Monday, July 9, 2012

Loving my IKEA DOMSJÖ Sink

I wanted to write this post as every week I get several emails from people wanting to know how my IKEA DOMSJÖ sink has stood the test of time. I had the Domsjo farmhouse sink installed just over 18 months ago as part of our kitchen renovations. The ceramic apron fronted sink really suited our French kitchen style.  



Before I bought a ceramic sink I was very nervous that I would break my crystal champagne and wine glasses in it or chip my dinner set or break the actual sink. None of these things have ever happened.  And I figure that if I did actually break the sink then even if I replaced it with another IKEA sink I'd still be ahead financially than if I'd gone with another type of fireclay sink that all cost 3-4 times with price of the IKEA one. Actually I'm pretty impressed with this sink and how it's made -not to mention how good it looks!


Mine is still very white and shiny! One thing I love about it also is that it goes right back to the splashback. It makes it very easy to clean.  


The edges of the sink rest on your benchtop. This is then sealed with a silicone sealer and makes it all very neat and tidy and easy to clean.  


And there's nothing like a pretty French linen tea towel to make it all the more pretty.  This tea towel is a perfect colour match to my cabinetry.


Two nice deep sink bowls


I am by no means gentle with my IKEA sink. At Lilyfield Life we love to cook and we love to bake. I use heavy Scanpan baking dishes and we have the Le Creuset and Le Chasseur heavy casserole dishes that get a good work out.  These of course don't go in the dishwasher so I wash them in the sink. I use a plastic sink mat. These are actually quite hard to find in Australia. Howards Storage have these ones for $18 each. When I bought my sink instead of that geometric pattern they had floral ones that I didn't like too much but bought as breaking the sink or my plates would be much more expensive. I have since found the ones in the photo below for $2 each at my local "everything made in china" $2 shop.  Your sink mats will eventually discolour - go cloudy - mine last about 10 months each time, so if you find a cheap source buy several.


If you buy the IKEA Domsjo sink (or any fireclay white ceramic sink) you will spend more time cleaning it than your normal sink. Trust me, you will. But you know what, you'll probably enjoy cleaning it. It's not that it gets dirty, but being so pristine white the dirt shows up more and it's so pretty that you'll want to keep it that way. I never used to care about my old stainless steel sink - They scratch so easily but it's all part of the look.

To clean my sink I use Gumption which is a white paste that is not very abrasive. I find that it easily removes marks. 


You can see in this close up of the central bar that I do have some very fine marks - the grey marks. These are not really visible - I used a macro lens to take this photo.  I think if i scrubbed a bit more with the Gumption or a mix of bicarbonate soda and white vinegar these would come off.  I get these marks on my sink because I clean my cast iron stove hob in the sink. The cast iron rests on this central bar. I really should put a tea towel under the cast iron to protect my sink but i get a bit lazy with it all.





If you are having trouble finding details on the IKEA Domsjo sink, see my earlier post with part numbers and installation details.  Also here is a great video in how to install an IKEA Domsjo sink into non IKEA cabinetry. Although don't hack out the back of your cabinet like these guys do. You can just make a nice straight line at the required level. You won't be able to see it anyway as it's behind the sink inside the cabinet but it would be much easier than how they cut it out.



I hope that helps if you are contemplating this sink. My advice would be go right ahead. You may get some push back from your cabinet maker (they can often think it's going to be too hard/too heavy etc) but it is doable and i think you'll be happy with your beautiful sink for years to come. I am!)

here are some more posts about my kitchen and other renovations

Is it weird to love your kitchen sink so much?

cheers 
Fiona

85 comments:

  1. No way! We have the exact same sink :) I love it too!

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  2. Thanks for the tip about the sink mats - much appreciated!

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  3. looks cute, love your whole kitchen too, I just went and read the post, I hadn't seen it before. Makes me want to get on and do ours...one day!

    Hope you are enjoying your break :)

    xx Karen

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  4. I've had my Domsjo sink since April 2012 and still love it. Except....we live in Florida where the water can be hard. The little drainage grooves tend to collect water right before the area where the water should run back into the sink. I wipe often with a twisted up paper towel, but am still seeing some hard water stains. When I use a mild vinegar solution, I eventually can remove the stains, but what a pain. Does anyone have any suggestions on making this easier? And yes, we could install a water softener I suppose, but the water would still collect in those areas between cleanings...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lemi-shine which is found in the section with Dishwasher Detergent works great on hard water buildup.

