when I came to the realization that the budget would allow only Ikea. And then I bought two Ikea sinks (one double and one single) years before our reno because I was/am convinced that if we’d waited to buy, Ikea would promptly discontinue them. So there they sit in boxes waiting for us…
October 15, 2015 @ 11:43 am
I know this will be an unpopular opinion, but I went through the process of wanting an apron sink during my remodel (white cabinets with carrera marble). Ultimately, because I use mostly cast iron pans, I decided the likelihood of cracking the sink with a heavy pan and all the pot marks wasn’t going to make me happy so we did an under-mount stainless (I did a double sink so one side can be the clean dish rack).
June 3, 2017 @ 3:04 pm
hHmm, that must be the reason they make it mandatory to buy the steel grill sink liner w rubber feet to go with the sink. Now I know.
October 15, 2015 @ 11:54 am
PS Thanks for the Tim Barber picture/link — Christmas in October!
October 15, 2015 @ 12:02 pm
Truly a wise decision. I was developing anxiety just reading your post–that many possible problems is certainly recipe for disaster. And the sink you’ve chosen looks great! Hardly seems like a compromise to me.
October 15, 2015 @ 12:09 pm
Ooooh pretty. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I have been a home owner of a total of 8 homes in 4 different States and the above encapsulates my Nirvana and my Husbands Hell. He is not in Paul’s League (who could be?) but very very good at taking Houses apart and putting them back repaired,healed and Pretty!
We always sold our homes quickly and for far more than we paid for them………but never more than we had poured into them in $$$. And that would not include the free labor quotient of my “Paul”. I’m sure you will raise your Cabinets to a height that is comfortable for you and Paul and be assured that higher Cabinets will not be a factor in resale. As a girl 5’9″ tall in the fifties-I was taller than even the football team but now the kids I see out and about are-huge! We are feeding them well or there’s something in the water?
I am thrilled that you are back and I would have bet that your writing couldn’t be any more interesting,informative or filled with Wit. I was wrong.
October 15, 2015 @ 12:10 pm
WOW! Did you bring back memories: The year of the sink. Finally, I decided on Kohler’s Harborview sink with the legs. It’s 4′ long!!! Has sliding dry rack/cutting board. Has integrated backsplash (a requirement for me) and two faucets. It took three plumbers and a hydraulic jack to install the sucker. I like not having the cabinet under the sink. I was going for unfitted kitchen look and this sink was a key. Regarding castiron vs fireclay. It took forever to get the legs shipped because they kept having problems with the fireclay! Yes you could wash a large dog in it. However, it functions as a prep area with a sink. If it is possible to be in love with a sink, I am!
October 15, 2015 @ 12:12 pm
I’m merely a medium-sized cook, but my tall cook friends have not only raised their lower cabinetry but used the larger toe-kick space to have extra storage under there.
October 15, 2015 @ 12:27 pm
Get the Kohler Whitehaven and never look back! It’s an amazing sink and I would purchase again in a heart beat. No one can tell it’s not an “official” farm sink and the self trimming is probably the thing I love most about it.
I’ve got the 30″ Wide with the Tall Apron and love love love it. It’s super easy to clean, shows zero water spots, and looks gorgeous when placed on an apron sink base cabinet. If you haven’t seen it in a showroom yet, go see it – but I ordered mine sight unseen and love it, so if you haven’t got a showroom nearby with one, don’t let that deter you.
My sister has the 36″W, Tall Apron Whitehaven that I ordered her for her remodel. When it arrived, her husband joked “Is it a sink or a bathtub?” because it was so large and gorgeous!
Go for the tall apron to get more of that fireclay big basin look. And go for the widest one you can in your space and size your sink cabinet for that – The 36″ is made to fit a 36″ wide cabinet, it doesn’t need to go in a 39″, and the same with the 30″ going in a 30″ cabinet.
This is the one thing in the kitchen that you shouldn’t doubt and definitely will love. Plus, Paul will love that any imperfection in trimming the sink base will be hidden by the self-trimming sink.
October 15, 2015 @ 12:33 pm
I like it!