Ouch. The stage 45 is a big splurge for us. I think my GC said he considers anything over $300 a luxury sink. He obviously hasn't spent any time hanging around here, lol.

I'm just getting over my cabinet sticker shock. And before that, appliance sticker shock since I can't seem to pick an appliance that no one sells for less than MSRP. Now I'm looking forward to GC sticker shock.

I have a Galley sink taped out on my counter to torture myself. That imaginary sink is already speaking to me.

Same for us. I saw the sink mentioned on here during the design phase of our remodel and I showed my husband the video. He's an engineer so the efficiency and design sold him on it right away. It's funny how an engineer's mind works. If I had not read about it on here I probably still wouldn't know it exists. It's all Garden Web's fault!

Maybe this is a crazy idea, but what if you took the design to a metal fabricator and had them make you one?

Not crazy at all. I seem to remember a discussion on here that mentioned doing just that. My feeble brain can't remember the pros & cons mentioned. Maybe more cons?

I drool over the galley sinks, but there's no way. Not even close :(

I found another manufacturer that makes a sink that makes a single ledge version:

http://www.rachiele.com/stainless-undermount-sinks.asp

However, once you get to a 48" with ledges, its almost as expensive as the Galley. I come up with $3875 shipped without accessories. Add accessories and its more expensive. Geez.

Going from 30" to 48" adds $997. Adding the ledges to any size adds $800. It occurred to me yesterday that it must be difficult to make extra large single-vessel undermount sinks that don't collapse, otherwise you'd think that more companies would do it. They and their mounting mechanism has to be strong enough to hold themselves to a counter when full of water, right?

I never fill mine with water. I think it would be a waste. Dish pan or large pot that needs washing works well for soaking and doesn't waste so much water. They probably do have to take filling into account when the sink is manufactured. The Galley also shows a portion of the sink filled with ice for serving cold bottled water, etc.

This thread discusses the galley, stages, custom, etc.

Thanks a bunch crl_, that's a great thread. I've read through it at least 3x already!

leealison, I wouldn't expect to fill one with water either. I've seen photos of the 7' one filled completely with ice! Then there's all the good stuff that they had sitting on top of the ice. I don't think I'm expecting on inviting all the guests from my next cruise to my house for a seafood buffet, so I don't think I'll need that one :).

The Multiere is gorgeous, 45" and looks to be in the $3K range. Perhaps if you shop you can do better. Multiere.

I had a stainless steel sink custom made back in 2006. It was a company in Canada that I found on the Interwebs, but I'm afraid I can't remember their name. They did a really nice job. The price was comparable or a bit less that I would have paid retail, but I was able to get the drain in a very specific position that I wanted. They shipped it to me in California. I would definitely recommend looking into custom fabrication.

I'm definitely on this bandwagon. I first saw the Galley Sink while I was surfing the internet at the orthodontist's office, then I discovered that it has a number of cousins -- and these things are popular, so I suspect the offerings will grow in the coming years. In my mind, the big three are The Galley, Kohler's Stages 45, and the Kallista Multiere. Yes, others exist, but I see them as "also rans". However, some people prefer them, for example, because one of them is enamel instead of stainless steel, and they're all less expensive. I wonder if the prices will come down as more players enter this small-but-profitable arena.

I lean towards the Stages because of the ledge. I'm placing mine on a peninsula with limited space, so the ledge will allow me more drawer space underneath for prep items. Since this will be my primary prep spot, I like the idea of having my sharp knives, garlic press, vegetable peelers, measuring cups, and other prep-y gadgets right there handy.

On the other hand, in practical moments, I've considered that I could go with one of the "also rans" -- a 36" sink with a ledge ... and use the countertop in the same way I would have used the ledge. The counter could function in the same way as the ledge, and I could have drawers under it more easily than I could fit them under the ledge. It also occurs to me that if I go this direction, I can use a standard 40" sink base + standard drawer cabinets ... whereas drawers under the Stages ledge will probably mean custom fabrication for that run of cabinets. If I were really counting pennies, I'd go this way.

Definitely read the old threads about placement of these unique sinks, and study the cabinetry pictures. The drawers, trash can, and whatever else you choose to surround this sink are decisions just as important as the sink itself. This is a big ticket item, and you want to maximize function, so it makes sense to think through exactly how you'll use it and design the area for yourself.

I also suggest that you focus on the sink itself, not the accessories. I see the sink as a lifetime purchase (if I ever remodel my kitchen, I'd re-use a sink with a four-digit price tag); however, accessories are going to come and go over the years. You can buy a good-quality cutting board anywhere and, if necessary, have it cut to size. You can have a colander-sized hole cut into that board, and you'll have the same upscale accessory sold by some of these sinks. And take a look at what's available on Amazon.com -- you can find various across-the-sink colanders, etc. that will work with these sinks. Somewhere on one of the threads you'll find by searching this site is a list of Ikea accessories that work. The point: Focus on the big item that you cannot change later (or cannot change without significant cost and effort).