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  5. I've been thinking about buying one of these sinks! Great info post, thanks :o)

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  6. I finally found a website with loads of info on the Domsjo ceramic sink. We are renovating the kitchen and popped into Ikea Tempe to take a look at taps and sinks. I fell in love with the Domsjo single bowl sink and the glittren black tap. True its not on the website so rang Ikea for the exact measurements to give to the check measurer next week when he comes. Just a little worried that our width is a little short - 58cm. Directions advise width to be 60cm as sink must be fitted within the benchtop parameters. we are having granite benchtops and splashbacks. I reckon it will look fantastic if the sink can be installed. Thank you for the strainer tip as well. Now to ask our builder whether 14 kgs of ceramic weight is too heavy for the old house's support beam!!!

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    1. I am sure that by now you have installed the sink--however I wanted to post my experience for those thinking about the Ikea Domsjo. If you are not using the IKea cabinet then the width measurement needs to be the 60 cm. You will run into a lot of trouble if it is not--an experienced builder will also run into troubles. I made sure mine was wide enough even though it meant off centering the sink a tad (no one knows but me). I was so glad I did becasue while installing I could see the wisdom.
      PS absolutely love the sink and my D in L said she has sink envy.

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  7. Thanks for posting about this- I found your blog when googling for the double DOMSJO as it seemed to not exist online at ikea so thanks for explaining! Mine has just gone in today and I LOVE it too! Weird to be so excited but seriously I am! I went for the black glittran tap with it, we are doing a whole kitchen reno and I reckon the sink and tap are beautiful features, with my oak tops either side... lovely! :-)

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  8. Very helpful post. Thank you so much for taking the time to provide such detail. Could you also tell me what kind of faucet you have installed on your sink? I really like that as well.

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    1. hi Wolf Teacher - thanks so much. I get asked a lot about my sink!. the tap is by Gessi an italian brand. it's called Gessi Romance. I bought it thought Just bathroomware in Drummoyne but if you google Gessi you will probably find it online.
      cheers fiona

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  9. I love the look of the sink and have been considering this sink for our kitchen reno but have 2 questions. As there is no draining board as in more conventional steel sinks does that mean that the dirty dishes are stacked on the bench to one side? And where are the clean dishes stacked to drain?

    Thanks
    Sonja

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  10. Hi Sonja,I lay a clean tea towel down on the bench top for my washed dishes. And the dirty dishes I either stack to the other side or put them in one sink. I don't really like piles of dirty dishes so deal with them pretty quickly after a meal.
    Hope that helps
    Fiona x

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  11. What a lovely post about your sink! After seeing the sink in Ikea the other day, and reading your post... I'm inspired to go for the domsjo double sink instead of the pricier english fireclay sinks, as I love that this is over mounted - we are doing timber bench tops.

    My question is about your Gessi Romance tap. Are you happy with it as a combination with the sink? Does it go from cold to hot easily, and it easy to adjust at the great height of the spout, or does it splash water on the benches...? My domsjo sink will go in a solid oak island bench, and needs to be a beautiful, functional object... thanks so much, Rae

    PS: is the design easy to keep clean with all those ridges...?

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    1. hi Rae, thanks for commenting. sorry for the slow reply but i was away and had trouble commenting on my iPad. The ikea sink over wooden benchtops will be lovely. the Gessi tap is a perfect combination. A friend of mine has this same as me and loves it also. there is no splashing at all. I absolutely adore it.the sink is very easy to clean. the ridges are deep. i just wash it down with soap when i'm cleaning my sink after washing up. hope you get my reply and that it helps. cheers fiona

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  12. Thank you, Fiona...! The domsjo double sink is now firmly in my sights, along with the timber bench tops and the Gessi tap. If you happen to have a link as to where I can find some tea towels that will match in with my large photograph of a beach at sunrise- think warm sand, golden rocks and soft blues - I would appreciate it. I'm looking for some tea towels to create a summer beach feel in the kitchen... I was really inspired by your pretty one in a post.. thanks, Rae

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    Replies
    1. Southern Cross Tiles of Australia have a beautiful set of beach scene motif tiles with these colours

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  13. Hi Fiona, I'm sure you feel very proud of the result of your kitchen design; it looks amazing!
    Can I ask you where did you get the door handles please! Thanks, from Ireland

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  15. Hi - So glad this sink is working well. We have our sights on it though I never wanted a dbl sink. Can you please tell me the inner dimension of one of the sink bowls? I'm worried about fitting large pans in to wash. Thank you!

