Kohler Whitehaven 36" or 33" and base cabinet size

6 years ago

Another Kohler Whitehaven question... I noticed in searching old threads there are alot of posts where people are deciding between the 30" and 36"... makes me think there was not a 33" option in the past? We are going to go with the Whitehaven but are trying to decide between 33" and 36". The 36" seems huge to us (it's installed and on display at the local Lowe's) but in a "good" way. We do have plenty of room for a 36" if we want to go that big. Any votes for 33" or 36"?

Also, what size base cabinet do people have their 36" installed in? Currently we have a 36" base cabinet planned for our new kitchen and I believe the 36" Whitehaven will fit in there, but we still have time to widen the base cabinet it if we want. Does it make sense to go a little wider on the base cabinet?

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emilyam819

6 years ago

The 36" whitehaven is sized for a 36" base cabinet, the 33 for a 33, etc. Don't size up because it will actually make it harder to install the sink. If your cabinets are 1.25" (almost full) overlay, the sink will line up with the cabinet doors below. I hate when an apron sink sits in a cabinet that is too large for it (looks amateurish IMO).

I have the 30" because that is what fit best in my kitchen. It is big enough for me, but I would go 36 if given the choice. You are right, 33 is a new size.

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Comments (22)

jhmarie
6 years ago
I have the 36 inch Whitehaven and it does seem huge but like you said, in a good way. It did fit on my 36 inch sink base cabinet. There is a ledge to the sink that rests on the sides of the cabinet. I have the single basin style. I formally had a two bowl evenly divided cast iron sink. What I liked about the two bowls was I could put a dish drainer in one side. What I did not like was it was hard to soak and wash larch frying pans, etc.

I like the large size Whitehaven because I have many recyclables to rinse every day and I have a small Simplehuman dish drainer off to the side in the sink to let them dry a little. I would rather I could do without, but recycling is part of modern life. I have a simple pretty wood dish rack on the counter for the few smaller dishes I wash and don't want to get splashed, but I did not want a countertop full of drying plastic and pop cans. I can still fit a frying pan in the sink to soak even with the Simplehuman dish drainer. My kitchen with the Whitehaven sink is in my idea book.
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The Kitchen Place
6 years ago
Depends on framed, overlay, frameless..etc? I order based on that.
DrB477
6 years ago
If you have plenty of room, get the 36" imo. The 36" can come as a double bowl smart (i.e. low) divide, whereas the 33" is only available as a single bowl.

These are meant to be in same size cabinets.
wilson853
6 years ago
Kompy/Kitchen Place, I am curious about this as well. Do you size up if you are using inset cabinets?
doorih
Original Author
6 years ago
This would be for inset cabinets, curious what you would recommend, thanks.
wildchild2x2
6 years ago
With any framed cabinet including inset size up. It just looks better and is more in keeping with the scale of the doors.

Plus if your dishwasher is next tot the sink it gives that little bit of extra wood showing instead of butting up right against the DW.
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emilyam819
6 years ago
With inset, I would plan it so the sink lines up with the doors of the cabinet. That would be a 39" cabinet for a 36" sink, I think, if your rails and stiles are 1.5" each. You'll have to add wood to the inside walls of the cabinet so the sink catches, but not a big deal.
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emilyam819
6 years ago

My sink, DW, and 1.25" overlay doors.
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emilyam819
6 years ago
Hate it when the sink and doors don't line up, like this:

Heights Kitchen Remodel · More Info
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wildchild2x2
6 years ago
Well the sink in the picture IS way undersized for the cabinet. But those of us who recommend up-sizing mean by only 3 inches which would leave just a 1.5 inch margin at most.
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ILoveRed
6 years ago
This is my dd's sink during renovation. She has full overlay. The 36" Kohler sink is in a 36" base. It is a wonderful sink. I love how the front of the sink kind of slopes up. Her grid is a divided grid and fits in the dishwasher. My Rohl grid is all one piece.
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PRO
The Kitchen Place
6 years ago
Hi again! What I meant was: With inset cabinets, I take sink outside width and add 3" so the sink lines up with the inset doors below. See photo of kitchen.
Plain & Fancy Cabinetry - Oakwood Ohio · More Info

If frameless or full overlay, I use the same size. 30" farm sink, 30" sink base. With frameless, an APRON sink works better than a FARM sink. Apron front is wider than sink cutout, so apron covers the cutout. Farm sinks are glazed all over and sit in the opening, so it must be cut perfectly. If next to a dishwasher, you'll need to design with some kind of end panel support for the countertops, if you use farmsink. Apron fronts, you can use a cabinet manufacturer's "farm sink base". Easy peasy!

