Got Sink?
Well we didn't.
Searching for the perfect sink for one of our properties, or someone else's, often becomes one of the greatest design challenges. Either I know what I want, but the Budget Master (aka Nate) won't grant me his approval, or the I'm just plain bored with what's out there.
Such was the case with one of the properties we recently built. I wanted a wow factor sink for the downstairs powder room, but everything that said "wow" to me translated to "whoa" when I saw to the price tag. So I decided to take matters into our own DIY hands and find a piece of furniture that we could turn into the sink that couldn't be found.
Here are some tips when looking for furniture to turn in to a sink...
Make sure the width, depth and height are what you need.
- Widths will vary depending on the space where you want to put the sink.
- The depth will vary depending on the sink you choose, so it's best to decide on that ahead of time. Even if you choose a vessel sink (where the bowl sits on top) you will still need to allow extra room for the faucet.
- The height of the sink should be between 34" and 36", but if what you find is a bit low, investigate to see if adding feet is an option.
A wood top is easiest to drill and cut... If you find something with a different material for the top, make sure that SOMEONE has the tools and ability to cut the holes for the faucet and sink.
A table, a dresser or a storage piece with doors are all viable options. If you are dropping the sink in, make sure that there are doors or drawers, or that there is enough of a skirt in the front so you don't see the bottom of the sink hanging down.
In our case, since it was a powder room, I wasn't too concerned about storage. I just needed to make sure that the skirt was deep enough to hide the underside of the sink. After searching EVERYWHERE from antique stores to Target to TJMaxx, I finally came across this reclaimed wood table intended, possibly, for a foyer.
This table was taller than most of the other prospects that I had encountered, but it still came up a bit short. I wasn't worried though, because after inspecting the existing wood feet I knew that screwing additional feet to the bottom to add height wouldn't be much of a problem.
So after adding feet to the bottom, staining them to match and adding a protective coat of wax to the top I passed it on the "the guys" to cut the hole and drop in the sink. I fully intended to cut and install the sink on my own, but when Nate offered to take it on site and get it done, well, I'm no idiot...
If I had had more time, I would have changed out the pulls on the front, but all in all it turned out just as I was hoping. It's an unexpected surprise in the powder room and although it took a bit more time and effort, this one-of-a-kind sink cost less than an in stock sink from Home Depot or Lowes!