I have 2 copper sinks in my house and I love them. No problems with green.

Powder Room:

Bar area in kitchen:

1sandler, love your sinks. I just ordered a copper apron front for my kitchen and a square copper bar sink. I love your granite...What is it? I have looked at a creme indelicato that looks very familiar. I am going on Tuesday to pick my granite. Thanks for sharing.

canobielake--thank you for your kind words. You will love your new copper sinks!!!! My granite is called Gold and Silver--it picks up all the colors in my kitchen!

I have this copper sink in my powder room:

Every now and then I get a little green spot but I think that's from hand soap drips being left on it (I have 3 kids). It wipes off and then I'm left with a shiny copper spot. Which doesn't bother me in the least as copper has a constantly changing patina. It looks so fabulous no matter what. I wish I'd been able to get a copper apron sink in my kitchen but budget wouldn't allow for it unfortunately. I had to settle for my little washtub vessel. Maybe some day! Anyway, you will LOVE having a copper sink!

Hi. I have fallen in love with the Copper Sinks i have seen. It's probably the one thing I am sure I want in my new kitchen (can't make a decision on anything else to save my life - and spending hours... and I mean HOURS here lurking and reading has sometimes added to my indecision!!! So many great ideas)

actually, choosing one specific element that you know for sure you want and then working off of that is a great way to decide on all the other stuff. decide on your sink and then let that dictate other choices that will compliment it.

Also, when they say "patina" do they mean it will turn green???

patina *can* mean green, but it can also mean a darker, burnished-looking copper color, or a whole range of other looks. it's a living surface that constantly changes, but it can be controlled, since many manufacturers will put a coat of wax on it to slow down or stop the process.

here's a link to someone's ebay store that has a good explanation of patina and some pictures. there are quite a few very good reputable ebay sellers out there who are retailing some beautiful sinks for very reasonable prices:

Here is a link that might be useful: copper depot

I can't answer any questions being asked but just want to admire those beautiful sinks! Maybe in my next lifetime....

Edlakin has a very good point. Once you fall in love with one item and put it on your "must have" list, some other decisions will start to fall into place. For example, will rustic alder/hickory cabinets best show off a hammered copper sink, or maybe super modern sleek cabinets? Would you like little copper accent tiles in a backsplash? Copper or ORB faucet? Lsander's granite is IMO a wonderful choice to pick up the copper without being too matchy-matchy, although there are lots of other great alternatives too. You get the idea. (For an example, I started off with a Thermador range with blue knobs, progressed from there to blue granite, and everything else flowed from that.)

There were two different threads here last week on copper countertops and backsplashes with lots of eye candy. Good luck!

I have a copper sink in a powder room. Not happy with it. When our water softener was not working we got hard water mineral deposits on it. I should have waxed the sink before that happened. Now I don't know how to get them out. Any ideas?

Wow those sinks are fabulous...I have a couple of questions..
1. What gauge Solid or liner) are those sinks and did you get them from your link off e-bay, Copper Depot. Sight unseen...just afraid of junk.

2. My appliances are stainless...do they blend well with that???

3. How does one remove hard water spots?

We have had our farmhouse copper sink installed for 8 months now. Before that, it sat in our garage for 2 years. It was the first thing that we bought for our kitchen. Like you, it was the one thing that I knew that I wanted. We have not had a problem with water spots. We bought ours on ebay and I am not sure I would do that again. It was hand hammered and it pools water in one area. That area is always a different color than the rest of the sink. It has not turned green nor does it have water spots. We have not had any problems with the sink (except for the one area). I have noticed that it changes colors, but the outside front stays the same. It is still my absolute favorite thing in our kitchen and I am so happy we have it. Good luck with your decision!

Well, does anyone have a solution to the mineral deposits?

Seems there are a lot of copper questions these days. We have been living with our copper sinks in for some time now. As for Ebay - I only know that I have a friend who was really disappointed with their sink they bought on Ebay (might have been Copper Depot) - they ended up returning it and buying one from the place we did (Copper Sinks Online). There was a big difference in the "thickness" of the copper.

