Reader Laura gets major snaps for finding the 42″ Sandford farmhouse kitchen sink, above, which she used in her adorable retro kitchen renovation. If you are doing a bungalow kitchen, or a Victorian kitchen, or a charming Farmhouse kitchen with any degree of retro / vintage twist — this sink would be great. You gotta LOVE the drainboard on the left — so useful. Other great details: It’s 42″ — a great size to pair with a 40″ vintage stove (repetition of sizes is good in design)…. It’s porcelain-enamel on cast iron — just like the originals… You’re going to use a wall-mount faucet, 8″ spread, like the ones here. Where to buy: Signature Hardware. Looks to me to be the sink made by Strom Plumbing, which also sells it.
There’s only one more sink like this available today (that I know of) — read on –>
There is also a second, bigger choice for a classic, wall-hung, drainboard kitchen farmhouse sink: The Clarion sink, manufactured by Strom Plumbing. This design is a full 5′ wide, and because of its size and those legs, I would say that this goes in a Victorian kitchen or a vintage-retro kitchen that’s not trying to be “authentic” to any particular era. Bungalow? Maybe, but I think it would be pretty big for most bungalow kitchens – and I don’t *see* the legs in a bungalow, although the sink top design in general, yes. The Clarion includes two drainboards — one to the right, one to the left… a much higher backsplash… comes with two legs… and the sink is deeper, just over 9″. Like the Sandford, it also is “real deal” porcelain enamel over cast iron. It weighs almost 500 lbs, and is about $1550, with free shipping.
Where to buy the Clarion: There seems to be one major supplier, Vintage Tub & Bath, and if you go to them via this link on Amazon — Strom Plumbing Clarion Farmhouse Drainboard Sink P0814 White — I get a spiff. Hey, every little bit for the blog helps.
Do you want to see some vintage kitchen sink inspiration? See this story with 16 photos of vintage Kohler kitchen sinks — awesome images provided direct to me from the great folks at Kohler.
Heidi says
I have an early 1900 high back sink we are having refinished for our kitchen. I’m wondering where I can find the wall mounting brackets for it. Anyone know of a supplier?
pam kueber says
Try deabath.com
Holly says
Who did the refinishing for you?
pam kueber says
Holly, note we have a story on two places that do real re-porcelaining. See this story https://retrorenovation.com/2015/04/28/reporcelain-refinish-steel-sinks/
Callie says
I plan to get a fiberglass reproduction sink when we redo the kitchen. We have broken more dishes in one year with our mid century porcelain iron sink than we did in 12 years with a stainless steal sink. I love that some one thought to make them in fiberglass.
Callie says
I just learned that they’re made less than 20 miles from my house!!!
pam kueber says
Yay! Let me know when you have it installed!
jhart05 says
I have a small, very modest, built in 1925, home.
Currently remodeling my kitchen.
I have almost the exact sink in the first picture, except it’s about 54 inches wide.
Three things I’m looking for a little guidance on:
1) Everyone says I should put in a new sink. Keep telling myself I should keep the old one because it will save money, it’s in decent shape, and it’s the right thing to do. Could just use some reassurance on this one. LOL. 🙂
2) Splash from the sink. It’s a shallow sink and splashes up on you. Any ideas on how to eliminate that? Different type of faucet? Maybe just a small, cheap, square plastic tub would help?
3) Need legs for support. This is a big one. I have searched all over and have only been able to find a pair for $210 from antiqueplumber.com. Just seems expensive to me for a couple of adjustable legs. Is it?
pam kueber says
jhart, you are in a place where folks are going to tell you: Love the House You’re In. That is: Be grateful you have some cool vintage features remaining in your house — keep ’em!
Can you add a link showing the sink legs you are looking at? And if you are interested – send me some pics of your kitchen – perhaps I can do a post. Email them to me at retrorenovation [at] gmail [dot] com
jhart05 says
That’s kind of why I posted here. To be “with” some people who will help ease my mind that keeping the old sink is a good thing.
I’m also keeping the original cabinets. Stripping the four layers of paint off and going to stain them. Doing that with all the woodwork and doors.
Link to the sink legs I’m looking at:
http://www.antiqueplumber.com/servlet/the-3007/Cast-Iron-Farmhouse-Drainboard/Detail
I have some pictures. Not much to look at right now, but I’ll send you some.
pam kueber says
jhart, be aware there can be lead nastiness in old paint – consult with a pro – take proper enviro and safety precautions!
jhart05 says
What about reducing the water splash for these types of sinks?
