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kohler whitehaven tall apron sink

We just had a farmhouse sink put into our kitchen and I am absolutely obsessed!!!!

It is the prettiest, deepest, hugest thing ever and I couldn’t be happier with it!

I researched a ton of farm sinks and this particular one got great reviews and wasn’t ridiculously priced.  You can find my affiliate link for this sink HERE:
KOHLER Kitchen Whitehaven Sink
This particular one is sold online and not in stores.  It has completely changed the entire vibe of our kitchen!!!

So I decided I wanted it but I didn’t really think about all of the other details that go along with installing a farm sink in an existing kitchen.  It was much more work than we anticipated, but we would do it all again because it seriously is so functional and so pretty!

I thought I would write a blog post with my farmhouse sink tips so that you would be well informed before buying your own farm sink.  And you know me. This is NOT a technical post. I tell you how to do zero, zilch of the plumbing, installing, etc because we hired it all out.   I just want you to know what to expect before you are farmhousesinking !!!!

So here we go on my farmhouse sink tips. I hope these help you!

 

8 things you need to know before putting a farmhouse sink in your kitchen:

 

Farmhouse Sink Tips

Farmhouse Sink Tip #1) Farm sinks are huge and HEAVY.

 

This may be an obvious farmhouse sink tips. Like realllllllllllllly heavy. The FedEx truck delivered this thing to my garage on a dolley. That should have been my first clue.  And I consider myself a relatively strong gal, but I could BARELY move this thing with another adult. They are that heavvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvy.  So you need to seriously consider the weight on your cabinets when it’s installed.  Many of the sinks will need support under them and your cabinets may need to be reinforced a bit to handle the weight. Ours turned out to be fine. Winner, winner.  Just prepare your cabinets and your backs.

 

 

 

Farmhouse Sink Tips kitchen cabinets before apron sink

Farmhouse Sink Tip #2) Most farmsink installations will require your countertops be removed.

 

This is what our cabinets and countertop  looked like before we installed the farmsink. Our stainless steel sink went over our countertops and we wanted the farmsink to be under-mounted.   I’ve seen a few over-mount, but the majority go UNDER your countertops. This meant our countertop had to be removed and gotten rid of.   And since we were removing it, it was a great time to replace the countertops as well.

 

 

Farmhouse Sink Tips remove countertops

 

We had Silestone installed by Profile Granite in Kansas City. (Read about our new Silestone kitchen countertops.) Just know that if you want undermount, your countertops will have to come off and that means other fun things like taking out your existing cooktop stove and finding someone to get rid of your old countertops.

 

 

 

Farmhouse Sink Tips dishes

Farmhouse Sink Tip #3) You could be sinkless for a few days.

I know these are first world problems, but you need to understand that you may not be able to have your countertops removed, your old sink un-installed and your new sink re-installed, plus the plumbing all hooked back up all in the same day.  We went 4 days with no sink . And when you don’t have a sink, you get resourceful and rinse dishes in your bathtub. Hey, it worked.  But I just want you to have a heads up!  I’ve never been sinkless  before and things like making coffee aren’t quite so easy when you have no sink. 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farmhouse Sink Tips reconstruction on cabinets

Farmhouse Sink Tip #4) More than likely the front of your cabinets will need reworked and repainted.

Farmhouse sinks are super deep and the apron front needs a lot of depth. This will require someone reworking of your cabinet fronts.

In the photo above, you can see that a new piece of trim had to be added to our cabinets. There was caulking and siliconing going on.   This was not a job Mr Magic and I wanted to do at all. We had a professional do it and I’m so glad we did.

 

 

 

Farmhouse Sink Tips cut off cabinets

Farmhouse Sink Tip #5) You will probably have to get your doors cut down or replaced

I knew that we would lose the sink drawer we had, but I really didn’t want to have to purchase 2 new cabinet doors and then paint them. So I just had someone trim down the cabinet doors under the sink.  I had to paint the new lip that resulted from being cut, but that was a lot less work than replacing the doors.  And I think it looks just fine!!!  See the pic below to see what the cut doors look like.

