Farmhouse or Undermount sink???

11 years ago

Howdy! I'm building a home and trying to figure out what type of sink to put in the kitchen.

Currently, I have an undermount sink that is set back about 2-3 inches from the front edge of the counter. When I use the sink, that protruding counter seems to get water all over the place. Yes, I'm a messy sink-user ;)

I'm wondering if an apron-front/farmhouse style sink would allow me to get closer to the action in the sink, and would be less messy overall. Does that make sense?

Any input would be MUCH appreciated!

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Comments (10)

Fori
11 years ago
It makes sense to me. I always get a wet front. In my last remodel, I had the sink placed as far forward as possible--about 2 inches--and it helped a lot. Seems like an apron front would be even better.

I'm short, though. Tall people may not care.
carsonheim
Original Author
11 years ago
fori -- yes, I'm short as well. 5'3" to be exact. My shirt is always a soaking mess after I clean dishes! This is why I'm thinking the apron front may be better. I *love* this one:

Here is a link that might be useful: copper sink
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caitlinmagner
11 years ago
Another short messy dishwasher here. And I absolutely HATE the feeling of getting wet with clothes on. I'm considering doing a copper farmhouse sink too, but just for aesthetics. I hadn't even thought about the bonus of better water containment!
Bunny
11 years ago
I'm having a hard time understanding why the 2 or 3 inches of counter between you and the sink makes for a wetter experience. Why does a farmhouse sink provide better water containment? Not trying to be argumentative, just hoping for a bit of clarification. :)
marcolo
11 years ago
If anything, we get comments about more splashing from farmhouse sinks, not less. Splashing seems more related to the characteristics of the faucet (gooseneck) and its placement (relation to the drain). I have an undermount and zero splashing from the faucet unless I'm using the pullout and being messy.
carsonheim
Original Author
11 years ago
For me, it's not the splashing so much as the water that ends up on the 3 inches of granite in front of the sink. When I lean toward the sink I end up soaking up all that water on the front of my shirt. I was wondering if not having that piece of counter would help that issue.
marcolo
11 years ago
Sure! Now the water will just splash directly on your shirt.
Bunny
11 years ago
What Marcolo said.
Fori
11 years ago
It depends on what your splashes are from. If your splashes are from holding spoons wrong in the water stream, it's not gonna matter.

But a short person is going to get more use out of the bowl of a sink if the bowl of the sink is closer to them. More splashes will be contained when items are being washed closer to the center of the bowl. A forward-positioned sink lets the short-armed user use the middle of the sink instead of the front.

(Make sure you select a faucet with a long enough spout, too, Shorty! Stretching while working is no fun.)
gwlolo
11 years ago
Like fori says, the angle matters for comfort and control. For a shorter person, the reach and working room is more with a farm sink and it will definitely be much much easier on the back. If the undercount sink is deeper like the modern ones, it actually compounds the problem as the floor is further away. It's impractical to do everything in the front half of the sink.