Apartment Therapy readers, I need your help. Remember back when my husband and I picked up these great restaurant sinks on the cheap? We thought we were going to love them, but all they've been is a headache. We found a double wide cast iron Kohler beauty on Craigslist for a steal, but we have no idea how to mount it! Help!
So here's the problem. This sink…it's heavy. It's heavy like a dinosaur, one of those big ones with the spikes on their back, not those little weeny lizard things. The idea of placing it on a traditional pressboard cabinet doesn't sound all that appealing for several reasons. First, they're all pretty boring when bought new and they don't exist on Craigslist since they're usually trash by the time homeowners pull them out, as they've had a bit of water damage. Secondly, did we mention this sink is heavy? Holy smokes!
This would normally be a job for IKEA, but the closest one to us is a 7 hour drive and although it might be work it to get some sweet butcher block tops and clean front doors to makeover a cabinet from a traditional hardware store, it's just not in the cards at this time.
Sure we could hire someone to make a cabinet from hardwood for us, but we're on more of a frugal budget than custom cabinetry will currently allow. We've toyed with the idea of using something like plumbing pipe or lumber to build a frame to support it but the idea of having to put a curtain over the front when we're done just seems a little boho for the modern digs we're trying to achieve.
So we turn to you dear Apartment Therapy readers — do you have any brilliant ideas on how to mount this sink without using a traditional cabinet to place it in? Share your suggestions in the comments below and we promise to share our before and after pictures with you once the sink has a new home (that isn't in my entryway).
Image: Sarah Rae Trover
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Have you considered hunting down an interesting (thrift shop / craigslist / attic find) dresser? I bet you could get a deal on a piece with a damaged top --- rip off the top, put in some extra support bars, cut out part of the drawers for plumbing, and get a piece of granite or block for the top. You can paint, stain, add pulls -- and get creative! I assume it is for your kitchen since it is so large --- you have an opportunity to make a very interesting focal point.
Make sure you share pics when you decide what to do with it! Cheers :)
It probably isn't any consolation, but even in maple custom cabinetry a Kohler cast iron sink has to have a frame built inside to support the weight. You don't say where you want to use this sink, but it will definitely have to have legs or a frame of some sort.
You might want to consider a concrete counter top if you are the handy type. They are a lot of work, but the materials are dirt cheap and they can support almost anything if you use Rebar for reinforcement. You might even be able to undermount it.
Or possibly, depending on what tye of applaiances you have, simply reinforce the area AROUND the sink with some sheet metal. if you us a peaice of sheet metal of about 1/4'' and make it big enough to displace the weight, you should be fine with you countertops and you would have a custom dish drying area.
It's really not hard to build a cabinet box. I've built several for our kitchen with just basic tools. Do a google search on building kitchen cabinets, then add some extra support. The support needs to go down to the floor, because that way it'll be strongest.
Try a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, they often have quality cabinets (used and overstock). I bet you could find on close than 7 hours away!
An existing piece of furniture with a wood (or replaceable) top; a cart intended for woodshop use; or just a straightforward DIY. AT itself has a bunch of methods in its own archives:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/bathroom/matts-diy-master-bath-vanity-project-087263
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/look/look-credenza-as-bathroom-counter-079729
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/bathroom/diy-dresserturnedvanity-jonathan-oxer-080809
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/how-to/how-to-make-a-butcher-block-cabinet-036238
Thanks for the help everyone! Here's a little more info on the situation to help out!
StilettoPeel & homebody - Although we love the look for existing furniture as cabinets, for the kitchen we think it might prove to be awkward. Plus we need to install a garbage disposal, run lines for the dishwasher and install a small tankless hot water heater under there as well!
JeanieS - We've been stalking all 3 of our local ReStores on a weekly basis and have only come back with bathroom cabinets. Sad!
pbsteele - Would your added support be in the form of wood or metal?
Stafferty - We have considered concrete countertops as the sink itself sits on an angled wall, so the cabinets will been unusual in the end anyway and we have the space to pour them in the kitchen to begin with, so they wouldn't have to be transported very far once dry. Thanks for the reminder!
obleak1 - Thanks that makes me feel better and less wussy that it's that heavy!
This one is good too:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/at-email/look-highlow-bathroom-solutions-intermixed-079639
Our cabinets had to be reinforced to accommodate a super heavy sink, also. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you exactly how that was done, as our contractor did the job. I can tell you it was not a big deal. And I LOVE my huge sink – totally worth the extra effort.
so i have a kohler cast iron sink in my bathroom and we used what came with it (duh) to mount it - basically a metal bar that it clips into...maybe this piece isn't $$$ directly from kohler?
yours looks different than mine, but i'm sure they have the right thingy for you.
I'd go with finding an old dresser and repainting it, maybe putting tile or marble (you can usually find some for inexpensive at a local ReStore on the top of it (if you have a tile saw). You could take out the actual drawers and have the plumbing go behind. We puta new (fairly heavy, although maybe Not as heavy a dinosaur as yours) in my mom's basement and the old cabinet with new tiling is holding up fine. Good luck!
Terry Love has a great plumbing site, with lots of helpful professionals. I'd post this question there.
bullyproofvest - I wish ours had a back mount such as that, THAT I could mount! I'll check with Kohler though (sadly that hadn't occurred to me!).
You frame a cast iron sink in... that seems like it should have been a little lightbulb when you saw cast iron... have you ever picked up a dutch oven? or just a frying pan? they are HEAVY...
You ARE going to need an exceptionally sturdy cabinet for that sink—keep in mind how much more it will weigh with water and full of dishes.
That said, the only suggestion I have is that if you can't afford to install it the way it needs to be installed now, then wait.
Have you actually contacted and gotten bids from a couple of cabinet makers/carpenters? We had to replace all of our newer (crappy 1970s) cabinets when the units began to split. We priced the stuff from the usual suspects and then had a couple of carpenters/cabinet makers come in and give us bids. In part because of the space and because we were trying to echo the original 1929 cabinets in the rest of the kitchen, the custom cabinets were less than the various box stores--and they are amazing in terms of match to the originals. You might want to check out some local people.
And yes, we also have a cast iron sink.
The dresser/vintage cabinet ideas are good, but before you mount any sort of sink into an old piece of furniture, make sure the joints and the case itself are reinforced. The sink is heavy, but adding pots, plates, and water will make it even heavier and might cause it to twist and crack.
I'm confused--you don't want a vanity or cabinet and you don't want an open frame/base? What are you picturing?