 

 

 

Farmhouse Sink Tips redo cabinet

Farmhouse Sink Tip #6)  Apparently having the sink level really matters??

Since the sink sits under the countertops and the countertops are one long piece, the sink has to be perfectly level or there will be a gap on one side.  The carpenter working on this project had to mess with this for a while. There were shims and cuts and a lot of adjusting going on. Again, leave that stuff to the professionals.  It was way more detailed that I had ever anticipated.  Having only had ABOVE counter sinks in the past, I was used to just seeing them dropped in. UNDER counter sinks are a whole new ballgame.

 

 

 

Farmhouse Sink Tips kohler farmsink

 

Farmhouse Sink Tip #7 )  You may lose a drain and your plumbing will need changed

Our old sink was the typical 2-sided stainless steel sink with the divider in the middle and one hole for disposal, one hole for rinsing. Well, our new farmsink only has one hole, so the plumbing had to be changed around a bit. The side the disposal was on had to be changed also.  So if you go from a 2-holed sink to a 1-holed sink like we did…. plumbing will need changed.  Who woulda thunk it???  I certainly had no idea!

 

 

 

Farmhouse Sink Tips

Farmhouse Sink Tip #8) You will have to do some sanding and painting.

And here is how it looks after I fixed all of the cut cabinets and the painted the new trim pieces. In retrospect, we should have done this before we recently repainted our cabinets gray.  You can read about that project HERE.  It was minimal fixing, but fixing nonetheless.  And in all honestly, you cannot even tell that the 2 doors were whacked off unless I point them out.

 

 

 

Farmhouse Sink Tips

I’m having a total transparent moment and showing you how stinkin’ huge this farm sink is.  Look at all the dirty dishes it holds. Spectacular.  I should also mention that this photo makes Mr Magic break out in hives. He has serious problems with dishes in the sink.  Bless it.

 

 

 

Farmhouse Sink Tips for puppy

And the best farmhouse sink tip involved pets. This sink has proved to be the perfect bathtub for our new puppy Cooper as well.

 

 

 

kohler apron sink

So even though there was some work, time and money involved, I am thrillllllllllllllllllllllled with how it looks. And how it functions.  This is the Kohler Whitehaven tall apron sink which I am so, so happy with.  You can find one just like it on my affiliate link for Home Depot  HERE . (note: apparently this farmsink sold old quickly after my post!  Another alternative by Kohler is found  HERE
And there you have it.  All the things you need to consider when putting in a new farmhouse sink aka farm sink tips! We are decent diy’ers, but we hired this entire project out because it was just a bigger deal than we wanted to fight with.  And let’s be honest, we are much better hirers than plumbers in our house!

So I’d love to know…. do YOU have a farm sink?  Any Farm Sink Tips  I should have added to this article?  Please feel free to pin any of these pictures so you can refer back to it later.

Wishing you and yours happy remodeling!

Jennifer

PS…. be sure to sign up for my emails at the top of my blog so that you get the rest of our kitchen remodeling updates sent directly to your inbox. xoxo

You will want to read more about my kitchen renovations, especially its transformation from browns & golds to grays, how I chose my new arabesque and subway backsplash tile and why I lowered my kitchen countertops. All great kitchen makeover inspiration!

 

Pin it: Farmsink tips

22 Comments

  • Trit says:

    I like!! Where did you get the the rug??

  • Katherine Schmitt says:

    Love the outcome Jennifer. Interesting that you placed the drain off to the side. I see so many done with the drain inthe middle? Maybe that’s an easier install plumbing wise? Not of fan of the everyday use of a farmhouse sink…just don’t like have a dishpan to wash and rinse.

  • Cheryl says:

    I just acquired a rare 5′ antique Farmhouse sink with drying boards on both sides. Original metal cabinets also. I’m in love!!!

  • Patti says:

    LOVE the comment ’bout your husband’s issue with NO dishes in the sink…mine TOO…BIG point of contention with us as I’d MUCH rather see a clearer counter than an empty sink…What gives??

