I'm not sure if I mentioned this before but this ENTIRE kitchen renovation actually started because of a sink.
I wanted a new one. Specifically, I wanted this apron front sink from Ikea.
I liked that it wasn't an undermount sink. Because in the olden days (when people got scurvy and rickets) sinks would not have been undermount. They would have sat on the counter like a regular sink. So that's how I like an apron front/farmhouse sink to sit now.
It was cheery and big and had an apron. Like Mrs. Butterworth. Or Mrs. Garrett.
The only problem was it was cheery and too big and had an apron. It didn't fit my non-standard depth counters.
Which got me to thinking about new counters. But, just getting new counters wouldn't work because they'd stick out 6" from my non-standard depth cupboards.
The only solution was to forget about it and realize I should just appreciate everything I already had.
Let's see ... I had a life that was falling apart, an 11 year old relationship that ran away from home, a grunge filled countertop and a fridge that was so volatile I'd nicknamed it Kanye.
57 seconds later it was decided. I was getting a new kitchen.
And it would allll revolve around the apron sink I've wanted for years. A big, farmhouse sink.
Big sink. Farmhouse. Apron. Crap.
As it turns out apron sinks take up a lot of space underneath the counter. If under the sink happens to be where you keep your kitchen garbage, you'll have to either rethink where you keep the garbage or rethink how big your garbage can is. I have 2 large garbage bins under the sink. One for compostable items and one for regular old, can't do anything with it, can't be recycled, can't be turned into a baby mobile garbage.
And with my small kitchen with limited cupboards there really wasn't anywhere else to put the garbage.
So the sink that started it all ... was out.
Funny how things like that happen.
After doing a bit of research and listening to my kitchen designer Carol Reed I went with a simple sink and faucet combo.
The faucet actually came first because it was generously provided to me by the fine folks at Brizo. I never knew I had a dream faucet, but as it turns out I did, and this was it.
It's a touch faucet, which means to turn it on or off all you have to do is tap the faucet with any part of your hand or arm. No more salmonella scares! Plus since I don't have a utility sink in this whole house, at any given time I could be washing just about anything off of my hands. Things that really shouldn't come into contact with anything but a biohazard suit.
The other thing I LOVE, love, love about this faucet is it's white. WHITE. Plus I was drawn to the general design of it immediately. Something about it says, "Hey! Karen! You're doing a Scandinavian Farmhouse kitchen? Tap this!"
And I thought that before I actually went to their webpage and read the caption that described it as sleek, stylish and ... Scandinavian.
I knew I also wanted a white sink, so Jean, the designer that Home Depot assigned to me (yes, I had two designers working on my kitchen, 3 if you count my sister with the pink tool belt and 4 if you include me) picked out this white, cast iron Kohler sink. Nice, plain, pretty. Perfect.
I now officially have every SINGLE thing for my kitchen sitting in my house. The new fridge, range, sink, cabinets .... everything.
The only thing I don't have? Anywhere to sit down.
I've been standing for a week and a half now. Good thing I don't have rickets.
Danni
My kitchen reno started with the edge of the floor peeling up... I had samples of the flooring I wanted to replace it with for years, tacked to the wall where an idea board started.
One night I started tearing up the floor... then a wall of cabinets... then a wall.... then the countertops. 99% by myself, mind you, after 10 1/2 hour work days, so needless to say it took months and months and I too would sometimes stand in the destruction and ask myself what the HELL did I think I was doing!
It is winding down now and the change is dramatic, to say the least. And I love it. And I get great satisfaction that I did it myself.
All it took was finding that inner voice to tell me "yes you can do it, it ain't really that hard!"
THAT was the hardest part!
Jack
Just touch it to turn it on!! Sounds like the relationship I always wished for but never had......I might get myself one.
jainegayer
I am green with envy! You will have the sink I have always wanted. I have a double sink. Neither side is big enough to hold a frying pan or lasagna pan, let alone a roasting pan. I need to wash pans tilted in my sink.
And that beautiful simple faucet! I am going to drink my coffee and drool.
Karen
That's exactly what drives me nuts about MY double sink. Neither side will hold the bigger stuff. ~ karen!
Sera
Exactly!
Kelly
so i'm curious: what size double sink do you have? Mine is 33'' with one 18'' bowl and one 14'' bowl and it holds everything. when I bought it, I measured all out pots and we have some pretty big ones - Le Creuset dutch oven, big Paderno stock pot, etc.
Ruth
Love it! Ca-yute!
Patti
Funny how things work out like that. All we wanted was a garage for my husband's new motorcycle. After talking with several contractors, we ended up building a new house just across the state line from Maryland to West Virginia. Sounds far but was only seven miles away. Just celebrated our 20th anniversary in this house on Sunday. No regrets. Though it was a tough eight months while under construction.
