These sinks were common in rural homes, giving them their original name of farmhouse. People took water for bathing, cleaning, as well as for washing clothes and dishes from these basins, making farmhouse sinks a central feature in the late 17th and 18th century homes throughout Europe.
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.
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.
Both types of sinks are huge, large, and quite deep. However, the apron sink's front area is exposed and visible- which is why they are called apron sinks. These are versatile and modern houses prefer apron sinks. But on the other side, farmhouse sinks look adjacent as well as covered by the kitchen cabinets.
Sometimes known as a farm sink or apron front sink, the farmhouse sink originated in the British Isles in the 17th century, in a world without running water.
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.
Even so, having said all that, there are plenty of reasons farmhouse sinks will never go out of style. As George pointed out, “they are extremely versatile” and as long as you're careful and “you keep on top of cleaning, your sink will remain in good quality for years to come.”
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.
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.
Yes, absolutely. A garbage disposal can be installed to any farmhouse sink be it a single bowl or a double bowl. In most cases, you can use the stainless steel drain attachments that come with the garbage disposal unit.
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.
The Copper Color
A copper sink isn't something you see every day. This goes to show that a farmhouse sink doesn't have to be boring white colors – you can add some flair! White, off white, cream, copper, black, gray, and sometimes even light blue are the typical varieties of colors you'll see in a farmhouse sink.
By its nature, a farmhouse sink involves more than a traditional unit, and the price difference is justified. These larger, deeper, more statement fixtures are often made with more expensive materials, such as fireclay or copper.
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.
To put in a farm sink, you have to cut out the existing cabinet front, top, and even back, depending on how much space you need. Since these types of sinks have their aprons exposed, it's important for you to follow the template that comes with your farm sink.
A typical 33 x 22-inch sink will fill a 36-inch base cabinet. If you're replacing a sink, make sure it fits the existing cutout. If the cabinet allows, you may be able to install a larger sink by expanding the cutout. A farmhouse sink may require a special cabinet size.
The style is often referred to as “apron front” and can be recognized for its wide and deep basin. Just like any sink over time, you might see some scratch lines on the bottom but they are usually faint. It will require daily maintenance and sometimes a deeper cleaning regimen to keep it looking brand new.
The two top contenders are either a enamel-coated cast iron or a fireclay apron sink. Both are very strong materials, and both have been used for hundreds of years to make not only sinks but also structural building materials and tools for extreme temperatures.
In the late 19th and early 20th century they could only be found on working farms. By the 1920's they were quickly gaining popularity in city homes. A Monel (copper and nickel alloy) apron sink became all the rage but when WWII began, the copper and nickel became too precious to manufacture sinks.
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.
Of course, the top-mounted farmhouse style sinks are often less expensive and easier to install (they sit atop the counter, so you can usually just drop them in), but they aren't as readily available as their undermount counterparts.
Modern farmhouse sinks
Farmhouse sinks have been huge in recent years, and it seems the trend is not going anywhere. A practical choice for family homes, this style of sink is hugely versatile, and is a feature in many modern farmhouse kitchens...and those that have brought the rustic look to the city.
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 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.
Tips before Installation. Most farmhouse sinks also commonly known as apron-front sinks can easily replace your current kitchen sink owing to the similarities in size and the option to just slide it in after removing the old sink. However, closed counter cabinets would require some more time and effort.