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  16. I am trying to decide between the single bowl or double bowl IKEA Domsjo sink. I actually have the single and do love it, but now that we are doing a forced re-due thanks to Hurricane Sandy and I really like the way it adds more style to the kitchen. But, I do have questions for those that have the double bowl. 1. Since it is more narrow than the single bowl, it is difficult to wash large pans and cookie sheets? 2. My single bowl, for whatever reason always splashes water up onto the countertops. It seems the double bowl sink is not as deep as the single bowl. Does anyone have these same splashing problems? and 3. Is the flutter back a dirt collector? Do you find you must wipe it down frequently or it gets really hard to clean? Thanks!

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    1. The double sink is a dream and even fits my 21 qt pressure canner although I still find it easier to wash in my tub. The fluted back is awesome, I have a little plastic basket with holes that hold my sponge & brush, the excess water drains right into the sink. I also place the occasional mug there to drain without putting up drain board. Not hard to clean at all--I just wipe with a sponge. Also, mine is installed on an island so I added a piece of PVC molding, water proofed with caulk (only behind the sink area)just a wee bit taller so water doesn't roll over the edge when I am cleaning it.

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  17. I'm about to purchase cabinets, and this same sink. So thanks for your review as it helps me know that I made a good choice. I'm going to also pair this with dark green soapstone countertops. thanks again for the photos and review

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  18. Thanks for this post. I love the look of the sink, but had concerns about chipping. I hadn't heard of sink protectors! I'm planning to go with the matching laundry sink too.

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  19. Thanks for this post. I love the look of the sink, but had concerns about chipping. I hadn't heard of sink protectors! I'm planning to go with the matching laundry sink too.

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  20. Hi Fiona, I am about to install my domsjo sink which I have had waiting in its box for some months now! I too am having my kitchen made by a cabinetmaker, so your installation tips and advice were great.
    I was having a few misgivings today about this sink being inferior to the much much more expensive English fireclay ones (which were way out of my budget)but after reading your blog, you have made my day!!
    thank you so much for sharing your photos and info.
    cheers
    Leanne.

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  21. Any problems with keeping your faucet tight on the domsjo sink? We purchased a Glittran faucet and Domsjo sink but can't get the faucet to not move out of place on the sink.

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    1. hi - we haven't had any problems at all with the faucet moving. I can't help you on that one sorry. Perhaps your plumber can help?
      Fiona

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    2. I had to cut the metal plate that is installed under the sink so that fits tightly in the cavity and there is no moving about.

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  22. Hello - I love the look of this sink as well. My wife is concerned about buying one, as she knew someone who had a white kitchen sink (not a domsjo) and said it marked up quite easily - as years wore on, the sink had many dark marks that wouldn't wipe off (I'm convinced the could have used a good ceramic cleaner and gotten rid of them). I take it there is no such issue with the Ikea domsjo?

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    1. hi - I have only had the sink for about two and a half years now and so i'm not sure about longer term. I have no black marks but clean it regularly with the products mentioned in the post. it's still very white. I am sure a good ceramic cleaner would get rid of most marks also.
      I have a few little scratches and one tiny little chip but nothing noticeable
      cheers fiona

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  23. The video you linked it absolutely awesome. I installed the double sink in a non-Ikea cabinet after watching the video several times. I am a novice at renovations and never attempted a sink installation or plumbing project before. I guess that is why I am so bubbly when talking about it. I had the use of all the right tools through my husband's collection & that helped a lot. I installed the dishwasher drain & garbage disposal under the sink without a hiccup(I had a space concern). Buying the Alant strainer from IKEA is a must because it is the only one that fits; in the US it cost $7 compared to the hardware chain where strainers cost $30--Yippee. The only help I needed was lifting the sink. It was installed in an island & I cut the back--that made installing the faucet a breeze. I then covered the back with bead board. Ueber easy. The best part is that I did not have to cut a hole like a traditional drop-in sink. Just be sure you do not skip any support steps like the cabinet bars or under mount hardware, especially if retro fitting. I found all the measurements given in the video to be perfect.

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    1. glad the video helped. it's a lovely sink but tricky to install into non ikea cabinetry.

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  24. Thank you so much for posting this great post about your kitchen sink. I am currently looking for a white ceramic butler style sink and the cost is quite scary. After seeing that Ikea offer something very similar I thought i would search out some reviews. Seams like it might be a very good choice and for really good money. Can i ask do you have a separate draining board for next to the sink? How to you deal with draining dishes with a sink like this without an inbuilt draining board? That is my only concern before buying this sink.

