Here's the other side of the cooking area. We also need to figure out how to replace the horrid rectangular florescent lighting too. If you have any tips with that, I would be forever grateful. :)

It's certainly possible to do what you want on both counts. But, it's MAJOR expensive surgery, not a minor fix. Soffits often contain plumbing drains, electrical lines, and HVAC runs. I can see a HVAC vent in yours that will need to be relocated. And then you cannot "raise" your cabinets up that high without putting them higher than standard and making them hard to reach. You could have new cabinets made that would stack on top of the old, but you're talking only 12", and if you want molding, that reduces their size to 9" tall. Not much actual storage space in only 9" for the amount of money that it would take to do the project. That's a lot of drywall work and moving around home systems. Plus the cost of new cabinetry.

How complex that can be is a big can of worms. Same with the farm sink. The actual cabinet that holds the sink would need to be modified, and the counter cut down. The easiest and cleanest way to do that would be to remove the counters and have them go back to the stone shop. That puts your cabinets and the counters at risk from damage. They often do not survive the process well. And then the sink cabinet needs to be rebuilt. You'd be talking 1-2K for the sink, plus at least that much for the labor. Maybe more.

You would be better off saving the 10K that you'd spend on the refresh and putting that towards a more extensive redo later that involves tearing out everything and replacing it. Luckily, what you have is pretty servicable for the most part except for the lack of drawers, poor lighting, space hogging dump zone desk and your already noted issues. Lots of people have had worse "before" kitchens! This will get you through until you've made a plan and saved the money for a gut redo.

Thanks for the feedback. It's our first house, and we are set to close on it soon. It's very exciting, but of course I am in nesting mode and want to make our first home look beautiful. I appreciate the advice!

Custom apron sinks are made that will slip over the existing cabinetry requiring no cutting or reworking of the cabinetry at all. The countertop would have to be cut, however, that can generally be done for less than $300. This is not a low budget choice, but is is available out there.

The Farm style sink is going to be a major issue. First: Beware if you modify your tops from the original design, you will be voiding out your warranty. Second: The countertops need to be removed to do this process. Third: Depending upon the style of farm sink you select, the cabinet needs to be modify to hold the sink in place or a box frame needs to be made to hold the sink in place to the countertop. If the sink weights too much and its not supported by a cabinet or frame, you can break you countertop.

It can be done. Joe Corlett, a countertop specialist that post here has done it many times. If you do not want to rework the cabinet, you will want a "short apron" farm sink. Kohler makes the cast iron Whitehaven and the Stainless steel Vault both in tall apron and short apron styles. Both styles are just as deep in the inside, but the apron on the "short apron" is shorter. The Vault also comes in a over mount as well as under mount style. When Joe installs the under mount styles, he does not remove the countertop - he removes the face frame of the cabinet and replaces it when he is done.

This one he did with a Vault:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/apron-sink-retrofit-dsvw-vd~4454249

The shorter apron to me resembles a little more the old fashion American cast iron sinks rather than the butler sinks from Britain which the tall apron apron front sinks are based on. This is mine in my more vintage style kitchen.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~110720042

Can't really add to that ^. Thanks.

Erin:

If your contractor is afraid of Dino's sink, you need another contractor. I'll put his sink in without changing the tops.

I would love to retrofit one of the farmhouse sinks in to my quartz countertop double bowl undermount sink. How do I even go about finding someone to do this for me?

lo_yost:

It can be difficult. A granite guy sends you to a plumber and the plumber sends you to a granite guy. A granite guy is going to have a much easier time installing a sink than a plumber is going to have cutting granite. You've got to let him know you'll make it worth his risk.

What city are you in, please? Maybe I know someone.

Hey Joseph, its actually a quartz countertop not granite. Im in Denver. Im changing out the kitchen blacksplash and would love to add a white single bowl farm sink. Definitely cant afford nee countertops at this time. Would love to figure out how to retrofit the sink in to the existing spot! This is what I currently have.

lo_yost:

I've done your job:

It's a lot more work than just cutting the engineered stone for $300.00. Figure five times that plus the cost of the Pete's Sink Mount kit ($300.00) and the cost of the sink.

Engineered stone cuts more easily than natural stone. Either way, the guy cutting the estone had better be able to patch when he bisects an old sink clip penetration:

You can't be afraid to tap off the cabinet front; there is no other way to get the sink in because the bowl is deeper than the cabinet rail. After the front is pulled the sink is set in place but forward enough to get the front back on. When the front is on, the sink apron is pushed to the cabinet front. Hot melt glue the front to the cabinet sides just like they did at the factory. Silicone the flange, tighten the Pete's which raises the sink into final position, wipe off the silicone (match the top, not the sink) and you're done.

Good luck.

Erin, you can find our patented sink design here: https://www.rachiele.com/drop-in-short-apron-farm-sink-fits-existing-cabinet.aspx
The example below was unbelievably inexpensive. It is a local project. Expect to pay a bit more for the work than this customer.

"Please watch this horrible video."

Dino: Your self deprecation is endearing. Thanks.

Does anyone know a contractor in the Madison, Wisconsin area that could help us with a project like this?

Check at www.stonefabricatorsalliance.com please. Post in the General section or look at the map of members.

The apron is too short on that retro fit sink . It looks weird . Needs to be a tall apron and then get new door or cut down old cabinets doors .

George, if I may be blunt, you don't know what you're talking about. Many people, myself included, think that the bottom of the apron and the bottom of the adjacent drawer aligning look better than the heaviness of an apron that's as deep as the bowl.

Dino's sinks, and production apron front sinks, are specifically designed to retrofit. They look terrific; I've done hundreds.

It's going to be nearly impossible to get a cabinetmaker to cut down doors and finish match. He's certain that he can't charge enough to make any money, he's probably right, and there's the risk of listening to the lady whine that the custom finish he concocted and she approved doesn't match after all. Nightmare.

@Joseph Corlett, LLC

This looks good.

'

This looks weird

This is how you cut down the cabinet.

A skirt is another option if you have a traditional kitchen,

George:

You are right, your first picture does look good, however, there are doors, not drawers, adjacent. I'm not crazy about the gap between the cabinet and the sink. Difficult to do without a sink that covers the cabinet front.

We disagree about the second picture.

Let's see you try that cabinet cut-down trick with a raised panel door please. Sure, you can cut down that flat panel plywood cheapie. You'd better only try that cross grain style cut on a kitchen that's laid out so you can't get back far enough to see that joint. If you put that cut at the top, the apron will probably cover it when you're standing at the sink.

I've got one of those coming up. The only way I'll cut that door that way is because the lady promised me she'll be painting her natural wood cabinets and doors that would cover the cross grain cut.

@Joseph Corlett, LLC Yes, if the cabinets are being painted then cutting them down is a better option. I like the idea of a retro fit sink. But I think it would be nice to have some tall apron options.