Featured Image: Sebring Design Build
Farmhouse Sink Styles
Also called apron-front sinks, farmhouse sinks are a favorite among homeowners. While it is associated with traditional and country house decors, it has also found its place in modern and contemporary abodes. It is loved for its deep capacity, practical convenience and charming style.
If you are planning to install a farmhouse apron sink, there are several styles you can choose from depending on your needs, budget and taste. Below, we provide a rundown of the various options available in the market. We also have a guide on how to choose the right one as well as a brief primer on farmhouse sink installation.
DOUBLE & DEEP
Kitchen Capital WA
This Double Belfast Butler sink is extra deep. No doubt the larger size could handle almost anything thrown at it.
COPPER CLASSIC
Design Moe Kitchen & Bath
Definitely a more traditional look. Exquisite detail in this copper farmhouse sink.
TRADITIONAL APRON
Fiorella Design
Love the contrast of dark and light features in this kitchen that features a large white farmhouse/apron sink.
HONED BLACK SLATE
Whitten Architects
Beautifully warm and inviting kitchen in Portland, Maine. The honed black slate farmhouse-style sink and countertop are not something you see every day. The Antique Heart Pine floors and warm-toned cabinets are just so comforting. Sherwin William’s “Topsail” on the beadboard walls is a nice soothing color choice.
CHEERFUL LAUNDRY
Kristi Spouse Interiors
Absolutely love this cheerful laundry room! The American Standard Country Kitchen Sink is a great choice for this space. The Apple Green walls makes this room feel so happy.
CLEAN & MODERN
Sebring Design Build
The black and white color theme adds a modern vibe to this kitchen.
HAMMERED NICKEL
Model Design Inc.
The hammered nickel farmhouse sink brings interesting detail to this elegant kitchen.
Types of Farmhouse Sinks
Farmhouse sinks come in different materials which differ in durability, strength and look. The most common materials you will come across are:
1. Fireclay
Fireclay sinks have a certain traditional flair that can give your kitchen a unique look. It is made by firing clay and glaze together in temperatures up to 1600 degrees, creating a very hard almost iron-like material. This gives fireclay sinks a relatively high level of durability and makes it resistant against scratches.
One major problem with fireclay sinks is chipping. Considering that this is a farmhouse sink, it is likely that you will be washing heavy pots and pans in it. The bang and clutter leaves the sink vulnerable to chipping. Only consider fireclay if you don’t plan on washing or placing heavy utensils in it or if you are buying a sink for your bathroom where the stress is less.
COZY CORNER
Great Neighborhood Homes
Love how they tucked away this sink away in the corner of this pretty kitchen.
2. Cast iron
Cast iron is one of the most popular farmhouse sink materials. It is extremely durable and will stand up to essentially anything including the heaviest pots and pans. When shopping for cast iron farmhouse sinks, try to find enamel cast iron ones. Brands like Kohler have a wide variety of them.
Enamel cast iron sinks are coated with a layer of enamel, which protects the iron from rust, scratches and chipping. Such a sink will easily last for decades without losing its shine. If you are looking for a farmhouse sink that is practical yet stylish and will keep going for years without requiring much maintenance, go for enamel cast iron.
RUSTIC BEAMS
Hill Farm Furniture Ltd
This kitchen is just so fresh and airy! Delightful cabinets and countertops.
3. Enameled steel
Enameled steel is somewhat of an offshoot of enamel cast iron. As enamel cast iron got highly popular, cheaper versions that consisted of steel emerged. In fact, you will likely confuse one for the other. Both feel hard and look quite tough. But under normal kitchen conditions, a farmhouse stainless steel sink does not hold up very well. While it will not rust, steel is not as hard as iron and will likely chip and scratch with time. Consider enamel cast iron instead. It may be pricier, but it is worth it.
TURQUOISE WONDER
Noelle Interiors
The aqua/turquoise color is just gorgeous! The farmhouse sink is a great size for family gatherings.
SUNNY KITCHEN
Tina Barclay
Such a bright and sunny kitchen. The towel bar on the sink is a nice feature. What a view out that window!
4. Acrylic
Acrylic is a much cheaper option for someone who wants the fireclay look but finds it too pricey. Acrylic is not the best choice when you are looking for a high-durability farmhouse sink. Too much abuse from pots and pans can cause chipping.
On the upside, acrylic sinks are very easy to clean thanks to their high-gloss finish. They also come in a much wider variety of styles and sizes, thanks to the malleable polycarbonate plastic they are made out of.
FRESH FARM
BCV ARCHITECTS
Such a fresh space. Love the lights and how that window opens up to the outside!
STATELY AND
SLEEK
WARM AND INVITING
Hill Farm Furniture Ltd
What a warm and inviting space. Not just one, but two farmhouse sinks in this kitchen. Beautiful countertop on that island and those floors are so nice!