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    1. hi Amanda , I don't think you will regret buying this Domsjo IKEA sink. to drain my dishes I just put a tea towel down beside the sink and stack the drying dishes on it. I dont like draining boards and have done this for years.
      cheers Fiona

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  25. Hi, this is probably a stupid question, but is the Domsjo sink available to be purchased from the IKEA store in Sydney (Tempe or Rhodes)? I can't find it online!

    Thanks

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    1. Hi Chiara and Amdy, yes you an buy I store.if you see my links at the end of this blog post - on one of them is the full product details (code/price etc).
      Cheers Fiona

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    2. I mean Andy, sorry, replying on my iPhone. And make sure you buy the correct plug. The extenders you need come with the sink. The ones with the plug are too short.
      Good luck
      Fiona

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  26. It looks like you had to install the backsplash before the sink. I'm assuming you needed to adjust the notched corners in the counter top to account for this since it would push the sink slightly forward?

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    1. hi Michelle - no the sink is installed right punched back against the wall in the normal position. I just had the tiles cut around the sink so it looks like sink is forward.
      hope that helps
      Fiona

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  29. Hi Fiona,
    I love your kitchen look, would you mind letting me know what kitchen company/installer you used?
    If you prefer not to post and send a private message my email is liatula@gmail.com
    I need to rip up my whole kitchen and have had this sink in my sights for a while but it seems it isn't available at the moment :( waiting for ikea to advise.
    Thanks
    Liat

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  30. Congratulations - it's gorgeous! I'm launching an IKEA Kitchen remodel and will be using this sink. (Although I, too, need to check into weight issues for my vintage home). Because the sink only has one hole, the only option to include a sprayer is a pull down faucet, which generally aren't very stylish. Do you miss having a sprayer?

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  31. I love your Farmhouse sink so much. My husband and I are about to re-do our kitchen and I want to go with IKEA but the family keeps telling me to go with Home Depot instead. You seem to be very happy with your purchase 18 months later! Thank you so much for writing this post, it makes me feel like I should go with my gut!

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    1. hi Maya, I don't know the Home Depot version of the sink but in Australia the IKEA is sink is about a quarter of the price of any other ceramic sink so it's a great option. and yes still very happy with it. good luck with your new kitchen
      Fiona

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  32. Great comments on this sink, and I'm thinking about it in a yet to be built bathroom, which will also have a washing machine in it. One sink for personal use, the other as a small tub for laundry use. Would appreciate others thoughts on this use.
    Enjay

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    1. hi Enjay - I love it and am going to be using it in our new laundry soon. good luck with your renovations
      Fiona

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  33. Is the "ribbed" area at the back of the sink hard to keep clean? I am going to drive 3 hours to buy this Domsjo sink but I want to make sure the trip is worth my while! Thank you.

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  34. Is the "ribbed" area at the back of the sink hard to keep clean? I am going to drive 3 hours to buy this Domsjo sink but I want to make sure the trip is worth my while! Thank you.

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    1. hi Annie - not hard to keep clean at all. When I'm wiping down my sink I just wipe that area also. very easy. worth the drive I say!
      Fiona

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  35. Thank you for this post with pictures of your IKEA Domsjo double bowl sink. I also have hesitated because the IKEA version is so much less expensive than other fireclay sinks. It's good to hear how it's holding up from a real person. And as you said, even if I had to replace it once in a few years, financially we'd still be ahead of the game. While I ADORE the hand hammered copper apron-front sinks, sadly they are not in my budget (champage taste LOL). Your blog is lovely. Keep up the nice work!! Subscribed via Bloglovin

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  36. I was very interested in your post as I had a IKEA Domsjo double bowl sink installed earlier this year. I love the appearance and don't find it too difficult to keep clean. However I do have a problem - water won't remain in it for any longer than about half to three quarters of an hour. which means it's difficult to soak things for any length of time. I spoke to someone at Ikea, but apart from offering to send new strainers, he insists that this is how the sink is! quote "the strainers are there to strain, they do not seal the sink" Have you had any problems with this?

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  37. Hi Fiona, Thank you so much for all this great information and the installation video.

    We had already decided to order this sink and your article has definitely sealed the deal for me!

    I notice that you have the faucet Ikea sells also, which we are also planning to purchase. How do you like the faucet?

    You have a lovely website! Thank you!

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    1. Hi Diane, thank you. My tap is the Italian brand Gessi and style is called Romance. It retails in Australia for around $800. I love it.