Any good ideas/tricks you’ve seen for that minor issue?
ken buzzell says
If the legs are nice porcelain legs, buy them. I’d want twice that. Legs were thrown away more often than sinks as they were easy to dispose of. I buy junk sinks for $200 just to get the legs whenever I can.
Word to the wise. They don’t make 80 year old sink legs today!
jhart05 says
I did get them. However there was one problem.
My sink is on the right.
The leg was too long to fit under there.
So I only have one of the legs in use.
Not sure what to do with the other. Find someone to cut it down? I don’t know.
Jennifer Kepesh says
For those of us who neither have patience to find the perfect-fit original farmhouse/apron sink nor the $ to buy a koehler tribute, note that IKEA carries apron sinks in both single- and double-bowl versions. I have one of each in my newly-remodeled kitchen; they look nice, and the cost can’t be beat.
Chutti says
Oouhoyoouuuhoo! Perfect timing for this story!
We’re about 1/2 way through restoring our 1920 bungalow kitchen to 1930 era. The 4th picture in the linked story is spooky. SO MUCH like our vision it’s scary.
The sink, window, cabinets and stove are all in the same positions as our house.
Whoa!
Was VERY lucky to find a nice farmhouse with left drainboard and wall mount faucets intact for…$250!….at a local salvage place. Been looking hard for photos of mounts without legs. This is exactly what we are looking for.
The little corner of the stove in that one looks slightly newer than our 1930 Spark stove, but in the same place. That stove will be our kitchen star, but I want the sink to look right too.
Thanks for the inspiration. Hubs will be getting these photos added to his honey-do book. LOVE it!
Chris says
Hey Chutti!
Although I love this blog — and adore mid-century modern — our house is from 1934.
Can I assume that you are doing a 30s house as well?
Wondering if you’ve found any good blogs or anything for this time period.
🙂
Thanks!
Chris
Jordanna says
This might be stupid, but what’s the difference between a farmhouse sink and an apron sink? Because I can find plenty of apron sinks.
I do love a nice white sink. I don’t know where I would find one narrow enough for our tiny apartment kitchen, and just as well I guess because then I would have to buy it – when our stainless one still works – but I do love the look of them. Maybe next house!
ken buzzell says
The difference? First understand that the term Farmhouse or Farm Sink is merely a slang term. These high back splash, apron or no apron model sinks were sold in high rise city buildings as often as a rural farmhouse. Why? because it was just the design of sinks from the early 1900 to 1950 eras.
So really there are more recent slang terms to describe these sinks. Don’t get me wrong, I use the term as well, but only because the average person understands the terms. A high back splash sink may have an apron (5 1/2″ to 8″ wide/tall belted area around the waste line of the sink. Some ceramic apron sinks don’t have a back splash. So you need to know what you actually want, demand a picture to fully grasp the design.
I contacted one of the manufacturers of the reproduction “Farmhouse” sinks and was told it was baked enamel paint, not Furnace fired Porcelain. So do some good research and ask direct exacting questions.
gsciencechick says
These don’t work for us, but I still love them!
njw says
My mom’s 1940’s “Colonial” in Arlington, VA had a sink very much like that Sandford, but I think the wash bowl was wider. Back in about 98, I tried to convince her to retain it for the remodelled kitchen but didn’t pull it off. Well, the porcelain was long since worn to nothing. The sheer functionality of it impressed me.
jemimaquinetta says
Also from Arlington VA, had simillar sink, but bowl was very large and drain side was on left. splash wall was along right side of drain, and behind sink. Had to preplace faucet in 80s and had a horrid time finding one, now they are more available. House was built in 1930
Josie says
Any idea where the sinks are made? (China?)
pam kueber says
Checked: Both sinks made in China. Note, Kohler’s Delafield is Made in U.S. And if you want to buy something vintage and have it reporcelained the old-school way, here is the one place we know of where to go: https://retrorenovation.com/2011/09/06/real-porcelain-enamel-coating-to-restore-your-drainboard-sink-tub-or-stove/
Sarah says
I will always covet a drain board sink but there is no room for one in my kitchen setup. My little sister recently moved into a rental with a full set of steel cabinets and a drainboard sink atop that her landlord is throwing out. If only I had an extra kitchen!!
Shelly in PHX says
Sarah, maybe your sis could convince the landlord to let us know about the cabinets & whatnot after he pulls them out?
Sarah says
I actually told her to let her landlord know that someone will probably be very happy to scoop them up instead of letting them sit in a landfill. We’ll just have to wait and see! I’ll be jealous of whoever gets them though. 🙂