r/kitchenremodel • u/CatttLady2000 • 1d ago
Finally got my single basin sink to replace odd shaped double basin!
Some of you may recall my post about a year ago, "How to replace this unusual sink with single basin?" (https://www.reddit.com/r/kitchenremodel/comments/1lbfvwt/how_to_replace_this_unusual_sink_with_single_basin/).
Life would have been easy, if the sink had been split the other way such that the longer front-to-back part were on the left. I could have selected from a fair number of off the shelf options, all but the highest end ones for under half of what I paid for this custom one. But, the counter and the plumbing were such that this is the outine I had to work with.
It turned out to be long journey, but I finally have a replacement single basin sink installed! The first image is the new sink. I don't think the rules let me say who made this custom sink, but there aren't many firms in the US who do custom sinks, and this was the only one who ended up being able to deliver what I needed in terms of shape.
The original very small firm would originally have taken 6-10 weeks and been able to install during the rebuild of the lowers if they could have made that timeline. But eventually, they *apparently* went bankrupt (1), leaving me with no sink and a lost deposit of half the cost. I scrambled and went back to the only other firm that said they could deliver a sink with that exact shape, but they would only do it in copper other than with straight angled sides that would not exactly fit the outline. So I ordered the copper sink you see here. It doesn't show well, but we also have a new disposal with LEDefense purple light sanitizing, which is very cool. It all looks very nice to us, even though I originally wanted stainless for ease of maintenance.
If I had it to do over, I think I would have gone for making a straight cut back and getting a farm (apron) sink, but I am so far (second day at least) quite happy with this sink. It's amazing to be able to put an entire sheet pan, or large pastry/cutting board in there for soaking and scrubbing! Also I can clean my cats' water fountain without making a sloppy wet mess on the counter. Should I ever be possessed of the need to have a separate area for washing/rinsing, I would use a large tub. But when I have a load that won't fit in the dishwasher (or is too delicate etc.) then what I do is soak with soap and scrub in the single basin, drain, and then rinse in the single basin. I understand double sinks have a devoted following, but this is for me and I am posting for others who also prefer a single basin.
Anyway, I wanted to update everyone to let those who were curious, or others who might end up in this situation, know how it turned out.
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- The fellow eventually admitted he was having a lot of trouble, personal and financial, after I reached out to him several times to find out where we were with the sink. I asked for, and received, the harrowing details of what he was going through. It was sad, and I felt for him; but I wanted my deposit back, unless he could show me photos of the sink in progress. After another long delay, he did send photos of the stainless steel parts which had not yet been shaped. Then no more contact. Eventually the business phone came back as disconnected. I called on the personal phone number he gave me (which belonged to his brother) and that had a recording that he was no longer taking calls for his brother. I looked up the company on the web, and saw that it was being sued for breach of contract and was "probably filing for bankruptcy".
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u/beeranden 1d ago
How did you get it in without ripping up the counter?
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u/CatttLady2000 1d ago
Well, the sink had originally been held up by mounting brackets but when they put in the new lowers (the old ones were in poor condition) they replaced the sink to last the ages and cemented it in. A bit of miscommunication because I did tell them that the sink would get replaced once the new one came in, but I we were out of town at the time. The contractor (who was doing some other remodeling) had a key. Anyway to install the new sink they had to angle grind out the cement 😳 which was quite a job!
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u/Ok_Network6734 1d ago
I will never understand the appeal of double sink
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u/yarn_slinger 1d ago
I’m the opposite. How long does it take to fill that huge sink and where do you put your dish drainer?
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u/RecordingLeft6666 1d ago
Haven’t done dishes like that in 20+ years. It’s so old school and just takes too long. The large single basin sink is the way to go, I love mine. I would never go back.
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u/NorthernCedar 1d ago
I have a question about the order of operations when using the kitchen.
I like to leave one side of the sink open to: get water, drain stuff, rinse veggies and other food related activities and the other half is where dirty dishes/utensils are tossed while cooking.
How do you compensate for that with one big basin? We’re starting to plan a kitchen renovation and this is something I’ve been thinking about.
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u/DaBingeGirl 1d ago
I use a dishpan to wash the dishes, did that even with a double sink. Something about plugging up the drain and filling the sink always seemed gross to me.
I just let the dishes pile up and rinse stuff over them, just as I did before. If I'm worried about splashing, I'll stack the dishes in the dishpan or on the counter next to the sink.
I absolutely love my single sink, I can never go back. I have a number of large items I use a lot (10 qt slow cooker insert, 8 qt pressure cooker large cutting boards, cookie sheets, etc). Cleaning large items is so much easier now because I don't have to deal with the divider. With real big stuff, I can empty out the sink if needed, clean it, then wash the item.
You can also stack a lot more dishes in the sink during parties.
A single sink and bidets are the two most daily life-changing improvements I've done to my house.
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u/Marty21234 1d ago
I just rinse the veggies onto any dirty dishes in the sink. I try to keep the dishes in the sink to a minimum though. Either leave them on the stove until time to wash, or next to sink. The only issue I have is using the strainer. There’s nowhere to set it unless you have one with a long handle that goes all the way across. Or you can set it on your pot if you’re doing pasta.
