They’re charming, homey, durable, elegant, functional
and nostalgic. Those are just a few of the reasons they’re so popular
The farmhouse sink originated in a time when there was no running water.
The idea behind the sink was that it was a place to hold large amounts of
water, which was fetched by hand from nearby wells, lakes and rivers.
The two-original farmhouse-style sinks emerged in Ireland and Britain in
the late 17th century. They were of similar design but had their own characteristics:
The Belfast sink was deep and had an overflow so that excess water could easily drain away
instead of flowing over the sides.
The London sink (designed for an area where water was scarce and therefore more precious)
was shallower. It had no overflow so that every last drop could be kept inside
the sink.
If you’re thinking about choosing a farmhouse-style sink for your kitchen,
here’s what else you should know:
The traditional farmhouse sink is generally a lot deeper than modern stainless
steel undermount or top-mount sinks. Its design enables the user to stand
directly in front of the basin, with no cabinets or countertop in between. This
feature made the farmhouse sink more comfortable to use at a time in the past when
women would spend a large part of their day there — preparing food and washing
dishes, clothes and even babies.
Though you could still wash a baby in today’s farmhouse sinks, you’d
probably find them more useful for washing large pots, big baking sheets and
oven trays, and even barbecue grills — items you would generally struggle to
wash in a typical sink.
And if one large bowl isn’t enough, you can find several double-bowl
options too.
Installation
Farmhouse sinks were originally designed to sit slightly to the front of
the surrounding cabinets, so that any water flowing down the front of the sink
would run to the floor instead of landing on and damaging the cabinets. This is
how farmhouse sinks still are typically installed in a kitchen.
They also are usually installed just under the level of the countertop so
the counter can slightly overhang the sides of the sink, making it easy to wipe
water from the counter straight into the sink.
Fixtures
Farmhouse sinks add a feeling of nostalgia to a kitchen and bring a sense
of rustic character that enhances country and traditional style kitchens. Complete
the look by pairing your white porcelain farmhouse sink with a beautiful
traditional style tap, many of which are available with matching white porcelain
handles. Typical farmhouse sinks do not have a hole for the faucet, so the tap
needs to be positioned in the counter or in the wall behind.
Materials
White farmhouse sinks are most commonly made of fireclay or porcelain.
Fireclay. Fireclay sinks are made of clay, which is heated to an
extremely high temperature that makes the sink hard and durable. It also gives
the sink its beautiful high shine. The durability of fireclay means that it is
resistant to scratches and chips and is easy to clean.
Porcelain. Porcelain sinks are a ceramic material, again heated
to high temperatures, although not quite as high as fireclay. They look similar
to fireclay sinks but are less expensive. Porcelain sinks are not quite as
durable as fireclay and are more prone to chipping and discoloration.
Stainless Steel. Farmhouse
sinks are now available in a wider variety of materials, including stainless steel.
Stainless steel is affordable, durable and easy to clean and maintain.
Stainless steel adds a contemporary twist to a sink that is typically
associated with traditional and country style kitchens.
Copper. Farmhouse sinks are sometimes made of copper. The
copper can have a hammered finish and a colored patina applied when the sink is
manufactured. Over time, a natural copper sink develops a beautiful patina as
it reacts with the different substances that come in contact with it.
The measurements of fireclay and porcelain farmhouse sinks can vary
slightly, and the surfaces can be a bit uneven. These are natural
characteristics of these materials and shouldn’t be considered flaws. This
means, however, that when the sink is fitted under a perfectly even countertop,
there can be slight gaps where water can escape.
After it is installed, ensure that your farmhouse sink is correctly sealed
around the edges. Designing the countertop so it overhangs the edges of the
sink sufficiently will help water flow straight into the sink bowl and keep it
away from the edges.
Though designing a farmhouse sink into a new kitchen layout is easy, it
can prove more difficult to incorporate one into your existing kitchen layout.
The size and nature of farmhouse sinks mean they require custom cabinets to be
designed to suit them, as well as a different countertop design.
Pristine white porcelain sinks look stunning; however, they are a bit
unforgiving in that they show every bit of dirt and grime. Having said that,
they are easy to keep clean.
And the hard surface of fireclay or porcelain farmhouse sinks can be noisy
when you’re washing dishes in them and is far less forgiving than stainless
steel when breakable items are dropped in them, so take extra care when washing
your wineglasses.
Size
If you are concerned about wasting water, look for a farmhouse sink that
has a smaller capacity. The depth of the traditional farmhouse sink is great
for washing big items, but it means to fill it you’ll need a lot more water
than for a typical sink.
