Small reno--keeping historical features?
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Anonymous
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I have a tiny studio kitchen to redo--likely much smaller than PP's mudroom. There is really just one thing in the kitchen to keep from its current state--a farmhouse sink with drainboard that is original to the apartment and in good condition-- and I'd really like to keep it.
I spoke to the contractor over the phone (just starting out--he hasn't seen it yet) and he said I'd be best off ripping it out as younger buyers (single professionals being the likely target if I were to sell after five years or so) do not care about authentic old fixtures--they'd rather have modern convenience and storage instead. It is kind of a space hog. The sink is 42 inches and occupies a niche about 54 inches long. If I ripped it out, I could easily install a sink and full size dishwasher with under the sink storage in the space. But I feel like I'd b ripping out character along with the sink. Keeping it and getting a dishwasher means rigging up a Fisher Paykel dishwasher drawer (tall version) under the drainboard. I think this could be done in a pretty polished way, but the dishwasher would likely stick two inches or so from under the part of the drainboard as the depth of the dishwasher drawer is a bit more than the depth of the drainboard. The sink would be entirely clear and usable. Here is a picture of a very similar sink--42" long, porcelain covered cast iron. http://pfgrenada.com/marvelous-kitchen-decoration-design-ideas-using-kitchen-drainboard-farm-sinks/breathtaking-image-of-kitchen-decoration-ideas-using-white-porcelain-kitchen-drainboard-farm-sinks-and-curved-stainless-steel-kitchen-sink-faucets/ Demo or reno on this one? |
Anonymous
| I love historical fixtures and details. I had a sink like that once and it was so shallow that it drive me insane, but I'd still consider it a selling point. Is it a tiny kitchen or a kitchen in a studio? In a studio there aren't likely to be many dishes. |
Anonymous
| Keep it! So awesome! |
Anonymous
It's a studio apartment with a separate kitchen that can't be joined to the one room living/sleeping area--the bathroom is in between. The sink is actually quite deep--I could fill up a big pot of water for pasta if I change the faucet to a gooseneck version. I've seen a couple of other apartments in the building and none still have the original sink that presumably they all had when it was built. The ceilings are ten feet high and I figure I could get more storage (albeit not all terribly convenient) by running cabinets all the way up on the wall opposite the sink. |
Anonymous
Then definitely keep it! |
Anonymous
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I think you should keep it. And I say that as someone who recently ripped one out during a renovation. Ours was stained and the surface was rough--I had to bleach it to make it look remotely clean. I still loved the look of it. But we were doing a massive re-do of our rowhouse kitchen and it just didn't make sense to plan a whole kitchen around it. I needed counter space! A dishwasher! Drawers.
It was really cool. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks for the validation. To the last poster, I am actually planning around the sink and thinking of creative ways to keep it and still get a dishwasher (at least half of one--good enough for a studio), drawers, and, most difficult, a place to store the pots and pans. Will have to give up idea of of pullout drawer for trash, but the Simple Human bins are not so unsightly. |
Anonymous
| The contractor just wants you to rip it out because it makes life easier for him. Definitely keep it. |
Anonymous
| Agree with PPs! Keep it for sure! |
Anonymous
| Keep it |