[barooo]

I'm thinking about doing a very minor reno, just new countertops, a new sink, and some appliances and flooring. I love the butcherblock counters, and would really like a double-bowl domsjo (or another apron-front), but my sink cabinet is 32", so it most likely wouldn't work without major cabinet-rebuilding (correct me if I'm wrong).

Since the single domsjo is just a bowl, what would be a good option for mounting the faucet, given wood countertops? I don't have enough height behind the sink to do a wall-mounted faucet, since there's a window behind the sink. Can the faucet be installed through a hole in the wood, or would that be a bad idea because of moisture issues? Could I do a run of tile behind the sink? That seems like it would look kind of odd, but I guess it could stop like 1 or 2 inches in from the edges of the sink or something. I suppose I could also do a tiled-area surrounding the sink, built up so that it's the same height as the surrounding countertops, and then install the sink over the tiles and just butt the butcherblock against the tiled area. Sort of like installing an apron-front sink, only the apron is the tiles.

Ideas? Pictures? I'm also considering just using a plywood base and tile instead of butcherblock, but for some reason the grout and everything seems unhygienic to me, but I won't have to deal with it for long since I'm probably moving in a year.

If I could find a single-bowl fireclay or cast iron apron front sink for under $250ish, I'd go with that, but I haven't had much luck finding anything even close to that price. There is an architectural salvage place in town I'm planning to check out, but I've heard that most of their materials are very high-end or else are in very bad shape.

[DulcineaK]

hi, i have the single domsjo and the numerar butcherblock. i drilled right through the wood. I've got 4 holes, one for my faucet, one for the dw air gap, one for my instant hot and the last for a soap dispenser. i sealed each hole before i mounted the fixture and i'm doing fine... just wish i would have had the luxury of time and been able to mount the counter, sand and seal w/tung oil or waterlox and THEN mount my sink and the rest. But 4 days with no sink and my family was about to break down (don't know how anyone manages months w/o)

i will try to post pics of the mess later

[barooo]

Originally Posted by DulcineaK

hi, i have the single domsjo and the numerar butcherblock. i drilled right through the wood. I've got 4 holes, one for my faucet, one for the dw air gap, one for my instant hot and the last for a soap dispenser. i sealed each hole before i mounted the fixture and i'm doing fine... just wish i would have had the luxury of time and been able to mount the counter, sand and seal w/tung oil or waterlox and THEN mount my sink and the rest. But 4 days with no sink and my family was about to break down (don't know how anyone manages months w/o)

i will try to post pics of the mess later

Do you like the sink? Does it seem big enough / deep enough or does it feel small? I really like the porcelain, but I'm trying to decide if I feel up to tackling a stainless undermount sink since that probably makes more sense from a resale perspective, but I want to be able to cut on my counters so I can't use the waterlox, and I'm wondering if mineral oil + beeswax is enough sealing for an undermount sink, or if tung oil is completely food safe...

I think I'd

[DulcineaK]

tung oil seems safe enough, that's what i used. and i think as long as you seal it properly and the recommended amount of time you'll be fine.

i love the sink. i've never had a single bowl, so i was afraid. our kitchen is so small that this really was the only option for us. it would be my prep sink if we'd been able to do an addition we wanted. the sink is deep enough for our needs and relatively easy to keep clean. dh has dropped a couple bowls in there and though they've broken the sink has been fine. i can't lay a pan in there, but i am now better about cleaning my large pans after i've used them and the pipes are shallow enough (even with a disposer) that i was able to mount a shelf in the bottom and put a drawer at the bottom of my sink, which i LOVE LOVE LOVE

[barooo]

Originally Posted by DulcineaK

tung oil seems safe enough, that's what i used. and i think as long as you seal it properly and the recommended amount of time you'll be fine.

<snip>

[T]he pipes are shallow enough (even with a disposer) that i was able to mount a shelf in the bottom and put a drawer at the bottom of my sink, which i LOVE LOVE LOVE

That is pretty spif. Is that a rationell item?

Do you have any pics from above? I'd like to see the faucet detail. I think this is probably the way I will go for simplicity. Even thought I would probably be willing to take care of an undermount in wood, the next owners might not. That's not really my problem, but lower maintenance == fewer worries == easier sell, I suppose.

[DulcineaK]

in my cabinet i have a rationel basket-y thing mounted on the side. i hate it. it doesn't slide as nicely as my old walmart one did, and was actually more expensive at ikea.

the rest of the set up is just drawers mounted to the lowest holes rather than up top (i hate false drawer fronts). someday i'll get around to writing an article about it. it's quite easy and i've perfected the process after installing bottom drawers in 4 bathroom vanities and my trash pull out.

i can' t find my camera right now, but i'll get some pictures. my house is a disaster right now...

and i would never personally do an undermount with wood (except for the double domsjo which isn't technically an undermount)