I have two old kitchen sinks already here. One cast iron, and one enameled steel, both with double drainboards and both sitting in the pole barn. One rusted to the metal cabinet it was sitting on. Both free along with an olive green range with an oven on top. It was pretty awesome, but the top oven didn't work. I tried to find replacement parts, but there were none to be found. I could easily put either sink in there. I had kind of forgotten about them since I knew I wasn't using them in the new kitchen. Definitely not afraid of lead. I grew up with a lot of cast iron sinks through the years without known damage. I don't remember licking the sink though. Laughable-when we can, we butcher outside, at least the messiest parts. But if I can cut up something at 60 degrees instead of 20 degrees, I'm going inside. We butcher together or by ourselves. If we both aren't doing something else, we try to do it together and get it done faster, but normally one of us is doing something else, and one gets stuck by themselves. I could probably move some jars to the basement, but not many. The basement is tiny and mostly filled with hot water heater, jet pump for the well, and a water softener. There is some space under the steps that I could utilize though. I just have to hope and pray for dry weather. If it rains a bunch, we get an indoor pool. It's pretty horrific. Just bare studs in there now, so all of the space in between studs is open. South and east walls are exterior. The basement wall could be used too. I also like the idea of moveable carts. I need to think this all over. Lots of things to think about. Stacylh- I do have a foodsaver that I love. And I think your upright is just a hair bigger than our freezer now, so it might be an option. I'll have to do some checking. Localeater- Before we moved out here, we processed deer at my in-laws on a chest freezer that my FIL kept all of the taxidermy stuff in. And I definitely don't want to spend $125 on something that won't work. If the electric coil burners are cheap, I might get one just to have handy. I don't find it too inconvenient to find things in the chest freezer, but I rearrange and organize it several times a year so like items stay together, and to make sure that all of the less appealing cuts from the prior year have been used up. williamsem- it's never too late to take up a new hobby :) Is it bad that I would put cosmetically damaged appliances in my new kitchen? I have kids and I'm not overly careful, they are all bound to be scratched or dented at some point. Just less heartbreaking when they come pre-loved. And I'm open to any and all ideas. Obviously design is flexible, and I'm not too picky. Just trying to get the best use of the space possible.

Thank you, everyone! Seems as if my kitchen progress has been slow lately, and all your praise is much appreciated. I apologize for not including more information with my first post--I'm usually the queen of long-winded explanations. I created an album with captions, and if anyone has other questions, I'd be happy to provide more info--I love spreading the DIY news! The router I use is a Bosch 1617EVS. It's a good fit, and works well. I went slowly and adjusted the height of the bit two or three times for each runnel--two passes for the shorter outside runnels, and three passes each for the other five. I forgot to take pics of the actual set-up, so here's a mock-up using scrap pieces of slab: Angie and circuspeanut, good luck with your projects!

Mom2Sethc: Glad the info was helpful. In making final decisions, the fabricator drew the outline of the sink on the granite and then we drew in each runnel (including the taper from shallow end to the sink). We started with the runnels more inset from the front and back of the sink, but decided we liked them closer to the front and back, so we redrew them. We fiddled with the spacing between, too, and decided that for the sink, six would look good. You might try that with your fabricator, too. I really like the look of OldHouseGal's runnels. She has seven and because she has a farmhouse sink, hers start further back from the sink front. She also has what I've heard referred to as the "colonial style," in which the middle runnel is longer than the rest and the others taper in length from there on both sides. The bottom line is that there are lots of ways to do runnels. You just need to play around with how they will look best with your granite, your sink, and how much room you have on either side of your sink. You can also Google "sink runnels" using Google images and you'll see lots of options as well. Good luck and be sure to post pictures when the work is finished.

I don't but good and/sharp knives in DW. Not good for steel and the blades can slice/damage the coating on the DW racks. We just swapped out an old (still running) fast DW for a modern, slow one. I tend to wash large bowls, cast iron, pots, and Le Creuset by hand and let air dry, hand dry, sometimes put them next to or onto the woodstove. After pans have drained even a bit, they are easy to quickly dry w a cotton towel. Sometimes I set them atop the stove if the oven is on. Pipied, those ss bowls won't dry very well in that position. IDEA: if they have loops or rings, temporarily hang them from under-counter cup hooks. You can set up a small fan or a ceramic heater on low. But really, buy a dozen quality cotton dish towels and bite the bullet. Play a mental game, or chat with your young helper for the five minutes or less in which you'll be drying. I can think of some Rube Goldberg systems if you really can't hand dry, but want that stuff of the counter.... 1. Hang each item from your clothes line after you've bought some steel line and marine snaps. 2. Have a custom made wooden rack made up with large castors. Place the pots, pans, bowls on this. Wheel it into a room where you've set up a huge industrial fan...