American FarmhouseFarmhouse Entry, DC Metro

3. Select the location of your outdoor sink. Drainage and water-source location will likely dictate where you put an outdoor sink. Along the back or side of a home is a popular spot, as often this provides easy access to the kitchen and is also often where water pipes are found. Siting an outdoor sink under a roof overhang or shade structure, where there is protection from the sun and other outdoor elements, can make the sink area much more usable. In cold-winter climates, the best spot for your outdoor sink may be in a breezeway or tucked inside the garage.

An old work bench outfitted with a sink makes a potting area in the back entry. One of many interior windows in the home lets the spaces share light while giving a sense that the rooms were added on over time. Floor tile: Jud Tile; sink: Farmhaus Quatro Alcove 36-inch Reversible Fireclay, Whitehaus; faucet: Presidio, Mirabelle See more of this farmhouse

“The trick to the potting room is to make it feel both inside and outside simultaneously,” says architect Donald Lococo. “Don’t hesitate to fill the space with elements like mulch, peat and plants, which can be nicely balanced with picture frames, drapery and even books.”This farmhouse’s potting room serves as a lovely buffer between a kitchen and a garage. Lococo used board and batten siding and a rustic clefted slate floor to make it feel like it was a breezeway closed in at a much later date.The mix of slate flooring with more refined interior elements (the shiny faucet and sink) led Lococo on a journey to find the right potting bench. When he came across a rustic antique tanner’s bench complete with interesting wooden vises, he knew he had found a piece full of history. Its dings and scratches all told the story of past uses, and his modern-day gardening clients could add to these layers of its working history. Plus, it had ample room for incorporating a sink. Choose a tough, durable floor that can hide dirt. As you look at flooring options, imagine yourself sweeping potting soil out the door with a broom. This room has a naturally clefted slate floor. To save money, Lococo purchased 16-inch by 16-inch tiles and had them cut in half. He then had them laid in a staggered pattern that was fitting for a farmhouse.If you have a sink, incorporate a spray nozzle. It’s much easier than having to center the pot underneath the faucet. You can even stretch it out across the countertop to pots that aren’t in the sink.

Cons of Stone FlooringStone is expensive. There is no getting around it — stone is pricey. Choosing stone that is quarried locally is one way to cut down on costs, as shipping significantly boosts the price, but even a locally quarried stone floor costs far more than other options, like wood. Flooring: cleft slate

Kevin really likes this simpler board & batten for den