  • Tommie Martone says:

    Jen I think you’re awesome with a plethora of talents. I like how you incorporate your religious beliefs without being preachy or shoving it down people’s throats. But, with that said, if you were going to write this blog I feel you should’ve Added some pictures of the during install process. Even though you didn’t do the work, you mention the shims & leveling needed. So, why not at least show a picture of how they did it. Also, it would be helpful for people to have an understanding of what a project like this would costs, ie: labor, materials, faucet. I know it can be personal since it’s your house to disclose what you spent, but I just feel if your going to advertise products & names like Kohler, home depot, Silestone; then you should inform people of the costs. JMO.

  • Brenda says:

    We are in the midst of a kitchen remodel . . . we took our 1898 kitchen . . . which had been poorly redone many times over . . . down to the studs and are getting all new cabinets and we purchased my dream sink . . . a hammered copper apron sink. I can’t wait for it to be done!! I am creating a few of the cabinets myself from old windows and we have a couple antique pieces we are incorporating too. Your post is inspiring! ♥

  • Brenda says:

    BTW, you can get double and triple sided apron sinks . . . ours is a double. Just thought I would mention that to those of you who expressed that concern. 🙂

  • Brenda says:

    The sink looks great but I too have a bad back and have concerns about the depth of the sink or that reason.
    The other thing I’m absolutely astounded by is you people who bath your pooches in the same sink as you wash your dishes and presumably your vegetables as well! Personally, I’d probably risk it too, but my hubs would seriously have a heart attack at the very thought! He won’t even kiss me if the dog has kissed me first, and she’s only a wee poodle. How do you get away with it?

    • Nanette says:

      Bathing pooches in the sink a problem a risk…really? I guess you better never come to my house because my dogs also lick the dishes before I put them in the dishwasher! There are things like soap and scalding hot water that will take care of any germ concerns. I’d have to move my husband to a bubble if he behaved that way 🙂

  • I want a farm sink SO bad! Yours is gorgeous! Such great things to keep in mind before installing though. Also, we have a yellow lab named Cooper and he looked just like your Coop as a puppy!

  • Ramona Voight says:

    Could we make the pop up not last so long?

  • Katie says:

    I am curious about your countertops. They look like Quartz. Do you know the brand and name? We are renovating our kitchen and installing a stainless steel farm sink. So excited!

  • dawn says:

    I have a farmhouse sink and Do not like it. I try to caution my clients about getting them. My previous sink was undermount but I loved the look of farmhouse so I switched it out. I use my kitchen constantly and it seems that splashed water always runs down the front of sink leading to the paint peeling off cabinet and doors. So much so that I put a towel across the sink front to stop dripping. I just thought you may want to consider this before you install a farmhouse sink.

  • After reading the content of this post I want to appreciate you for the creation of this great post.

  • Copper sinks says:

    We find that copper farmhouse sinks are much lighter in weight. Another option is stainless steel farmhouse sinks. But typically you’ll need an extra pair of hands to install and you’ll need to add supports and customize your base cabinet. Most importantly: Take your time with the installation! Good luck!

  • Mel says:

    Hey! Thanks for your post. I just got one installed and I am completely new to the entire kitchen redoing stuff. I got the IKEA apron sink and also did undermount. When I came home after my countertops were installed, I found the sink was not completely flushed to the countertop. The man redoing my kitchen (not responsible for countertops) tries to raise the sink higher and also sealed edges with silicone / putty or whatever jelly like thing that’s used. I have been very concerned bc I foresee this being an issue (mold etc.). However, seeing your pics I think yours too is not completely flushed and does have some putty thing closing that gap. Is that correct? And how is that holding up? Any yellowing/ mold? Look forward to your response !

  • Alex says:

    Thanks for nice post and tips

  • Trung says:

    How much did it cost you total for installation? I have the exact same issues you went through.

  • frank says:

    I am getting ready to do the same thing (same sink, different faucet, taller) so I was very happy to see this. thanks so much. It gives me a little more self-confidence.

  • Mark says:

    In any interior, the main thing – organic. You have a lot of natural materials, this is good. I advise you to install a good sink disposal.

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