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
No way! We have the exact same sink :) I love it too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip about the sink mats - much appreciated!
ReplyDeletelooks 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!
ReplyDeleteHope you are enjoying your break :)
xx Karen
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...
ReplyDeleteTry Lime-Away.
DeleteI've been thinking about buying one of these sinks! Great info post, thanks :o)
ReplyDeleteglad to help out!
Deletethanks for commenting
cheers Fiona
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!!!
ReplyDeleteI 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.
DeletePS absolutely love the sink and my D in L said she has sink envy.
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! :-)
ReplyDeleteVery 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.
ReplyDeletehi 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.
Deletecheers fiona
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?
ReplyDeleteThanks
Sonja
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.
ReplyDeleteHope that helps
Fiona x
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.
ReplyDeleteMy 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...?
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
DeleteThank 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
ReplyDeleteSouthern Cross Tiles of Australia have a beautiful set of beach scene motif tiles with these colours
DeleteHi Fiona, I'm sure you feel very proud of the result of your kitchen design; it looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteCan I ask you where did you get the door handles please! Thanks, from Ireland
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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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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!
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
DeleteI'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
ReplyDeleteThanks 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.
ReplyDeleteThanks 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.
ReplyDeleteHi 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
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.
ReplyDeletehi - 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?
DeleteFiona
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.
DeleteGreat sink. Very helpful.
ReplyDeleteHello - 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?
ReplyDeletehi - 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.
DeleteI have a few little scratches and one tiny little chip but nothing noticeable
cheers fiona
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.
ReplyDeleteglad the video helped. it's a lovely sink but tricky to install into non ikea cabinetry.
DeleteThank 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.
ReplyDeletehi 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.
Deletecheers Fiona
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!
ReplyDeleteThanks
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).
DeleteCheers Fiona
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.
DeleteGood luck
Fiona