Bring Vintage Style to the Heart of your Home with a Kitchen Farmhouse Sink

by James Mahoney

What's old is suddenly new again. From clothes and shoes to accessories and appliances, it seems vintage style is gaining in popularity. One place to showcase your unique sense of style is in your kitchen with a kitchen farmhouse sink.

The sinks, which are also called apron-front sinks, are characterized by a deep basin and a unique mounting style. A kitchen farmhouse sink, unlike a traditional sink, is not placed into a hole in the countertop; instead, the front side of the sink basin is exposed.

Kitchen Farmhouse Sink: Not Just for Country Homes

Just because farmhouse is in the name of the sink, it doesn't mean the stylish kitchen farmhouse sink only belongs on the family farm. With a variety of colors and materials available, you can customize your kitchen farmhouse sink for your dream kitchen.

A kitchen farmhouse sink can be traditional white porcelain, copper, soapstone, or stainless steel. Your kitchen farmhouse sink can also feature a double bowl or a fluted front to accent your kitchen cabinetry.

Support for your Kitchen Farmhouse Sink

For less than $1,000, you can install your own kitchen farmhouse sink in your home. The first and most important step is obviously picking out the sink you want. Take into consideration the materials you want to use and be mindful of the price range you want to be in. And don't get discouraged if you can't afford your dream kitchen farmhouse sink - Ikea even has the products these days, so you can find a discounted version for you kitchen.

A traditional sink is dropped into a hole in the counter. Because of this setup, the countertop and cabinets below naturally support the sink. A kitchen farmhouse sink only has the cabinet below it to support its heavy weight - the porcelain vessel can weigh hundreds of pounds when filled with water. Under-counter supports made out of 2" x 4"s are needed to carry the extra weight on the sides and in the center of the sink.

Installing your Kitchen Farmhouse Sink

If you're choosing a kitchen farmhouse sink for a new kitchen remodel, you can coordinate with your contractor to pick cabinetry to accommodate the unique sink installation. If you're installing the kitchen farmhouse sink into an already existing cabinet, you'll have to get creative with a jigsaw.

Measure the depth of your sink and cut out the top of the cabinet. Depending on the height of your cabinets and the depth of your sink, you may have to purchase smaller doors to fit the space.

Celebrate your Style with a Kitchen Farmhouse Sink

Level the sink and use caulking to fill the gaps around it. Use molding to finish the project to make it look like the kitchen farmhouse sink was always there.

A kitchen farmhouse sink can bring new life to the heart of your home. The vintage style and function will, no doubt, be a conversation piece for years to come.

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