Looking forward to seeing your new kitchen. I'm "thinking" about a new kitchen faucet which means a new sink, counter top, etc...
Patti
Karen
LOL! That's pretty funny. I guess I got off easy. ~ karen
Tigersmom
Nice choices. I love a white sink, too.
One regret I have in my renovation was not adding sinks in my garage and laundry room. I dream of a utility sink.
Annie
Single basin sinks are bril!
Christina
Oh I live my domjso sink - its the single bowl one though, and it's enormous. Got it new in box off kijiji for $100 from someone who couldn't fit it in. We have no ikea here in Halifax. It's my favorite part of the kitchen.
mimiindublin
Love that sink, and the idea of a touch- faucet. We call it a tap here, so would that make it a tap tap?
Judith
GREAT faucet! And great timing for me, because we're at precisely the faucet-shopping stage of our kitchen renovation (which is taking place in an actual Swedish farmhouse, though the kitchen will be more of a Shaker style. Now to just find a blog by a Shaker who's redoing her kitchen to look like a Brooklyn loft.) We're currently tearing our hair out because all the faucets with the right combination of height + curve + pull-out nozzle + lack of being butt-ugly are prohibitively priced.
Kelly
one thing about white faucets: we had a Moen white faucett two houses ago. The white finish chips. I'd never do it again.
Barbie
I can hardly WAIT to see it all put together! Are you doing it? Or hiring it done? You must be doing part of it...yes?
Patricia
I laughed when I read your post because I too desperately wanted the Ikea farmhouse sink for the last kitchen I "designed" when we built our cabin and didn't end up with it. I got plain old, serviceable stainless steel in the end. I like your new sink better because it still preserves some of that old fashioned, rustic charm but its sleek and clean and the same time. Good choice!
Patricia
danni
White kitchens do rule (villa white, to be exact). I too, fell for a sexy Irish handcast number and yes, it had not only the plumber and the cabinetmaker, but also the countertop guy cursing a blue streak, bc they are bulky and handmade and therefore.... not easy to work with. But I was writing to say that I put a fake door on a pull out drawer next to my sink and it was pull out garbage, and right behind it, recycling. It was the best thing we did and you will just love it. I might just sacrifuce another one for the composting.... This isn't mine, but you get the idea... WAY better than stinking up your new cabinents with garbage under the sink. https://www.google.com/shopping/product/8859549767161823032?q=pull+out+cabinet+for+garbage+and+recycling&safe=active&espv=210&es_sm=122&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.59930103,d.cGU,pv.xjs.s.en_US.drS7gHrXclI.O&biw=1845&bih=995&tch=1&ech=1&psi=eEvnUtOcAdLyoASP8IEY.1390889832728.5&ei=e0vnUpOMLsTboATPl4CgAQ&ved=0CLABEKYrMAM
Cathy Reeves
I think Valerie meant that you can rent YOURS out by the hour. You know, what with that crazy plumber's bill and all .
Jane
Oh Karen! Trust me, I will be there - tomorrow, and the day after that and the day after that! I wouldn't miss it for anything!
Fifi
Karen....I like your faucet and sink choices, for you...but not for me....I like my touchless Moen faucet in their fingerprint free S.S. finish, because I am lazy about cleaning it ! Hubby freaked when he saw the price, but I insisted!
And...about your single bowl sink, I have a burning question.....one I have always pondered, yet never had the opportunity to ask until now.....How does one wash and rinse dishes in a single bowl sink???? Having grown up with, and owned double sinks myself...I fill the left side with soapy dishwater, and then rinse dishes clean on the right side, and dry items on a rack on the counter. So, how is it done in a single sink..is there a Scandinavian dish washing method ??
I have the Domsjo sink you once dreamed about owning, and I do love it because, again, I am messy, and I am a BIG splasher of water, near and far.....I never liked how my S.S. sinks stopped short of the backsplash, a great place for countertops to rot away under all my splashing...so I guess I like my Domsjo for its extra deep drainboard behind the faucet ! But prone to scratching, I keep silicone sink mats in the bottom of the sinks for extra protection of the white surface.
PS I see what you mean Karen ,about the sink hanging pretty low under the cabinet, but I still managed to fit a big tall trashcan on one side, and all my cleaning supplies on the other, amidst the clutter of pipes and elbows, and the snake-looking braided pipe for the pull-out faucet.
Luckily, I also have a slide-out 15 inch cabinet beside my sink cab, for all recycling needs. Kitchen design is not for the faint of heart.....get help from a professional when designing....its worth it to get it right the 1st time....I have a few design regrets in mine ;-)
Hope yours is perfect for you, with no regrets.... hope you get everything on your wish list!!!
