This is the picture of the sink that failed to load in the original post. I had my heart set on the domsjo from IKEA, but I actually really like it! Most affordable drainboard sink I've seen so far.

It's a beautiful sink! And a great price. You could Waterlox the counter, but you could also surround the sink with a non-wood transition counter.

I've thought about that, but I assumed that would end up being out of my budget. My kitchen badly needs a remodel. It's almost 10 years old, builders grade everything, cheapest everything, chipping tile countertop. They didn't even put pulls on any of the cabinets! But I don't really want to spend a ton because there is no chance of recouping any of our costs in resale. I want to make it nice and functional for the time that we're here, but I don't think getting a custom sink and transition counter is feasible. I thought about corian (white is actually my first choice for almost everything!) but again heat is an issue. If I could find an affordable work top sink, my worries would be over!

don't like the idea that I'd have to strip and start over to get out the imperfections I will almost certainly put into the countertops.

I don't think most folks here have had bubbles in their countertop finishes, whether waterlox or something else. And in any case, for waterlox, you just sand the bad spot and reapply. It blends in. I think you would have gotten more responses from people who used waterlox, tung oil, etc by asking what it's like to finish your own countertops.

I would not be comfortable myself with BB around a sink that did not have a curing finish of some sort on it.

Have you had BB before? I have a u shaped kitchen with the sink in the middle, I'm hoping I could just do waterlox on the section with the sink only but I don't know if it looks terribly different with waterlox vs an oil finish. I use butcherblock at work a lot (I'm a chef) and I'm used to oiling. I don't mind the maintenance or potential wear for the rest of it. But, yeah, the sink is a different beast.

Waterlox is a great product. 2nd pic is multiple coats and it stands up well in kitchen around H2O. 1st pic we took short cuts and said we would get back to it. GW's us multiple layers of Tung Oil near water too.

Have you considered laminate? With your sink it would be perfect, and it's affordable (although the higher end can still be pricey), essentially no maintenance, and it comes in wood and even white. The edges have been completely transformed, and you can even use an undermount sink, if you so desire, although I like the one you've chosen. When you move out it will look about the same as it does when you install it. Every counter surface has an issue with heat, even stone. Buy trivets.

We have bamboo counters and put several coats of tung oil on it and will finish and maintain with mineral oil. We haven't had it installed it long enough to report on durability, but you cannot beat $600 for 24 linear feet of pretty countertop. (We put $4000+ quartz counters in our last house; they were nice, but I always regretted that expense.)

My brother installed ikea butcher block in his kitchen in 2008 and did absolutely nothing to it (mistake) and it didn't become a problem around the sink for almost five years, so I'm thinking a well treated and maintained butcher block should last quite a bit longer.

L W - I love that sink in your picture! Where did you get it?

Deep, Deep IKEA Laundry Sink. Old kitchen faucet and I still do not like the pull out spray. Works well as a DIY's clean up sink. BB is IKEA, too.

Woah! @eam44 THAT is laminate? I could live with that! Is it yours? Any tips on how to track it down in southern CA?

We currently have butcher block on our island but not around our sink, but in our remodel, we are planning to use it around the sink. We also have figured that, for the price difference, we could replace all our countertops several times over.

We are planning to add tile around the sink, similar to what is pictured here.

Right now, I'm planning on a simple marble black splash only two high as in this picture:


But this is the overall look I think we will aim for and use the same or matching marble tile around the sink. When I look at this picture, I can imagine the marble tile around the sink in the butcher block, too, looking nice.



We also plan to use the Blanco silgranite drop in sink since I want a large single basin and really want white instead of stainless, but I did look into drainboard options, too, and it does seem practical. My current sink is a 1950s stainless with the fully integrated drainboard/counter similar to this one, and it is a workhorse, but since we plan to move our sink to an island, it won't work since it has a back that comes up, too, plus it is only 24" and I would like a larger one. However, if your sink is against a wall, it might be an option since it would act as a piece of counter between your butcherblock. It is pricey new, but I have seen them on Craigslist for cheap.

I did save the image that eam44 shared and had priced out a similar option, but it was still pretty pricey. So far, the tile option seems and affordable alternative that we think we can do ourselves.

Also, since you like the Domsjo, I've also seen the vintage white cast iron fully integrated sinks with drainboards listed affordably on Craigslist.

is linseed oil safe for food prep?

Linseed oil = flaxseed oil, so sure.

In any case, most finishes are food safe once hardened.

Karran is the company that does the sinks undermounted to laminate. They should have dealers in your area; check out their website.

Melissa, it's not my sink sadly, but I am a huge fan of laminate. With the new ideal edge it really looks fantastic. I'm glad you like it!

My quote for a basic laminate with no special edge, just a drop in sink in a 12.5 long galley kitchen in Portland, OR was almost $3000 last year. I only went to one place, but I couldn't believe how expensive plain old laminate was. It wasn't a special laminate either, just a beige-y linen like pattern. I wasn't interested in DIYing that material, though.

I hope laminate has improved since I last had it. My previous house had white laminate installed by the previous owners. My mother-in-law permanently stained with the turmeric she frequently uses to cook. It looked awful by the time I replaced it.

Can you get two small samples of the butcher block? You can oil one and waterlox the other to compare the look.