Please advise: Franke vs Shaw farmhouse sink?

12 years ago

We are doing a cosmetic remodel of the kitchen in the house we just bought (our first). It's all happening very quickly because we need to move asap and I'm overwhelmed by all the design decisions. Most pressing dilemma--which farmhouse sink?

It's going to be a white kitchen with hopefully a classic but modern feel, very much a working kitchen. Carrera countertops, stainless appliances. House is colonial style but we're in CA so take that with a grain of salt (not my personal favorite style, but right layout, right school district--probably why I'm a little stumped on the design end of things now).

My first thought was to do the classic Shaw farmhouse sink, 36" size--and I've read how many of you have sung its praises here. Kitchen designer and husband have both voted for the Franke FHK710 fireclay apron front sink (33 or 36" TBD). A little deeper, good drain offset, squarer lines, not as thick. Aesthetically probably a better choice for our look. BUT the Shaw is the classic, right? Is the Franke basically a copycat? Or are other brands of farmhouse sink just as respectable as Shaw? I want honest, longlasting style, not something that's a fad. Is this choice like Mercedes vs BMW, or like Gucci vs. trendy knockoff? OK, I may not not have my analogies right-- I'm clearly out of my element here!

I would very much appreciate your thoughts on this issue and if you have the Franke sink, I'd love to hear your experience with it. Thanks to all so far who have helped this extreme newbie with advice on kitchen design so far, and thanks once again.

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John Liu

12 years ago

For as many KF people who have had their fireclay sinks crack - when banged hard, when the disposal is tightened, when boiling stuff is poured in, when a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil, or when the sink just feels like cracking - and then faced the dilemma of getting the old sink out and the new sink in, when the companies can't even make their products to a consistent dimensions - I'm impressed that the fireclay sinks remain so popular here.

Just do a Google search for ''gardenweb fireclay sink crack'', as well as replacing ''fireclay'' with Shaws or Whitehaus or whatever. Sit back and enjoy hours of reading pleasure.

I get that these sinks are beautiful, romantic, expensive, silky to the touch, and display the prestigious stamp for all to admire.

I also get that you can read the forum for years without running across any tragic stories of the KF'er whose cast iron sink cracked because a disposal was overtightened or some thoughtless guest was criminal enough to drain boiling pasta water into the sink. And should a cast iron sink need to be replaced, at least they've figured out how to make them all the same size.

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Comments (8)

sayde
12 years ago
I picked the Shaw but I think the Franke looks just as nice.

Our marble installer cracked the sink during the install. This whole sad saga is described in other threads. But the point here is that Rohl replaced it, even though I told them exactly what happened. They still called it a "thermal crack" and replaced it. I was totally surprised at this decision on Rohl's part.

Another little factotum about the Shaw's sink (the 30 --this might not apply to you if you get the 36) -- the sink's drain has a left hand offset. At least most of them do. About one or two in ten have a right hand offset and these are sent out "randomly." Don't ask me how I know. The sink now installed in our kitchen is not the second, but the third sink that has been sent to us.

Now, the downside is that the Shaw sinks do vary a bit and so the new sink did not exactly match the first sink, the one upon which the marble was templated. I'm thrilled that we -- I should say DH, who has pulled many a miracle in this kitchen -- was able to get the old one out and the new one in without perturbing cabinets or marble that were now firmly in place. The margins around the sink are not exactly even. I've decided it will just be a reminder about the hubris of desiring perfection and have moved on.