When we did our research, there were only two companies that were selling genuine hand hammered copper sinks from Mexico in the thicker 14 gauge - everyone else was selling the thinner 16 gauge. This was really important to us as copper is malleable and we didn't want to have problems with denting over time (pots and pans). We ended up buying from Copper Sinks Online and they were fantastic to deal with. ...and the sink is built like a tank. As they say, "you get what you pay for"... I feel bad for chinchette - but I know that using the wax is imperative to avoid hard water stains (if you have water issues).

I included this link in another post - but it deserves to be in this thread as well. It was one of the most helpful articles in educating ourselves before buying our sink.

Here is a link that might be useful: Copper Sinks 101

I bought my sink off of Ebay. I'm very happy with it other than I don't believe I got the finish I ordered. It's great at not showing anything.

I am so excited about the copper sinks!!! Could you show me the other links to copper sinks...love to know more about backsplashs out of copper..I couldn't find the threads.

Also, we already have bought and are using the Stainless Bosch dishwasher that is right by the sink...will that be a conflict with the Farm style copper apron sink?

check the link for more photos.

Here is a link that might be useful: copper sink photo gallery

I bought my 2 sinks from Copper Sinks Direct. Great product and service.

Here is a link that might be useful: Copper Sinks Direct

Thank you! flyinghigh, you mentioned that you had a dark finish. The darkest is Dark Smoke and I was thinking of Rio Grande, one shade lighter. Is Dark Smoke close th how aged copper looks...have you ever seen Rio Grande? Do you feel it is problem to have a stainless dishwasher adjacent?

Yes, we have Dark Smoke. ...actually I think Rio Grande is probably closest to aged copper. Dark Smoke has a lot of browns and even some black. We were close to going with the Rio Grande because it had some copper showing through. In the end I can't remember why we went with the Dark Smoke... I think you would be happy with either. I don't see any problems with mixing copper and stainless - in fact I think it's quite common. You'll be happy with one of their sinks.

...I see a post about Copper Sinks Direct. We looked at them, but what it came down to was that Copper Sinks Online had much thicker 14 gauge kitchen sinks and the "other guys" (including "direct") had a much lighter gauge copper. ...and the prices weren't really much of a difference! ...it was a no-brainer for us...

Could you past a picture of your sink/sinks...How has it change in patina through the years? The limited experience we have had with copper (gutters, many years ago, excluding flower vases), it just turned dark brown.
So excited about the idea as I just love copper!!!

chinchette, Sorry, I don't have any experience with removing mineral deposits. If you polish them out, you'll remove any dark patina that you probably can't replicate.

flyinghigh, Does the inside of your "Copper Sinks Online" kitchen sink have rounded radius corners? I think that's v.important bec it makes it much easier to keep clean.

Islander's two vanity sinks from "Copper Sinks Direct" don't have flat bottoms so they don't have any "corners".

Does anyone have any experience with ebay's "Copper Depot"? I googled the name and came up with an article about them (see link below). I liked the fact they had pics of their radiused corners and underside of apron. I talked with the owner today re a custom size and had a good feeling about the company (lol, isn't that what a good salesman is supposed to do!)

I've seen displays of Native Trails sinks and both apron sinks were wavy (you'd think their displays would be perfect), so would not buy from them.

Here is a link that might be useful: article on ebay's Copper Depot

napagitl, what appliance are you going to shoose, if you go with copper sinks?

paso, I too love copper, but the copper sink won't be for my kitchen ... it will be for a half-bath off the kitchen. I bought a white Herbeau fireclay apron for the kit, black Viking range w/brass trim, and walnut cabinet fronts for the DW & frig. Still have to find the white marble countertops.

A year ago I thought long and hard about a copper sink for the kitchen but DH wasn't too keen on the idea, so got the fireclay instead. I really want a copper sink and the only place left is in the half bath, which will also be used as a utility sink.

Do you already have your stainless DW ... or could you do a cabinet front on it? I think copper goes well with stained or painted cabinets, especially if you can tie in something else in copper, like the range hood. Some handy DIY's have used sheet copper over a plywood frame and then cabinet moulding to trim it out. Looks nice.