Sera
I don't know anyone with a double sink that actually uses it for its original purpose of filling half the sink with soapy water. That's why I picked a single basin when we remodeled. I have a dishwasher for the main stuff and the hand washables (knives, pots, pans, cutting boards) get the soapy sponge and rinse. Now, I can actually fit my cutting boards, baking sheets, pans, etc. in there and get them rinsed off without taking a shower.
ally
I do. I hand wash my dishes almost all the time. Only use the dishwasher (machine) about once every 2-3 weeks.
Kelly
we do too. Actually, we haven't used the dishwasher since we remodelled the kitchen. It's there for eventual resale, cause you can't sell a house without a dishwasher anymore than you can sell a house with laminate countertops, according to the real estate agents. I actually have a double sink plus another sink, cause i have a cook husband, while I also cook/bake, so we split the kitchen, each have a sink, save the marriage and don't have to put the 3 boys up for adoption when they add to the general chaos by fixing their endless meals, the accoutrements for which ALL end up in the sink.
Leslie
I use my double sink for washing eggs ... dirtier eggs on one side, cleaner eggs on the other ... everything moves from right to left the cleaner it gets ... I could honestly use a third compartment. Yes, I know all about the bloom ... and proper egg washing techniques ...
Veronica
This is an old poste, but I will tell you why I need two: I have children AND a garbage disposal. Forks and spoons go into the non-disposal side. That way my cutlery doesn't get mangle. Well... *more* mangled.
theresa
In my condo remodel of ten years ago, I got the exact Kohler Karen is using. At the time, husband was home brewing so we needed a deep roomy sink (I mounted the faucet on the back splash old-fashion style to make even more room) and I wanted it to be white. I fell in love when I opened the box--pristine and sleek and curvy like ski runs before the first run of the morning. I loved that sink every single day and miss it now that we have moved. Had a great dishwasher too which we actually used because it was more efficient than hand washing (heated its own water so never stole from the shower) Must have picked up living overseas but I rinse over the soapy water to keep it hot and in use--even now that I have a double sink that is ok but not lovely.
Jane
I can't wait to see your new kitchen! I know you are excited! Have a great week!
Karen
Have a great week?! You plan on going somewhere? I expect to see you here tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that. ~ karen!
Valerie
I love your selections! White kitchens rule.
Don't throw out anything the renovation folks remove, particularly your old kitchen sink. Take your old sink and trace around the (inner) outside edge on brown paper to create a template. Get a pallet (available behind stores - liquor stores usually) and add legs (second pallet.) Using the traced template draw the sink on the top of the first pallet. With a jig saw (you can rent them by the hour) cut the sink hole in the top of the pallet. Set the pallet table you have created with your old sink sunk in near your outside water source. Attach a bathroom type shower head with the hose attachment to your outside water source. If your hose isn't long enough you can get extensions for hand held showers at large hardware stores to make them the length you wish. This creation will provide a treasure of a place to deal with outside gardening, potting needs and a washing up area.
Karen
I think it's cute that you think I'd need to rent a jig saw. ;) ~ karen
Tara
Hehe! I thought the same thing!
nicole d
hahaaa. Karen, that's exactly what i was thinking... " like Karen needs tips on how to get her hands on a pallet or a saw... "
But that is a great re-use idea Valerie. :)
Julie
HA! That's what I thought too.
I bet Karen has all the saws.
Su
what. a. great. idea..... seriously :)
Karen
Oh! Completely forgot to say that it's a great idea and I'd LOVE to have it, but literally every single inch of my backyard is now accounted for. The chickens were the final straw. Literally. ~ karen!
Marti
I think I could be happy in that newly renovated kitchen, with or without chairs. I might be tempted to lay in the middle of that heated floor. Pretty spiffy, Karen!
Karen
Well at this point it's more iffy than spiffy, but it'll get there. Eventually. One day. One day far, far away in a land with chocolate rainbows and hula hooping kittens. ~ karen!
Jamieson
Yeah my whole-house renovation started with planning to build a garage out back. Because a garage would have blocked construction access for our far-in-the-future house reno, we decided to do everything all together. So now we have a new-looking house inside! And no money for the garage which we didn't build even though it was the plan that started it all.
Cheryl
I'm laughing out loud at your post! I can so relate. My current renovation (of a house built in 1883) also started out with plans to build a garage. But before that we needed to clean it out, but we didn't have anywhere to put anything, which led to cleaning out some room in the basement, which led to cleaning out more closets upstairs so we could put that stuff in the newly cleaned basement. While we were upstairs we decided that it would be good to paint two bedrooms and then, because the painters would be here anyway we should probably have them paint the living room, entryway and stairwell upstairs, but while the painting would make the rooms downstairs look better, the hardwood floors were a disaster--so we decided to get them refinished, but only 1 room could be refinished because the other room was too thin to refinish, so it needed to be replaced, and we thought the house was going to be a mess, so as long as that was being done, we decided to move some french doors into the living area and get new insulated doors for the porch. This project has been happening since July. The painter is just finishing up this morning. We still do not have a new garage.