Also known as an apron-front sink or farm sink, this is a deep and wide sink vessel with an exposed front that's meant to protrude slightly beyond your lower cabinetry.
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.
Apron sinks are deep cut, like farmhouse sinks. The only difference is, an apron sink's front is exposed. That's why they're also called "apron front" sinks. Modern kitchens use apron sinks as highlight pieces, and for good reason.
Farmhouse sinks are generally very large, with the design intended for those without running water, able to store water on one side while the other allowed for multi-purpose use such as washing laundry, kitchen duties and even washing children.
An apron or farm sink is part of the facing for your countertop and sink base. It will slide in and over your counter top, with the front of the sink being left exposed once it is installed. You can find an apron sink with double basin options.
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.
“Apron sink,” “farm sink,” “apron-front sink,” and “farmhouse sink” are all appropriate designations.
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.
The full height of the apron is usually around 10”. However, retrofit farmhouse sinks have a shorter apron that trims around 3” from the bottom to fit into existing cabinetry.
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.
Also known as an apron-front sink or farm sink, this is a deep and wide sink vessel with an exposed front that's meant to protrude slightly beyond your lower cabinetry.
In short, apron sinks and farmhouse sinks both describe a large, deep kitchen sink style prevalent in many modern kitchens. The sinks are similar for the most part though they have a few slight differences. A farmhouse sink may be an apron sink, but an apron sink doesn't necessarily have to be a farmhouse sink.
An apron front sink has a distinct look because of its exposed front-facing side. It is a large sink that is fit into the counter top with the front edge of the sink being exposed. Also known as farm sinks, apron front sinks were designed to be added to a space cut out of the kitchen counter.
However, there are some key differences between the two types of sinks. Apron sinks are generally smaller than farmhouse sinks. They are available in various materials, including stainless steel, copper, and porcelain. Apron sinks are available in different styles, including single-bowl and double-bowl options.
Modern farmhouse style is similar to country style but uses white or light neutral colors with a cleaner, more contemporary look. In contrast, country style includes bright and pastel colors and floral or gingham patterns. Both types use reclaimed wood, pottery, metals, and baskets in their decor.
Primitive decor has all the charm of farmhouse style but focuses on things that are, or appear to be, vintage, antique, or handmade. For example, a throw pillow in a primitive style will look hand stitched and feature early Americana symbols and darker, richer colors than the neutrals of the farmhouse style.
It is recommended that your base cabinet be 3 inches larger than the size of the farmhouse sink you are considering to install.
Kohler makes farmhouse sinks with smaller aprons to keep the same aesthetic in a more manageable size for some cabinets. In most new homes the kitchen sink is approximately 30 inches in length, which is a standard size for a farmhouse sink. The other standard sizes are 24, 33, and 36 inches.
Gauging your apron length: Standing up straight, measure from mid chest (i.e. where you want the top of the apron to sit) to just below the knee.
2. Farmhouse sinks (+26 percent) Porcelain, apron-front sinks are a splurge kitchen choice for sure—but apparently they pay you back big-time in the long run.
Fireclay Sinks
These sinks are extremely popular these days and understandably so. Fireclay is made when clay and glaze are fused together at extremely high temperatures. This creates a highly durable material that is hard and resistant to chips and cracks.
The primary benefit of a grid for new farmhouse sinks is to protect the brand new finish. Fresh copper and even hardened fireclay scratch more easily than you might realize. The metal bottom of pots, the metal tines of forks, and even the scrape of ceramic plate edges might cause a small flaw in the finish.
Most farmhouse sinks stick out past the face of the cabinets from . 75 of an inch to as many as 2 inches. Take a look at nearby drawers prior to ordering your sink to ensure that you will have clearance when the drawer is extended.
It may be a little unfair to call them trendy though. After all, they're the original modern sink design dating back about 400 years. Nevertheless, they still, arguably, outperform most other sinks available to this day. We took a look at the best designs from the best brands, more modern, farmhouse kitchen sinks.
Butler sinks were built slightly wider and shallower than Belfast models, to encourage the conservation of water while still fitting into large kitchen cabinets. Belfast sinks were usually deeper as limiting water used wasn't necessary.