Hi napagirl,

Yes, the corners are very easy to clean and are radiused. No matter what you think of any "etailer" or "Ebayer", remember that one of the most important factors that myself and others have found with these hand hammered copper sinks is the thickness. Copper is malleable and can dent/deform easily. The 15/16 gauge sinks are too light IMHO. ...sure, the seller will tell you they are fine, but if you see them in person there is a huge difference between the 14 gauge and the lighter sinks. I think I mentioned my friend that bought one on Ebay and then went to Copper Sinks Online? That same sink from both companies had a weight difference of 50%! This is really important in the kitchen if you want long term use and not to have to worry about banging pots and pans around without causing damage.

Also, bear in mind that the ones on Ebay had a shallower depth. Again, you get what you pay for. ...just my $0.02... As you will see if you search this forum, Copper Sinks Online has recieved a lot of praise from many people here on the forum.

The other things that were important to us was the company reputation, that it was based in the US, that they had been around for a while, the sinks were from Mexico (not India or China) and you could call and get a "real person". These sinks take a little more time to research than others since even copper sinks from Mexico have vast differences in quality/workmanship, thickness, size, etc. I'm happy we took our time as the sinks and company we bought from our outstanding and as mentioned earlier, these sinks are built like a tank. ...they will most likely outlast our kitchen...

Hi Paso - Here is a photo - I got a 10% discount for sending these in. :-) ...hubby is a good photographer...

The farmhouse sink in an a "Dark Smoke":

{{!gwi}}

and the whole kitchen:

{{!gwi}}

The faucets are Graff and very solid and heavy. We really like them. We bought these from the same company and when I went back to their website to get the link, I saw that they have a 10% off special for buying both the faucet and the sink together.

Good luck!

Thank you for sending the pictures...WOW!!! Love it all.. What hardwood is that on the floor.

I can only see one appliance...are the dishwasher drawers in black or stainless? We chose Dacor for the double ovens and the Diva induction cook top, as we are on propane. We are having a large hood (vent-a-hood) in stainless, but can chose hammered copper, as well. Built-in frig in stainless, but can have that paneled. Do have the stainless Bosch, as I mentioned before and it isn't panel ready and very expensive. Custom cabinets in mahogany...Tuscan style house.
Well, that is the entire plan...any thoughts??? Would love your input, since yours is just gorgeous.

Hi Paso,

We just did a basic light oak floor and the cabinets are in a "knotty alder". The appliances are black, but again, I have seen stainless steel used with copper as well - especially if you panel the fridge and subdue it - that would be a lot of stainless.... Wwe just thought the black would go a little better since there is also some black wrought iron hardware in the beams.

We could not imagine anything other than a copper sink in this particular theme and the "Juparana Gaviota" granite. The only alternative we considered was a natural stone kitchen sink - this may come to reality in another project we are working on...

Good luck!

I'm so excited to see these copper sink pictures! I have my copper sink (in dark smoke from coppersinksonline) sitting in my garage waiting patiently!! This was the one thing I knew I wanted in my kitchen, regardless of the cost!! :) My knotty cherry cabinets are supposed to be installed this week. We are getting closer! Paso - I am doing a stainless DW as well, although my sink is an undermount, not a farm sink. I'm hoping it all blends well. My granite has some grays in it, along with the tans, beige, rust colors (Siena Bordeaux). But, I'm still at the point where I'm picking out all of these things, and just hoping and praying they look good together!! I'll post pics once I get past the bare walls stage.

How often do you need to wax your copper sinks? Do you dry them after each use?

rmlanza, I love your "panning for gold" copper sink. I think it would look very cute in my powder room on the bureau I redid to make a vanity. Could you tell me where you bought it?

Paso,

We wax our sinks with the wax we got from Copper Sinks Online (Renaissance or something...) about once a month. It takes about a minute or less. It's like waxing your car - when the water stops beading up, we give it a coat. Other than that, it is simply soap and water cleanup and the wax really helps keep things from sticking to the surface and protects the finish (it also looks better after waxing). I would say the upkeep on our sinks is actually easier than stainless steel - we had to give that sink a real scrubbing once in a while which we don't need to do with the copper.

As for drying? ...nope... ...maybe if we had really hard water or something like that - but I suspect the wax would prevent spotting if used correctly.