Update (Jan. 2019). The Kohler Delafield sink remains my top choice for a new kitchen sink if you are aiming for a period-authentic Retro Renovation kitchen. The faucets installed on the deck of the sink + the metal hudee ring + the enamel-on-cast-iron construction: This sink has been around for many decades, and we’re fortunate that Kohler keeps making it.
Readers, this prompts me to advise: On hard-to-find, unique-in-the-market items like these hudee-ring sinks… if you have have a project coming up in the next few years… then you might want to buy them once you know what you want… and store them away for later installation. Another case in point: Boomerang laminate by Formica. Get this stuff while the gettin’ is good, because we Retro Renovators are still a fringe-y market in the grand consumer scheme of things.
Where to buy hudee-ring (metal rim) kitchen sinks?:
Above: My favorite – the double-bowl, porcelain-on-cast-iron Delafield. Link: Kohler Delafield Kitchen Sink and be sure to get the metal ring (affiliate links).
Above: And, Ceco offers several metal-rimmed (“flat rim”) kitchen sinks to consider.
Buy a vintage sink? Sure — that’s what I did, my kitchen features one of four 42″ double bowl kitchen sinks that I salvaged from a 1963 kitchen from a cooking school once run by nuns. Tips: Get a vintage sink that’s perfect — no chips, no significant wear – as there is no way I’ve heard of yet to really reglaze a porcelain kitchen sink effectively. Also, if you find a perfect vintage model – you need the hudee ring that goes with it (DON’T try to match it later, there were more than 1,000 different size hudee rings back in the day) and grab the mounting clips.
- See all my stories including more tips about kitchen sinks for a mid century kitchen here.
Vintage style kitchen drainboard sinks 
Retro kitchen sinks from Kohler – cast iron, metal framed – my new #1 choice if you are buying new! 
Vintage style drainboard sink – Clarion by Strom Plumbing 
Dishmaster kitchen faucet — two vintage cover plate designs available 
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Scott says
TIP: The Delafield trim ring is a separate part (6601-NA), it does not come with the Delafield sink. Three guesses whose countertop was going to go in on Monday but is on delay now. 🙂
The good news is Kohler has outstanding customer service on their 800 line and (at least at present) you can still order the ring directly from them and Fed Ex overnight is a shipping option. Whew.
This may have been mentioned before, just didn’t want anyone to get stuck like I did. Also keep in mind there are multiple Delafield models, the one that can use the ring is the referred to as the “tile-in/metal frame” version.
Krista says
My supplier (and now a representative from Kohler) have both told me that the drop-in Delafield sink (the one with the flat rim and the hudee ring, called tile-in/metal frame) is tile-in only, that it cannot be installed over laminate with a hudee ring. Everything on this blog suggests that this isn’t true. What am I (or they) missing?
Pam Kueber says
I see the hudee right on the bottom of the Kohler page with the Delafield –https://www.us.kohler.com/us/Delafield-32-x-21-x-8-1-2-tile-in-metal-frame-double-equal-kitchen-sink-with-4-faucet-holes/productDetail/kitchen-sinks/418805.htm
I also see it online at places like Home Depot.
I suggest you call Kohler directly.
Krista says
Yes, I did. And they told me the same thing: tile-in only, that you can buy the flat-rim with sink rim but you can’t put it over laminate. It doesn’t make any sense. It’s like their spec sheet is wrong or something. I’ll try a different person there.
Pam Kueber says
This stumps me. I just did a search of my own blog and can see at least two readers who have done it in the past. Perhaps they changed the design…?
Pam Kueber says
See the installation guide for the metal rim — it shows the whole thing going into a laminate countertop — https://www.us.kohler.com/us/Metal-frame/productDetail/kitchen-fittings/419041.htm?skuId=350098
Krista says
Thank you very much! I’ll use this when I make my second call to Kohler and show it to my sales agent too.
Pam Kueber says
I thought I was losing my mind.
Krista says
That’s basically how I’m currently feeling.
Pam Kueber says
TGIF