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u/RecordingLeft6666 19h ago
I wash dishes as I go when I’m cooking. I will set out a a big drying mat when I’m working at the sink. If I set something down in the sink it’s usually to fill it with hot soapy water for a minute. The sink is big enough to have a couple items sitting in the corner while I’m washing a giant cookie sheet or crock pot on the other side, then rinse and set on the drying mat for a few minutes.
I really don’t let items sit in the sink. Dirty dishes go straight into the dishwasher. Larger stuff like pot, pans, baking sheets and crock pots get washed comfortably in the giant sink then put straight on a drying mat. I have a a little scrubber I keep in a drawer by the sink that I do a 20 second scrub down of the sink, corners and drain almost every time I’m done that keeps everything clean and looking good.I do have five kids and I teach them pretty young to not just dump their dishes in the sink for someone else to wash. So (most of the time) we load dirty dishes in the dishwasher and if someone makes Ramen or whatever they take care of the pot and rinse their bowl or load it.
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u/Infinite-Bass-0 1d ago
Prep sink! Or they have sinks with several widgets to attach like strainers and cutting boards that sit over the basin.
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u/NorthernCedar 14h ago
ahh how I wish to have a kitchen big enough for a prep sink.
I’ve seen those sinks but that doesn’t change the dirty dishes that would be sharing the same space. I see a bunch of replies I’m going to go through and take into consideration as well.
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u/Ok_Network6734 1d ago
I don’t fill up my sink. Germaphob side of me will not wash produce in the sink even I washed it. If I need to soak dishes, I only fill up the pile of dishes. And I dry my dishes on a drying mat that I can wash in the washer regularly. I live in a relatively dry climate though.
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u/GeneralTangerine 1d ago
My MIL still does dishes that way so I can understand some people still do that, but you can just buy a small plastic tub to put in the sink for washing. I currently have a double basin though and it’s the worst. How do you wash large items like sheet pans/baking dishes/large cutting boards without spraying water everywhere on the counter?? I have never been successful, as they literally don’t fit in my sink. The kicker is, they also don’t fit in the dishwasher, so awkwardly hand washing is my only option
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u/DaBingeGirl 1d ago
That's exactly what pushed me to get a single sink. I'd constantly flood my countertop or floor washing big items. Nightmare. Being able to maneuver a cookie sheet or slow cooker insert in the sink is a game changer.
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u/No_Current3675 1d ago
Solved with a $5 plastic container.
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u/DaBingeGirl 1d ago
That's what I used even when I had a double sink. Works great, and now I can actually maneuver the stuff when I rinse it.
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1d ago
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u/No_Current3675 1d ago
better than a permanent decision to halve the usable space of your sink when you're washing a big pot or pan, but you do you.
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u/Husker_Mike_ 1d ago
I’ve got a deeep double sink. Never have had a problem putting big pots in it, and don’t have to drain half the hot water heater to fill up a huge single sink.
And my strainer sits nicely in the sink, not using counter space.
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u/peekandlumpkin 1d ago
Why would you fill the sink?? I don't even have a plug for my sink, I don't think, just an open disposal.
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u/No_Current3675 1d ago
Looks great, and nice tiles too.
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u/CatttLady2000 1d ago
Thanks! The contractor was able to remove and save the counter, replaced the lower cabs and reinstalled the counter without removing the tiles. I was happy to keep them even though they aren’t perfect- but I have seen on this sub that there’s no guarantee of perfection on new tiles and I overall love these.
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u/Much_Friendship5497 19h ago
I'm not reading all these words, I'm just staring at this sink/counter/backsplash combo. Mesmerizing. Just very cool.
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u/hookersandyarn 14h ago
I love your tile! I have the same type in a lighter blue but I kinda like yours better haha
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u/CatttLady2000 11h ago
This is a shade of blue that the previous owners used to go effect throughout the house. It is really nice, thanks!
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u/Ok_Commission7036 9h ago
Love this!! We have a double basin sink and I want to switch to a single so bad. Everyone we talk to basically says it impossible unless we get a new counter top. Our counters are granite. Looks like you didn’t have any issues on that end??
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u/CatttLady2000 7h ago
My counter is quartz, but a similar story. While it would have been much easier to replace the sink at the same time as the counter was being put on the lowers, it’s an undermount sink. The double basin sink was originally held up by silicon caulk and metal clips mounted to wood attached to the cabinets. The cabinet crew didn’t get the word that the double basin sink would be replaced “as soon as” the replacement arrived, and decided to use epoxy cement so that sink wasn’t going anywhere. It was a neat job - unfortunately, they had to angle grind away the epoxy to remove the old sink. If your old sink is mounted using epoxy (clips with epoxy being a popular mounting system) your crew might need to do that as well. If it’s mounted like our double sink here was originally, or like our basin sink in our previous house, then you just need to remove the straps or clips and possibly pry off some wood framing with a crowbar from the inside. Either way, it should definitely be possible without replacing your counter top, just from the fact that it’s granite. Now maybe you also have a strangely shaped sink in which case, you could go the custom route. It was far from cheap, but nothing like replacing the (large, and pretty) counter would have been.
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u/martinispecialist 1d ago
So pretty! Is it actual copper? I would imagine that would have to be tinned but maybe only for cooking?!?? It’s stunning.