I will be putting soapstone countertops in my kitchen and while looking for a fabricator, came across a soapstone vanity top that had been cut and then not used. They gave me such a good deal on it I changed my mind about my masterbath plans. I didn't get a vessel sink but did get an undermount dark copper sink that looks great with the soapstone and it will be mounted on a cabinet that I will be painting a soft white.

My whole house is being built around our antiques, especially the kitchen, and I will have a couple of freestanding pieces in the bathroom. I think the copper vessel sinks could be made to work, especially if you find an old cabinet to convert to a vanity. I will have a white vessel sink in the guest bathroom with a bridge faucet and the old spiral tile on the floor. I think you could definitely pull it off with the right pieces/accents.

I need to see pictures of the sinks for inspiration!

I was afraid someone would ask for pics! The actual sinks are in storage, but I googled and found something similar (link below). The rolled rim on my sinks are thicker/beefier than the rims here, and my sinks are darker (more patina) than this one, but the general look is similar.

fhb, your comment about soft white cabs and a dark counter w/the sink gives me hope - overall, is your vision an arts and crafts style, or something more modern?

One thought I have is to sink the sink (verb, then noun) about halfway in to the countertop, so as to minimize the "Hi! I'm Copper!" looks of the sink, as well as to ease the distance between the top of the sink and the countertop. If I use the sink, what color should the fixtures be? Antiqued bronze to match the sink, or can I use satin nickel, as my original white vintage-y plan calls for? And does my sink fixture color need to match the shower? (I'm thinking yes, but maybe someone has an example that shows it doesn't need to match?)

Opinions?

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

I think it will look terrible and you must sell me those sinks immediately!

Seriously, I have a craftsman-style bungalow and am about to put in copper kitchen counters; already have copper cupboard knobs and the look really works well, especially with deep yellows and Morris greens. I have the original fir trim, so the orange tones are perfect -- this might work a bit differently for you with painted/white trim.

Yes, I'd sink the bowls in a bit, more so they don't scream "2007 Vessel" than "I'm Copper", but sitting on top really wouldn't be offensive - that's more an issue of usability and how you think they'd work functionally.

Fixtures: my kitchen faucets will most likely be copper, but I'd suggest polished nickel over the satin you're considering. In my experience modern brushed/satin fixtures bring out the gray in nickel but polished finish leaves the warm golden undertone, which would work better with copper. (Plus the polished nickel is vastly more historical, if authenticity is a plus.)

Sounds gorgeous! Have you consulted Jane Powell's books?

Find an antique dresser that you like and mount the sink in it.
Deck mount an ORB faucet.
Hang a mirror in an antique frame behind it.
Paint the walls a nice coppery orange color.

The arts & crafts "craftsmen" used lots of copper, particularly in lighting. I think your sinks will look beautiful. I can just picture a creamy cabinet, dark counter and copper sink combination. We used antique sinks (white porcelain, not copper) in both of the bathrooms we just built...to me they give the place soul.

I agree with circuspeanut that polished nickel is preferable to satin. If you're not a matchy-matchy kind of person, feel free to combine a couple of finishes. We combined antique brass lighting with a polished nickel faucet in our kitchen and it all just looks like it belongs together. I think antique or oil rubbed bronze could work really well with your copper sinks too.

I am pretty much doing what rob p suggested above except for the painting the walls coppery orange--dresser, ORB faucet (almost an exact match to the sink) and an antique framed mirror. My sink is an undermount sink, though. I am going for a vintagy (sp) look and will also have an armoir and old dresser in the area. I like the idea of sinking the sink a little.