Found this thread because the Elkay Crosstown 31 inch sink we just had installed is pooling in the middle of the sink. Counters are so close to level that I'm not sure it would be reasonable for Elkay to complain. So some Elkay are fine and others are not. I'm going to try putting some olive oil and some Hope's Perfect Sink in to try to prevent the water's adhesion to the surface. But since I haven't found anyone suggesting/confirming ways to mitigate the problem I'm not hopeful.

Other than the pretty appearance, one advantage of an apron front sink (whether made of fireclay, stainless steel, soapstone, copper, etc.) is ergonomic. As Bostonpam noted above, your body is directly against the sink. Versus an undermounted sink where there is 4-5" of countertop between your body and the sink. Those inches create a slight lean to your body when working at the sink. Some people with back problems have found it to be a strain on the back if working at an undermounted sink for longer times. But an apron front sink will not have that issue. One slight disadvantage to an apron front fireclay sink is that it is more difficult to install for your contractor. Sometimes the dimensions aren't perfectly even for fireclay and it is more difficult therefore to scribe the countertop around it. Not the end of the world by any means, as can be seen by the many beautifully installed apron front fireclay sinks on this forum. But your contractor needs to be experienced with its installation.

The Trouble With "The Trouble with Tradition": I respect Mr. Yatron's opinion. He has the qualifications and experience to have one that should be paid attention to. I simply disagree. His primary objection to apron-front sinks is that they were designed for a by-gone era when large sinks were used to not just wash dishes, but for laundry and to butcher meat and de-bone fish. Since we have dishwashers and clothes washers and no longer butcher or de-bone in the sink, they are, in his opinion no longer needed and the extra size, weight and installation challenges usually cannot be justified. Everything he says is true, plus, apron-front or farmhouse sinks were not all that common in actual late Victorian or early Craftsman/Mission homes. Much more common were sinks that hung on the wall with integrated drain boards on both sides supported by legs that screwed into the bottom of the sink (see picture). The only thing going for farmhouse sinks is that people like the look, and if you like the look, there really is no substantial objection to using them. "Modern" apron-front sinks are usually designed to fit a standard 36" sink base, but not usually one you can get from a Big Box Lumber Store. You will have to go a little upscale on the cabinets to get a base suitable for an apron-front sink. They are heavy, and need special support. There are a lot of threads in this forum arguing the merits of the various commercial sink supports on the market, but we build ours out of 2"x 4" boards in about 10 minutes for $4.50, and they will support four times the weight of any fully filled sink. It's a task easily within the skill set of any competent carpenter. As for spillage, you can slop water over the edge of any sink. I can find no actual evidence that farmhouse sinks are more prone to spillage than other styles. This is a nonsense argument. One thing to be aware of though is that ceramic or "fireclay" (they're not really made of fireclay) sinks have a fragile exposed front apron that can be damaged fairly easily. If you are opting for an apron-front sink, think porcelain on cast iron for the best durability.

Hi @Julie O It is possible to fit an RO filter and a garbage disposal under a farmhouse sink. As Wiscokid mentioned, it will depend on drain placement, height of counters, size of the sink and sink depth. For reference, our recommended sink depth is 8" for ergonomic comfort and drain placement should depend on whether you are right or left handed. Depending on where you live, you may want to consider another type of filtration system, such as EWS. They are much more affordable to maintain, take up less space, do not require a special faucet and there is no concern about mineral loss. Best of luck with your project!