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    2. Sorry I pressed enter too early. Good luck with your sink. It's very lovely. Thanks Fiona

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  38. It's lovely! Thanks for posting more info. My husband and I just bought a house. Although it's beautiful, I want to re-do the kitchen, Went to IKEA in Edmonton yesterday for a scouting expedition, and fell in love with this sink. Nice to hear how well it's served you. :)

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  39. Hi Fiona so glad to have come across your blog. We've just installed the Domsjo double bowl so to read about your experience and cleaning tips is great. So pleased we did it now.

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  40. We installed an Ikea Domsjo double farm sink 6 mo. ago- we love it. A bit more effort to clean, I keep a small brush to clean the uneven ledge part. Have had many compliments....just be aware that because it is heavy you need to reinforce the cabinet below. Also you will lose that amount of storage space underneath (because sink is so deep) so bear that in mind you may need to find another spot for the garbage - I just got a shallower container. I love it!

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    1. my garbage is under the preparation counter. i just keep washing up stuff under the sink.

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  41. The sink looks lovely! Do you remember the name/brand of your faucet?

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    1. Oops. Disregard my post. I just saw that you posted the name/brand of the faucet. Thank you!

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  42. Hi there, I am just interested to check in with u about how your sink is doing :) from your blog it looks like it works out to over four years old? Is it still looking just as fab? What about cleaning, is it getting harder to keep clean with age? We are just about to upgrade our kitchen and this sink is currently on the top of our list. Your kitchen looks lovely, cheers Leah :)

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    1. thanks Leah - It is standing the test of time (and our busy kitchen) well. There are a few small (tiny) chips in the base where i have dropped my cast iron pans and scanpan baking tray but a stainless steel sink would be much more scratched. I clean the sink with gumption still and it's still lovely and white. no problems and i just bought the matching sink sink for our laundry, cheers fiona

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    2. Thanks for this. You mention some chipping - can you add a recent pic?

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  43. Oh that's so great, I also have cast iron pans so I had been wondering about that. Thanx for your reply, greatly appreciated. I can't wait to head out and purchase my sink :) cheers Leah

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  44. I LOVE this sink, but am worried about it cutting into an adjacent cupboard space. What is the measurement from the floor to the bottom of the sink? Thank you!

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    1. Kim - that will all depend on how high your cabinets / bench height is and how tall your kickboard is. I don't actually understand why you are asking this. the measurements of the sink are on the IKEA website. you will be able to work it out from there. good luck
      fiona

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  45. I was wondering if the sink would fit in my cabinet without having to cut the cupboard below or run into an adjacent cabinet.

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  46. I love your review and pictures . Where did you find your faucet? It is lovely.

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    Replies
    1. thanks - its the Gessi Romance. I bought it from a place in Melbourne . you'll be able to find a stockist online.

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  47. I have the sink and am looking for a wire grid to put at the bottom. Anyone know??

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  48. I know this is an old post, but hoping I could get your opinion. I am dying for a farmhouse sink, but wonder if each of the basin is large enough. I have a double basin white cast iron now and would love a single basin to get all my pans and cookie sheets in. I can't find dimensions for the basins anywhere. Could be just overlooking. :)

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  49. Great post! I bought this sink to go on our new kitchen island (flat island). I did not look on the backside of the sink, but after seeing the installation video, I am wondering if it is even finished on the backside. Thoughts?

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  50. Great post! I bought this sink to go on our new kitchen island (flat island). I did not look on the backside of the sink, but after seeing the installation video, I am wondering if it is even finished on the backside. Thoughts?

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    Replies
    1. I have one sitting in a box, we are planning to do the same thing. The back lip is finished the same way the sides are.

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  51. May I ask how deep the bowls are? That information isn't listed on ikeas site.

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  52. I had the Ikea single bowl farmhouse sink installed before Christmas in my island bench. Yes it is finished off the same as the sides and can sit on your island bench. Looks lovely. My kitchen guy installed it with a wooden bracket attached under the benchtop for extra support as my cupboard is not a standard Ikea cupboard. I love this sink and it is easy to clean with dishwashing liquid. I use a mat at the bottom of the sink to avoid scratching. Hope this helps

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  53. Loved reading these reviews. My husband and I just bought the double sink from IKEA 2 weeks ago for our upcoming kitchen renovation. My biggest concern I have been warned about it hot water cracking the sink. That is all my concern is. But I have read nowhere here of this problem. I don't mind cleaning it - in fact I think I will enjoy cleaning this sink - very excited to start using it in the future. :-)

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! Sorry if you have trouble commenting, you can always email me at lilyfieldlife@bigpond.com