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Sink is not centered, looking for solutions..

5 years ago

Hey everyone! So my kitchen is being installed and I’m running into a problem making the sink centered with the window. I know it will bother me later so trying to see if more experienced people have any good suggestions.

The top cabinets and molding have been installed .. so we can’t just shift everything to the left.

I have two 18 inch cabinets to the left of the sink and the standard dishwasher to the right. I also have a 3 inch dishwasher filler (the kitchen people accidentally sent a 36 sink cabinet which screwed things up so that’s why the filler)

Thinking it through, I think the only solution is to get rid of one 18 inch cabinet…

Sink is a 33” farmhouse apron sink

Any suggestion on how to make it centered? The kitchen

Comments (23)

  • 5 years ago

    I'm not getting all the details of your design in my head, but I can say that sometimes people disguise a small offset in the alignment of sink and windows by centering the faucet to the window. It's enough to fool the eye.

  • 5 years ago

    Switch to a non apron sink and center the faucet on the window.

  • 5 years ago

    That’s what I’m thinking but I’m wondering if that will still be obvious?

    Ideally the sink should move 2-3 inches to the left (if you look closely at the drain)
    if I exchange the 18” cabinet with 16” or 15” it will be centered but that will be a hassle

    Also the molding on top is a different color then the cabinets so it stands out especially the shine…. How is that usually done?

  • 5 years ago

    It might be less hassle in the long run given you will use this kitchen every day to have a centered sink that won't bother you every time you look at it. The trim looks like it was painted in a high gloss or semi gloss finish. Seems like they should have asked you what type of finish you wanted. A satin finish may not be as shiny.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Switch an 18" cabinet for a 15". It won't hold up your job.

  • 5 years ago

    It looks like they wrapped the ceiling crown all the way around your cabinets and used the trim color, which doesn't match your cabinets. I would want that crown repainted in a color and finish that matches the cabinets, so it doesn't stand out as much.

  • 5 years ago

    But then it will not match the rest of the molding and since it’s open concept (living room on one side and dining on the other)

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    How much is off-center?

  • 5 years ago

    2-3 inches to the left

  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Can you move the lower 3 cabinets to the right so the sink is centered including the peninsula on the right same distance and add a filler to the lower cabinet on the left to keep the needed opening width?

    Moving peninsula a few inches will not be noticeable since you will have a counter overhang there anyway. The lower filler on the left will line up with the upper cabinet so the counter edge is also lined up and the side will be hidden with whatever goes inside there.

  • 5 years ago

    Re the molding style and color. I would definitely switch the color and finish of the molding where it is located in the kitchen. Be consistent on the wall that encompasses the kitchen cabinets. To the corners on either side of your kitchen wall. Then switch up the color at the corner. It will be less obvious. The finish should be consistent, however. It might mean a re-do of the paint in your other rooms…. I would say a semi gloss NOT a glossy finish.

  • 5 years ago

    How about exchanging your 33” sink base cabinet and sink for 30”

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Change the 18" to a 15"....it won't hold it up....you can slide it in and install it when it arrives....at least you'll have your tops in and plumbing hooked up. what brand cabinets are they? hopefully you can get the cabinet in before they set the tops! That would be optimal. Some brands quick ship is 1-2 weeks....but these days, a quick ship is probably more like 2-6 weeks depending on the cabinet brand. There is one brand....I forget who....that stopped all quick ship orders due to the epidemic and the crazy amount of orders right now.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Ps. A good carpenter could also rework (reduce width) of that 18" base in to a 15" base....that way you can template and install tops. Just order 15" door and drawer to be put on when they come.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    "How about exchanging your 33” sink base cabinet and sink for 30”


    You'll only gain 1 1/2" doing that.

  • 5 years ago

    I just wanted to say I love the crown molding painted the same as trim, especially in an open floor plan. Very pretty and clean

  • 5 years ago

    Switch out BOTH 18-inch cabinets for ONE 32- or 33-inch cabinet (or, better yet, DRAWERS). Then your sink will be centered and, I think, you will have a total of 6 INCHES of space between the sink and dishwasher. Instead of filler, install a pull-out pantry rack in that space. I have one and I find it really useful.

  • 5 years ago

    Seriously, I would not do anything. Seems like you are going to a lot of trouble and expense for a couple of inches. What caught my eye was the color difference in your cabinet crown. Use your money to order crown that matches the cabinets. You are lucky to have the full spread apron sink. That will help the look.


    My sink cabinet is also off center by 2 1/2". I have a low, center divide, inset cast iron sink. I am centering the faucet with the center window stile. I don't think I will notice once we move in and start a busy life because {1.) the movement on the countertop surface, and (2.) the view out of the window. Not a thing we can do about it because I have a U-shaped kitchen with no room to move anything. When I realized that the cabinet and sink were not going to be centered, I was upset until I decided to check out my previous homes sink position. For 15 years, I unknowingly lived with a sink that was not centered in the cabinet and never noticed!!! Lol


    Sorry that part of my counter top is covered up in this photo. I think the only reason the unbalance is noticeable is because I held the camera way high. If standing at normal eye level, I can't even see the front of the sink.


    Our kitchen is also opened to the family room. We will have a coffered ceiling with room crown that does not match the cabinet crown exactly. Our cabinet crown is from the cabinet manufacturer.

  • 5 years ago

    I still don’t get it. Please post your cabinet layout (the 2-D arial view).

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Is there going to be an island in front of the sink wall? If so, it won’t be noticeable, especially if you center faucet to window. The problem with trim is the glossy finish. Put a satin finish on it and it will blend in. Sometimes when building we get hyper focused on every specific detail and loose track of the big picture. Good luck. If this is your only problem, you have it made in this crazy current new building environment.

  • 5 years ago

    A N - I just took a look at our rental sink. Guess what...the sink is also off by a couple of inches, plus the faucet is not centered on the window. After almost 18 months, it's the first time that I have noticed.

  • 5 years ago

    Thank you everyone for the great feedback! You guys are right when doing a construction you get caught on little things and forget the big picture. Let’s see what happens …
    But I will def paint over the molding but maybe keep the sink a bit off centered and make the faucet centered.

  • 5 years ago

    Sink being off-center is no big deal to me. When we started our kitchen remodel--after 16yrs in the house--I discovered the sink was off center to the window.

    If you must change the base cabinets, I agree with Maria--use one wider base cabinet with drawers. I see few drawers in your pics, so I hope you have more on the other runs.

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