I love Kohler Whitehaven, it's all I recommend these days!

Kompy

More photos below with frameless or full overlay designs I found on Google images.

I don't care for how this sink was designed above. It may have been a problem with a cabinet brand that had limited offerings.

The farm sink above used a wider sink base but covered the 'voids' with an overlay panel.
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ILoveRed
6 years ago
Interesting and informative Kompy. On my dd's installation (above) there is a bit of a gap between the bottom of the sink and the top of the doors. It looks fine now with hardware, but do you think that is normal?

OT...please forgive...The kitchen with the beadboard lowers is pretty. Are the bottoms hard to keep clean?TY.
PRO
The Kitchen Place
6 years ago
It's not my kitchen....but I know any white cabinet is harder to clean. This MUST be harder to clean! She lives in my neighborhood, I'm pretty sure I asked her once and she said yes. But she is a clean freak and her kitchen is always spotless. AND they cook a lot! She didn't care...though, it was the look she'd always wanted.

On your DD kitchen: It's hard to know. Depends on the manufacturer limitations. If they only have certain sizes available...maybe that's all they could do. Also, does the brand she have offer size modifications? Any customization? I'm sorry to say, but I would not be happy with that install. See if you can get new doors that go up further. Could be tricky with the hinge locations....boring the new doors..etc. But I would look in to it. Or get a filler overlay to make it all flush.
ILoveRed
6 years ago
Mid-Continent. I will mention this to her. Taller doors would definitely be a better look. Thanks!
CEFreeman_GW DC/MD Burbs 7b/8a
6 years ago
Kompy,
I never knew there was a difference in Apron to Farm sinks.

I, too, am trying to figure out what size sink to get. I'm going to sell my (2nd) Kohler 'Hawthorne' sink to go with a single bowl. I have inset cabinets, but at this point, my 36" base cabinet doesn't have a face frame on it. I have some flexibility.

Would you mind telling me which is which in the photos you've posted? I am working on my soapstone counters and might go with a Silgranite sink, if I can't find a Kohler I like better.

I have been procrastinating about sink deciding, because I, too, didn't know how to size a sink to the cabinet.

Thanks!
C.
jhmarie
6 years ago
The Whitehaven "apron" front of the sink goes over the frame of the cabinet instead of the cabinet needing to be cut to the exact size of the sink. This makes it easier to get a good looking fit. The "short apron" style is often used in remodels that are keeping the cabinets because the apron is shorter and goes over the frame left when the upper faux drawer front of the cabinet is removed. The sink has to be the size for the base or it will not adequately cover the frame.This is what I used in my remodel.

Whitehaven short apron sink:

This video shows how it is installed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLHJEXdb5wM

The Hawthorn has a similar front, but does not come in a short apron style. The Whitehaven also has a divided bowl style, but it is not a 50/50 divide.

A more traditional farmhouse sink like this Rohl fireclay sink has sides all around. The cabinet has to be more carefully cut to look good. It requires a farmhouse sink cabinet:

Here is a humorous blog post about different farmhouse style sinks:

http://victoriaelizabethbarnes.com/apron-front-farmhouse-sink-options-decided-against-fireclay/
CEFreeman_GW DC/MD Burbs 7b/8a
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
VEB is hysterically funny. I haven't seen that post, but I do love watching her. Ironically, I find myself with her keen sense of the obvious-as-I-see it of-course-ness. :)

Thanks for the explanation. I do get it better now. I didn't realize they still made the 'Hawthorne,' but I do know they don't do my color anymore. Sad. Soft red is sooooo incredible!
jhmarie
6 years ago
If you haven't seen VEB's post on "A Manifesto against the Tyranny of Luxury Kitchens" I will post the link. I send it to people feeling bad they can't have a new (usually white) kitchen - puts things in perspective:)
CEFreeman_GW DC/MD Burbs 7b/8a
6 years ago
I have. It just made me laugh out loud. I also realized I'd read the one you posted, but she's always great for a laugh!
doorih
Original Author
6 years ago
Going with the 36" in a 39" base cabinet, thanks everyone!

The VEB blog is hilarious...