Just a couple of things to know about Rohl and Shaw's sinks, the good and the, well, idiosyncratic.
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Another Franke-fan here. I specifically choose mine because I didn't want such a deep model (mine is about 7") and I wanted a rectangle that was deeper front-to-back than the longer, narrower Shaws. My sink is an older model, perhaps superceded by a slightly different shape now. My drain is slightly back of center but centered from side to side, if that makes sense. One thing to think about is the thickness or width of the front. I wanted mine as thin as possible since since I find thick fronts (whether from sink or sink and counter top) make dishwashing harder on my back. I don't use a DW, so that's a big deal for me. And a large single bowl is really fine. I use a dishpan when I'm washing-up from a party, but mostly use the largest vessel I used in meal prep as a pro-forma one. The ability to set a big pan down flat in my sink is the nuts. Also it pays to ask your local Franke dealer if he can match on-line prices. Mine did with no quibble and when mine arrived with a slighly ding in the glaze, replacement was no hassle. HTH, L.
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Ikea Domsjo double or single bowl sink is ceramic, and a great look, at a great price. If it breaks, you won't cry copious tears of regret :) Had the single bowl Domsjo in my old house, looked fab and was the only sink I've ever used where I didn't get soaked while doing dishes (I am short, it was not undermount, no idea why this phenomenon happened). It seemed to wear very well with no scuffs or dings, but I moved about a year after installing it. Now I love my huge single bowl granite composite sink from Franke. Very quiet. And it actually is the size of a double bowl and fits in the same cutout. If you love the farmhouse sink and it works with your home, get it. I don't think they will ever be out of style if they are consistent with your particular home's style. Unfortunately I have zero experience with the fireclay, but my experience with the ceramic was very positive. And in the right setting, they look fabulous :) I have had stainless steel sinks. They are o.k. I understand why people like them. But they are totally not for me!
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liriodendron
12 years ago
FWIW, One of the reasons I chose a Franke sink over the Shaws was that it was shallower than the Rohl/Shaws models. Perhaps I misunderstood what you wrote or perhaps these styles have changed?

The other reason was that the basin (single) was deeper front to back, so perhaps that's what you mean?

Mine is older, and perhaps the newer models are different, but you should be aware that there is a little flange that sticks backward from the back edge a bit which moves the faucet placement position a bit farther away. If you are tight on space behind your sink this might be important.

Other than that, I preferred the (to my eyes)different French-sink style look of the thinner walls and rollover on the Franke, but YMMV. I don't see it as a knock-off of the Belfast sink design - just different.

L
kamcc242
12 years ago
I would have to agree that the Franke sink is the better choice, especially if you are going for a more contemporary take on your colonial kitchen. I know some Franke fireclay sinks are made by Villeroy & Boch, a company that has been in business for over 250 years, so they are definitely not an upstart! Franke has been around for a long time too...just saw that their celebrating their 100 Year Anniversary this year.

The thinner walls of the Franke sinks are sleeker and less clunky, which would go really well with your stainless steel appliances and the look you are trying to achieve. Franke is definitely not a knock-off in any sense and, yes...my two cents, they ARE the Mercedes!
I actually have a family member that has the MHK11028 in white and they purchased the custom fit grids and cutting boards to go with it. It looks awesome in her kitchen!
cobragirl96
12 years ago
I have the Whitehaus sink with a lip on the front (WHQ330 plain side out). It is extremely heavy (although not quite as thick and heavy as the Shaw's) and was quite a bit cheaper than the Franke or the Shaw's. Also it looks a little different than all the other farmhouse sinks out there because of the lip (although Whitehaus also makes one without a lip). The Shaw's sinks are beautiful but I think you will find they are more rounded and thicker than some of the other sinks, while I think the squarer sinks lend themselves to a more contemporary style. If you can see a Rohl's in person, you may be surprised at how big and round it is, I know I was, and although I liked it, I just wasn't willing to pay the extra money when there were other sinks I liked just as much. Also a 36" sink is huge. I have a rather sizable kitchen and was considering the 36 until I saw it in person, I could have bathed two of my kids in it at the same time and probably still done dishes (okay, a little exageration, but still it was huge!) If you have the room to spare, you may want to go fro 36, but make sure you realize exactly how large it is, especially if you are going single basin.
marcydc
12 years ago
johnliu, I don't get it either. Had I had been contemplating that sink I sure would be running far from it after reading the many stories about cracks.
Em Bee
8 years ago
You will never regret purchasing a Franke Villeroy and Boch farmhouse sink. We have one and it doesn't easily stain or scratch. Little grey marks from a metal roaster comes off easily with a little baking soda and water. Love it!!
Leticia Holberg
4 years ago
Are you still loving yours?

Please advise: Franke vs Shaw farmhouse sink?

John Liu

Comments (8)

sayde

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