They, therefore, require a special cabinet configuration, but it's entirely possible to convert an existing drop-in setup to accommodate a farmhouse sink. You'll want to choose a sink that is a few inches smaller in width than the cabinet so that there is cabinet trim on either side of the sink.
Cut the cabinets
Once you know exactly where you're going to cut, use a jigsaw to cut the cabinet face frame. If using a table saw, you'll need to remove and disassemble the cabinet box completely. Pro tip: Farmhouse sinks can be much heavier than regular drop-in sinks.
No matter what you do, you will most likely need a special or custom cabinet to accommodate your new farmhouse or apron sink. This is because there are many styles of sink designs and how they need to be installed, typically requires a non-standard cabinet. The two most common types are Drop-in or Undermount.
When selecting, or designing, a base cabinet for your new farmhouse sink, it is important that the size of the base cabinet is correct. Your base cabinet should measure 3" longer in length than the sink you are installing. For example, if you have a base cabinet that measures 36" wide it will support a 33" sink.
Build a support frame
To install the sink properly, you'll need to build a frame out of 2x4s to support the weight. To retain as much usable cabinet space as possible, we built the frame by screwing 2x4s right to the sides of the base cabinet. This kept the framing from eating into the storage space below the sink.
The recommended size for a 36" base cabinet is a 33" farmhouse sink or smaller. It is recommended that your base cabinet be 3 inches larger than the size of the farmhouse sink you are considering to install.
Yes and no, there is a specific cabinet for farmhouse sinks. However, a standard sink base cabinet can be modified to fit a farmhouse sink. If you are using a standard sink base cabinet, the top half of the cabinet will have to be cut out, and the doors will have to be modified.
Finally, there is a difference in the style of the two sinks. Farmhouse kitchen sinks are designed to add a rustic, farmhouse-style aesthetic to the kitchen, while apron sinks are more modern and sleek. Both farmhouse sinks and apron sinks are excellent choices for any kitchen.
The attractive and streamlined design of the farmhouse sink can add dollar value to your kitchen and your home overall. If you're thinking of selling your home down the road, the farmhouse sink is many home buyers' dream kitchen statement piece.
Pry open the countertop with a screwdriver until you have enough space to move the sink. Saw granite and cabinet based on dimensions of the sink. Cut and install a new cabinet top using a reciprocating saw. Install the new sink and connect plumbing pipes.
In most cases, the horizontal framing spanning the rear of any base cabinet can be cut away to make room for the sink without much loss of support. Likewise, the framing across the front can be cut away slightly or notched along its rear edge.
If you want a farmhouse sink, then you can't go any wider than the front face (24" for a 42" corner cabinet). With an undermount or drop-in sink, you can go a little wider since the sink will be set back a few inches.
We kept the original footprint in this kitchen and our contractors were able to retro-fit the existing cabinets to accommodate the apron front sink. To replace the old drop-in sink with a farmhouse sink, we cut the cabinets to fit the apron front and then added filler wood to the sides.
But what actually makes a sink considered “farmhouse” style? The TLDR definition of a farmhouse sink is “a deep sink that has an exposed front-facing side.” Thesaurus may also refer to it as an “apron front” sink – which, in our opinion, is the best description as it literally acts like an apron as you wash.
Also known as a farm sink, an apron sink, or an apron front sink, farmhouse sinks were common in older homes and ergonomically designed for people to spend hours in front of the sink. Farmhouse sinks jut out past the countertop so the user doesn't have to bend over to reach them.
One of the drawbacks of choosing a farmhouse sink is the installation process. Depending on how your kitchen is set up, you may have to alter the size and design of your countertops before the farmhouse sink installation. Farmhouse sinks are much deeper and wider than classic kitchen sinks.
Step 6: Add Support to Cabinets
Because farmhouse sinks are pretty heavy, you'll need to add support to the inside of the cabinet to be able to hold the weight. You can do this by adding two two-by-four pieces of wood to the sides horizontally.
A good place to start when looking for the right size is with the most popular sizes for farmhouse sinks, small, medium, and large. Or the most common, either a 30″ or 33″ single bowl.
Are farmhouse sinks out of style? Farmhouse sinks are most definitely not out of style. In fact, House Beautiful has featured plenty examples of this timeless design element over the years, as seen in articles about the modern farmhouse aesthetic, modern farmhouse kitchens, and modern farmhouse decor.
Farmhouse-Style Sinks with Quartz Countertops
Cambria surfaces are durable—more durable than marble or granite countertops—so they're the perfect choice to handle the needs of a farmhouse sink installation.
The inner dimensions of a 30" Ikea cabinet are 28.625". So if the sink is 27.5" wide close to the top, it will fit without cutting down the sides. But if it is 29.8" at the top lip, it depends on your mounting strategy and how much the sink sides taper.
A 36″ base cabinet can handle a 33″ sink at most; a 30″ cabinet should be fitted with a sink no larger than 27″ wide. The average 24″ sink base cabinet comfortably accommodates a standard 22″ sink; be sure to consider the depth of your sink when planning storage inside the base cabinet.
The reason for this is to allow for adequate room to work when installing the sink, as well as to avoid potential water damage or mold growth in the cabinetry. The minimum cabinet size needed for your sink will be found on the product page from our website once you search the model like the example shown below.
The most common countertop overhang is 1.5″. We wanted our sink to go about 1/2″ past the countertop, so we positioned our sink so that it would go 2″ past the cabinet face frame/front of the cabinet.