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installing farmhouse sink

4 years ago

I would like to have a farmhouse sink installed when we have new countertop and cabinet refacing done BUT the left side of the sink is very close to the "L" in the counter. The sink is on one wall and about 2" from there is the inside corner of the counter on the wall to the left. There is a drawer there that we couldn't open if the sink apron sticks out. Is there such a thing as mounting one that is level, on the same plane, as the cabinet? I realize not all styles could do this depending upon the curve in the apron. Are there styles where this would work or is this a no-no? I hope somebody has had this issue and still found a way to install it. The drawer can be modified somewhat but not drastically.

Comments (10)

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Apron sinks don't have to be installed per the manufacturer's instructions. Self-facing sinks can have the cabinet trimmed to allow the sink more leeway in the front.


    This is going to take a careful coordination between your countertop fabricator/installer, the sink installer, and the cabinet refacer. The top fabricator/installer has to know exactly where the sink is going in order to make the cutout and he has to get the sink center nearly perfect. If the top doesn't go in first and the sink second, make sure the refacer makes a butt joint where the sink base cabinet and the adjacent cabinet/filler meet in order that the cabinet front can be removed and reinstalled after it's refaced.

  • PRO
    4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Pictures with dimensions please.


    The drawer on the right just sneaks past this apron.

  • 4 years ago


    What dimensions do you need? I will get them I opened the drawer a little to show you how close it comes to the facing on the sink cabinet . It was the cabinet guy that pointed out this issue. He said the drawer could be modified some but I just don't think it could be enough. The drawer itself is even too close let alone the facing.

  • 4 years ago

    It is 1 5/8" from cabinet face to drawer face, and 2 3/8" from face to drawer box

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    The apron on a Kohler 3943 is 2" in depth so if you inserted the apron into the cabinet face a half inch, or better yet, have a metal fabricator rip a half inch off the apron sides and bottom, that would leave you 1/8" of clearance between the end of the drawer and the face of the apron.


    Your fabricator should cut the rear of the cutout at about 19 1/8" from the cabinet face if you like a nice 1/8" positive reveal.


    It will look fine and function perfectly.

  • 4 years ago

    Wow, you have really analyzed this. I need to think and understand this. The 19 1/8" cut you figured out from installation instructions? The sink is 21 1/4" wide. The difference is 2 1/8". ..less 1/2" is 1 5/8"..that still seems like the drawer face and apron would meet (without metal fabrication). But, of course, It doesn't account for what is undermounted at the back--can't tell amount from the diagram in the link.

  • 4 years ago

    Hate to say this but I really had wanted a white sink , Fireclay. Don't suppose one could find a sink that would work like you are suggesting?

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    You can have a white sink; the color is irrelevant. I'm not a fireclay fan. If it chips or cracks, you're dead. You can dabble white out in a chip in cast iron. Elkay makes a terrific composite apron front sink; the color goes all the way through unlike the others:




  • 4 years ago

    yes, I like that. But, unlike the SS , you can't metal fabricate to fit. So, to work with my situation it could be set back a little? I will try to find out the measurement for how far it sticks out from cabinet. I love your details--like color throughout the sink. A very good point.

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    The apron on the Elkay can be trimmed by a good carpenter. I've done it many times.