The Best Retrofit Farmhouse Sinks For Your Kitchen
Welcome to my list of the best retrofit farmhouse sinks for your kitchen refresh or remodel project.
This post has been a work in progress for quite some time now. Ever since I learned about the benefits of retrofit sinks I have been collecting this list my favorites to share with my clients - and now with all of you!
I love that retrofit farmhouse sinks can help you achieve a completely new look in your kitchen without breaking the bank.
For anyone who wants to update their space with a new kitchen sink but doesn’t have the budget to completely remodel their kitchen, these can be a total game changer!
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What Are Retrofit Farmhouse Sinks?
To explain what retrofit farmhouse sinks are, let’s go back to the basics about the differences between sinks and their installation.
Farmhouse kitchen sinks, also known as apron front sinks, are unique in that the front of the sink has an apron that comes down in front of the cabinet.
Standard farmhouse sinks almost always require a special farmhouse sink base cabinet. This cabinet has a longer flat wood piece in front that is cut as needed to accommodate the size of the farmhouse sink when installed.
Standard sink base cabinets on the other hand, often have false drawers on the front with doors beneath. The height of the false drawers is meant to match the cabinets on either side which means they are quite a bit shorter with taller doors beneath.
If you’re a visual person, I included some pictures to better illustrate the difference.
Below you can see an image of the difference between a typical farmhouse sink base cabinet and a standard sink base cabinet.
Compared to a typical farmhouse kitchen sink, retrofit farmhouse sinks are made to fit on an existing cabinet that wasn’t intended for farmhouse or apron front sinks.
They usually have a shorter apron to accommodate a standard kitchen sink base cabinet’s taller door height.
Many retrofit sinks are designed to have the apron slide over the face frame of the cabinet, versus having to be cut into the cabinet.
This can allow for easier installation and helps to keep the structure of your cabinet intact so it can support the weight of the sink.
When To Choose A Retrofit Farmhouse Kitchen Sink:
When doing a kitchen refresh or remodel and wanting to replace the sink and/or countertops but not your cabinets.
If you prefer the look of a shorter apron on your farmhouse sink.
When planning to DIY a remodel and preferring easier installation of a farmhouse sink with the overlapping apron design.
Types Of Retrofit Farmhouse Sinks:
Single vs. Double Basin Retrofit Farmhouse Sinks
Single basin sinks have one large open bowl. This style is often preferred by those who want lots of space available to wash large pots and pans. It is also ideal if the sink is a smaller width such as a corner kitchen sink.
Double basin sinks have two bowls - these can be the same side, or any combination of different proportions. The center dividers are sometimes tall, sometimes lower, but each have their own benefits. This style is preferred by those who like to have one side of the sink for washing and another for rinsing or drying.
Undermount vs. Drop-in Retrofit Farmhouse Sinks
Drop-in sinks are installed where a hole in cut in the countertop and the sink is set into that hole. The top rim around the sink then sits on top of the countertop. Drop-in sinks can be used with any type of countertop but are necessary for laminate or wood countertops to ensure water from the sink does not penetrate the countertop and cause damage.
Undermount sinks are installed underneath the countertop with the inside edge of the countertop is exposed around the top rim of the sink. Undermount installation works for solid surface, marble, granite, and quartz countertop materials.
Choosing The Right Size Retrofit Farmhouse Sink
The maximum size sink you can get for your kitchen will be dependent on the sink of the sink base cabinet.
Each manufacturer will usually state what size cabinet their sink will fit into, which is helpful. That said there are a few things we have found to be true when shopping for retrofit apron front sinks.
Generally speaking, you will have to get a sink somewhat smaller than the width of your sink cabinet.
When choosing a drop-in retrofit sink you will often be able to select a larger width of sink than an undermount sink. This is because the drop-in installation allows the rim to sit on top of the countertop and does not take up space beneath in the cabinet.
For undermount sinks, we have found that with the way they are installed, being attached to the underside of the countertop, there needs to be about 3/4”-1.5” on either side of the sink for fasteners to be used. That means, if you have a 36” base cabinet, you would likely choose a sink that is 33”-34.5” to allow room to attach the sink to the countertop.
As I mentioned above, all of this should be verified using the manufacturers size recommendation. You can also reference their install instructions before purchasing to double check any questions you may have.
Materials For Retrofit Farmhouse Sinks
Retrofit farmhouse kitchen sinks come in a wide variety of materials.
The most common sinks materials out there are going to be stainless steel, granite and quartz composite, fireclay, and enameled cast iron and copper.
Each material has pros and cons for their durability, maintenance, and overall appearance.
You can read more about the differences in our post: Choosing Between Stainless Steel, Copper, Composite, Cast Iron, and Fireclay Sinks.
Now, onto my list of the best retrofit farmhouse kitchen sinks! I have separated the list into two sections, one for single basin and the other for double basin retrofit farmhouse sinks.
Single Basin Retrofit Farmhouse Kitchen Sinks
* Click the image or link to be taken to the seller’s site *
Double Basin Retrofit Farmhouse Kitchen Sinks
* Click the image or link to be taken to the seller’s site *
Installing A New Retrofit Farmhouse Kitchen Sink
Farmhouse sinks are a little bit different from a standard sink when it comes to installation.
Here is usually how it works, before calling the countertop company to measure, the sink needs to be set into place. This allows the countertop people to see the size and measure accurately for your specific sink. These sinks will also often have a template that they can take with them to ensure they have the correct shape of your sink when fabricating your countertops.
When they come back to install the countertops, they will usually attach the retrofit farmhouse sink to the countertop so that it is securely in place.
After that, you can have a plumber come back to hook up the faucet, garbage disposal, water filter, etc. on your sink.
Conclusion
Retrofit farmhouse sinks are a relatively easy way to transform the look of your kitchen without having to do a whole kitchen remodel. They can help you save money by allowing you to reuse your existing kitchen cabinets. I hope my list of retrofit sinks helped to inspire you to find your own perfect match!
Now I want to hear from you - Are you planning to remodel and use a retrofit farmhouse kitchen sink? Which style of sink are you most attracted to? Let me know in the comments below!