ORIGINAL FARMHOUSE
Dona Rosene Interiors
So nice that this sink was original to this historical 1926 Fort Worth home.
5. Copper
Copper was one of the earliest materials used in manufacturing farmhouse sinks. Though they are not as common today, there are still those who love them for their warm traditional look and elegant aging. Copper sinks are durable, do not stain easily and are naturally anti-bacterial. On the downside, a copper farmhouse sink is quite pricey and is more complicated to install, check out when the right time to add a copper sink to your kitchen.
JET MIST GRANITE
Wright-Ryan Homes
What an awesome look in this cottage. This is a granite product from Morningstar Marble & Granite in Maine. “Jet Mist”
CONTEMPORARY SS
EXPANSIVE ISLAND
Red Element Design
This farmhouse sink is conveniently placed in this gorgeous & expansive kitchen island. There’s also another farmhouse sink located by those awesome windows.
RED FARMHOUSE
The Cross Interior Design
No arguing that this space is eclectic and unique. A different & colorful spin on the traditional farmhouse sink!
SOAPSTONE
Whitten Architects
This homeowner of this barn farmhouse found a soapstone sink at a salvage yard and had it refurbished. I like the darker color and different shape. It goes great with those black barn lights.
FARMHOUSE
Michael Abrams Limited
The Herbeau Luberon Fireclay Farmhouse kitchen sink has such wonderful molding-like detail. What a cozy kitchen in this Lake Michigan Cottage!
6. Other materials
Other materials that are used in farmhouse sinks include porcelain, concrete, stone and fiberglass among others. Some sinks feature a combination of materials such as steel and stone.
Number of Bowls
Here there are two main varieties: single bowl and double bowled. Each has its pros and cons. A double bowl allows you to wash dishes in one and rinse them in the other or stack dirty dishes in one and leave the other one free for use. Proponents of the single bowl praise the large unobstructed space that allows you to clean large pots with ease.
WITH A VIEW
Cheryl Scrymgeour Designs
Great double farmhouse sinks with an awesome view in this lake house kitchen.
SWEET QUOTES
Buckminster Green LLC
Great Idea! — This homeowner added a favorite saying to the front of this apron-front sink.
AUTHENTIC FARMHOUSE
Visual Jill Interior Decorating
Looks like a true farmhouse kitchen–look at the size of that original? sink!
How to Choose the Right Sink
The most important thing to consider when choosing a farmhouse sink is how it will fit in with your needs. In other words, how practical will it be? If you have heavy pans, an enamel cast iron sink is best. If you want something to fit your oversized pots, a single bowl sink is ideal.
Also consider the aesthetics. Do you want a modern or traditional look? Copper or stone sinks are best if you want a warm farmhouse feel while materials like porcelain and fiberglass carry unmistakably modern aesthetics.
Budget is also a major factor. Decide how much you are comfortable spending before you start shopping around. In the lower range you will find porcelain and acrylic farmhouse sinks. Steel sinks tend to be in the mid-range while enamel cast iron and copper sinks are a bit pricier.
Related: 10 Transitional Kitchen Elements for Those Seeking a Different Style
DOUBLE THE FUN
Yunker Associates Architecture
What a beautiful kitchen–the two sinks are an added bonus!
ON TOP
Architectural Details
A different twist on the typical farmhouse sink. Absolutely love this look!
SUNNY FARMHOUSE
JAS Design Build
So different–a bright cottage chic kitchen with a integrated soapstone farmhouse style sink.
WARM BAR
Kenzer Furniture
A great bar area for entertaining family and friends–so warm and welcoming.
WHITE WONDER
Jenny Baines, Jennifer Baines Interiors
What a pretty kitchen–awesome large white apron sink and that faucet is gorgeous!
UPDATED BARNHOUSE
Warmington & North
Cool space–a little rustic and also a little modern all in one shot.
Installing a Farmhouse Sink
There are some sinks that you can attempt to install yourself, but generally it is highly recommended that you hire a professional contractor to do the installation for you. This will ensure that it is done right and safely. Remember that farmhouse sinks, especially metal ones such as cast iron, are heavy and could easily injure you during installation.
Farmhouse sinks can be installed in several positions. The traditional one is to have it sit slightly in front of the surrounding countertop. Another popular method is to install the sink slightly below the countertop level (under mount), making it easy to wipe water from the countertop into the sink. Alternatively, you can have the sink at the same level as the countertop (flush), letting the two seamlessly integrate. Another option is a top mount farmhouse sink, where the lip goes above the countertop level.
Even decades from now, we predict that farmhouse sinks are still going to be very much in vogue. Their classic style may be from an earlier time in history but their convenience is timeless.
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