As for custom fabrication, I'm telling tales here, repeating things I've read on this board but haven't verified personally ... but someone looked into it and said it wasn't a realistic option. That it requires special something-something, and it's not as easy as it might look. Worth looking into, yes, but I wouldn't get your hopes up. I think you have a better chance of finding a sale on "the real thing".

LeeAllison, My husband is an engineer too, and I know he will love this sink, but I'm not going to talk to him about it ahead of time. He gets burned out quickly on details like this. I'm also not talking to him about the pricetag. We're building a modest house that's significantly under our ability to pay, so I can afford to have a splurge here and there, but he isn't good with seeing money go out the door. He will be happiest loving the sink and never considering its cost.

And I'm going to end with what I hope isn't yet another shocker: Don't forget to consider your faucet. Many people pair these sinks with the Kohler Karbon, which is another $1000 or so. And some people even go with a PAIR of Karbons. Do consider your faucet as you put together your plans.

It occurred to me yesterday that it must be difficult to make extra
large single-vessel undermount sinks that don't collapse, otherwise
you'd think that more companies would do it.

Barbja, I think the reason that you don't find a lot of extra large sinks is mostly due to fact that most existing kitchens don't have space for a sink that large. That and/or don't have a sink base cabinet large enough where folks are just replacing counter tops and sink in a remodel-lite situ. So, the potential market for big sinks is pretty limited.

For budget shoppers, megabai has a 48" stainless sink (16 gauge) for <$350. It's a drop-in (but could be undermounted). Downside is that the front to back bowl measurement is a little smaller than the mega-expensive sinks at less than 16".

How about this as a work around. I purchased the Kohler Strive single bowl 35" stainless sink and installed a drain board in my countertop adjacent to the sink.

The next picture shows it with my small Oxo cutting board. The larger one fits even better.

I think the sink cost me around $500 and the drain board in the counter was around $150. That's a lot of money that could be used elsewhere.

HomeChef, That's a great work-around! In fact, you could have ledges on both sides, if it suited you. Plus, I see that the Strive comes in 24", 29", 32" and 35" wide, providing a greater range of choices.

However, I do note one difference: This sink doesn't have a "slider lip"; that is, a little "catch slide" to hold the cutting boards, etc. in place over the sink. Without that, you can set a cutting board OVER the sink, but it won't be "slide-able" and won't be held in place as you cut.

I see that Kohler's 8 Degree and their Poise sinks have the "slider lip", but those sinks are as expensive (or more expensive) than the Stages.

And -- completely unrelated to the above -- but something to consider: If you're going with an under mount sink, it's very important that you choose a quality sink that'll last. It's essentially impossible to remove an under mount sink later; at least, it's essentially impossible to do it without removing (and possibly breaking) your countertop.

You cant' see from the picture, but there is a stainless lip around the sink. It can either be installed as an under mount or a drop in. Now I have a slight overlap of counter in the sink cutout.

The sink cutout of the countertop could be wider providing a lip for something to slide across. I wouldn't like that because I didn't want water standing on it and gunk forming. I think placing a large cutting board across the void would do the trick.

In my opinion, most of what the Stages does is whiz gadget stuff. All of those functions are not exclusive to the sink. They can be completed with a little thought. As a former professional chef, all I want is a big sink and lot of counter top.

It begs the question, is the Stages it worth an additional $3,000? I'd rather spend that money on a better range top or oven.

I just do not understand how a sink could cost this much? Good grief. I mean, really?

All of the "it's difficult to fabricate" "high technology" blah blah, is bullcrud. I can buy 2 refrigerators for the same price as one of these silly sinks. TWO.

Shoot, for 4K I could buy an entire SET of appliances from Whirlpool Gold (double wall oven, 36" cooktop, microwave, dishwasher). They aren't high end but there is a lot more material, workmanship, and "technology" in a suite of appliances than there is in a sink. A metal box shaped sink. Cut on a CNC laser machine. Robotic weld. Same same as regular appliances.

What a complete rip off. Wow.

(nothing negative to any of you that own these but these companies have balls to charge this much and I'm shocked people pay it).

The kohler stages 45 is NOT $4000. It is currently available on Amazon for just under $1,400. That price tag does include accessories. I am sure you can purchase those kinds of accessories separately and cheaper elsewhere but there is some value in the accessories. Still a heck of a lot of money.

We are building a new home and went the 6' Galley Sink. It is not yet installed but was delivered and my cabinets are currently being built. We are not going with a kitchen design layout recommended by Galley. I am sticking to a gas range, not going for Induction as they suggest. I am not placing my cook top beside my sink. I opted for the length of the sink and having my cooking behind me. My personal preference is not having a hood in the middle of the room, which I would have had to do if I put in a smaller sink and the cooktop in the island. The hoods that are flat on the ceiling are not powerful enough for my 12' ceiling and the range top I selected. That left me with a more traditional kitchen lay out. But I am really looking forward to using the sink. I can only imagine how nice it will be when bringing things in from the garden.