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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Diane says
Hi there Pam….when I opened your site this morning I was surprised to see this Kohler sink being discontinued. We just had our kitchen done this past spring & I purchased this sink from one of the big box stores, but they did not carry the Hudee ring. I contacted Kohler at the time & was able to get the ring, & they also told me they had been making this sink for years & did not think it was going to be discontinued. Oh, well!! I am so glad we redid our kitchen this year because not only is my kitchen sink being discontinued, but the Atomic Turf laminate I used is also being discontinued as you told us about on an earlier post. I also put Armstrong VCT tile on the floor & my kitchen looks so very much 1960’s. Anyway, thank you very much for all you do to keep our Retro madness alive. I count on your site every single day, & it is a blessing to me as I continue to retro renovate my mid century home.
Shane Walp says
….I think pictures of your kitchen are in order.
Tikimama says
Oh, I agree! I would love to see pictures of Diane’s finished kitchen 🙂
Janice says
Ditto! I also used Atomic Turf laminate and VCT tile on the floor. I would love to see how yours looks Diane!
Beulah says
Oh, what a sad day! I’ve rented one-half of a 1950’s cottage duplex for the last 11 years and have washed many a dish in that very sink (including Hudee ring).
I’m in the process of buying a mid-1960’s house whose original sink is no longer in place. I guess the chances of installing anything close to the one I’ve grown to love are getting less by the day.
Ach, mensch.
pam kueber says
The double basin is still available, Beulah…
christi Harris says
I am torn about getting the metal frame Delafield. My current vintage sink is old and nasty, but one of the things I hate about it is the crud that gets stuck on both sides of the frame. This would match perfectly, but I am not sure what to do. Any advice?
pam kueber says
christi, when I updated my kitchen we installed a vintage porcelain on cast iron sink with a hudee ring. we don’t have a crud problem… i am wondering if there is some problem with the fit on your old model…..
christi Harris says
my husband is favoring the self-rim delafield, and I am still torn. Totally period sink? Or simpler installation?
pam kueber says
christi, i don’t think the drop in delafield with hudee ring is “difficult” to install. that said: i use pro’s….
Chris says
I just recently purchased the Delafield with the hudee ring.
I was concerned about scratching on the basin. Can you suggest any basin protector/metal grids that would fit this sink? Thanks!
Scott says
Since I became intensely interested in a hudee-ring sink about a year ago and started reading up this article has been giving me high anxiety with worries Delafield would be discontinued before I had a chance to get my countertop.
Fortunately they are still available and I just received word from Lowe’s on Friday that mine had arrived, ready to go with in with my new countertop installation in about 4 weeks.
When the contractor came out to do the final measurements I described my sink and he goes “Oh, yeah a hudee-ring. I didn’t know anyone was still making those.” I feel like I’m in good hands now. 🙂
Abby says
Hello, I have a vintage 42″ double basin hudee-ring in green that I’d like to sell. It’s in fantastic shape with original working faucet. Any ideas on where to sell it? Thanks, Abby
pam kueber says
Put in on craigslist, Abby. Good luck.
sheryl says
We are trying to replace an avocado hudee ring double bowl sink. I believe it’s a Kohler, about 1970’s. Are you still trying to sell yours?
pam kueber says
Sheryl, see my story on Vance Industries – use search box. They can get you a hudee any size you need.
Abby says
Hi Sheryl,
Yes, I still have it. It’s sitting safely in our garage. Still has the original Moen faucet, too. I just can’t bear to get rid of it, but don’t really know what to do with it. It was installed in 1969 when the house was built. I just listed it on ebay so you can see pics and we can communicate directly and securely.
Abby
Abby says
Whoops. Forgot the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=161237946619
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