Now that they are installed and we’ve been using them for a while, let’s talk about the brass faucet and stainless steel sink I selected, why I selected them, and how those decisions are panning out so far.
Let’s start with the sink. I decided to go with stainless steel because it is a forgiving surface that’s easy to keep clean. I’ve had white enamel and ceramic sinks and, in both cases, they showed scratches, and stains, and needed to be babied. I don’t mind babying things in our house, but a kitchen sink is a bit annoying to treat with kid gloves because it’s supposed to be a workhorse. I love the look of a white sink, though, so that’s what I went with in our MN house when we updated our counters. I had fleeting thoughts of getting a white sink again, but I decided to go with the material that would be harder-wearing.
We picked an undermount sink that is deep, divided into two basins, and has a squarish bottom. I bought it directly from the kitchen showroom, so I’m not sure of the exact brand, but it looks just like THIS ONE. A few blog readers who have square sinks cautioned against it, but it seemed like their corners were tighter than mine and became a trap for bits of food. The overall shape of the sink is square, but the corners and edges are rounded just enough so they are easy to clean and aren’t scum traps.
I clean the sink, as well as all of my stainless steel kitchen gear and range, with Bar Keeper’s Friend. It makes stainless steel shine and does a great job at removing anything I’ve thrown at it.
One reason I selected a stainless steel range with brass trimmings is so I could mix stainless steel in other places (like another appliance, cookware, or a sink) and it would tie into new brass elements I wanted to add, like the hardware, a pot rail, and a brass faucet. You can certainly mix metals without tying them all together in one piece, like a range, but it does help cohesion to have those references throughout a room.
Oh, and as aside about the brass register… A few people mentioned they felt like it stuck out too much, but it is a detail I love! It takes something that is functional and, quite honestly, isn’t in the best place, and makes it a little feature. THIS is the brass register I purchased.
Since the picture above was taken, we’ve built out the range hood, installed crown molding around the cabinets, and created a solution to hide the electrical box under the range.
So, let’s talk about the brass faucet, which was a point of much concern and debate (more so on Instagram than here on the blog.) is the handmade, unlacquered brass faucet I ordered from THIS Etsy shop. The concerns about the faucet were valid and I shared them. But, when I compared the price of this faucet with other solid brass bridge faucets, this one came in at about $1000 less. That is a pretty huge difference and I felt like it was worth a try. Also, since I was buying it through Etsy and Paypal, I knew I had channels to file a dispute if I did need to return it for a refund.
I was concerned about the looks or the quality of the materials, but the fact that it’s an unbranded, handmade faucet. That could mean any number of things from the size not being standard to the faucet leaks all over the place. I did have a plumber give it a once-over when it first arrived to make sure he had all of the necessary pieces to be able to install it. This seems to be a common complaint with these handmade faucets from Morocco. Everything looked good upon inspection, so that made me feel more at ease about my choice. The faucet I ordered is also 8″ on center, which is a standard size. That means that if I do ever need to change it out, I will be able to find a branded faucet that fits in the existing holes.
The brass faucet installation went well and, since I gave my contractor a heads-up about it being a handmade faucet with potential irregularities, he used a lot of Teflon tape at the connections and made sure everything was as leak-proof as possible. One unusual thing about the installation is that there isn’t a place to connect the sprayer directly to the faucet under the sink. Typically, a sprayer and faucet work together. The sprayer only works when the faucet is on and the water is diverted to the sprayer when it’s engaged. In the case of this set-up, the sprayer has its own water line. That means it acts independently of the faucet, which I actually like. I can just use the sprayer (without the faucet on) or I can use the sprayer while the faucet is on. It didn’t make the installation any more difficult, but it was just different. The only downside is there was no way to control the water temperature. It either needed to be connected to a hot water line or cold, so we picked cold for the sake of safety.
The good news is the brass faucet works great. Water comes out of it as it should, it doesn’t leak, and it has amazing water pressure. Modern faucets are made to regulate the flow of water for the sake of efficiency, but this faucet puts it out in full force. You have to make sure there isn’t a spoon underneath the flow or you’re going to shoot water halfway up the wall! While the water pressure is great, controlling the faucet is finicky. There are “dead spots” in the handles, meaning you can have water coming out and then if you turn it to just the right spot, the water stops or slows. Adjusting the water temperature is also an experiment. Since the water is mixed in the faucet itself, the cold water tends to dominate. I can get hot and warm water out of it, but there is a learning curve to turning the knobs just right.
The neck also feels a little sketchy if you’re swinging it back and forth. It’s hard to describe because it’s not loose and doesn’t feel fragile, but it just doesn’t move as well as branded faucets I’ve used in the past. Since we use one basin for washing and one for a dish drainer, we just keep the neck in one place and leave it alone.
To me, it feels like I’m using an old faucet, perhaps one that was made in the first half of the 1900s. It’s basic, and simple in the way it performs, and it hasn’t been updated with the latest and greatest in water technology to make the knobs responsive, the temperature easy to regulate, and the water pressure even. And, you know what, I still love it and would pick it again. I even sort of like that it feels like a faucet that was plucked out of an old house.
Of course, my boys miss our high-tech touch faucets and, I have to admit that was a great feature! But, I’m the one who uses this faucet the most, so my opinion on the matter counted more. And I love this brass faucet.
Of course, I’ll circle back in a year or two and let you know how it’s going. It’s reasonable to expect a faucet to last for years, so I’m hoping that’s the case with this one.
Jeff and I got the range hood built yesterday and we’re all making a final push to get the kitchen finished today and tomorrow so we can start bringing the furniture back in. It will be like Christmas morning to me to bring in the baker’s table, and the pine hutch, and to have our kitchen table for meals again. I’m also really looking forward to getting the rest of the house cleaned up and organized.
For now, though, I’m enjoying the things that are done. I cooked our first proper meal on the range yesterday and it was thoroughly enjoyable. I have some fresh cherries that are on the tart side, so I’m going to bake a cherry galette later this week! I bought a for the baker’s table so I would have a place to roll out dough and I will put it to use sooner rather than later.
32 Responses
I grew up with a large white farmhouse sink, and it showed every mark. All my adult life I have had stainless steel sinks, and they are fantastic! So easy care. The corners of your sink look rounded enough to not be a problem. The faucet looks great, and time will tell if you need to replace it. I do have my concerns about the sprayer though if it has the full water pressure in it at all times. That is where the integrity of the sprayer construction might get you into trouble if it starts leaking.
It actually has a valve that turns to control the pressure. We have it turned way down so it still comes out nicely, but doesn’t have a lot of pressure on the hose. We can always shut it off when we got on vacation.
Well that’s good to know! I’m sure that will help.
I can understand your faucet purchase, it’s a work of art for sure.
Love stainless steel sinks. The more little marks they get in them from use, the better. They clean up so easily with a little Bar Keepers Friend. I like all their variations – BKF More spray, the soft scrub and the powdered. It takes such a little bit of product!
I absolutely LOVE where you have the register. And it’s beautiful! Mine is on the floor by the island and I have a small kitchen. It catches all the crumbs. lol
The faucet is beeeeeautiful….stunning, and a real feature. I gotcha on the cadt iron sinks. I am going with a one bowl white fireclay sink this kitchen design go ’round. We’ll be using a grate on the bottom to minimize scratches.
Your sink ties in your stove nicely. It’s almost done!!
1. I love the brass register.
2. I have a gray granite sink. It’s beautiful and cleans easily.
I have a granite sink, too. Took a chance on it 12 years ago when we built our house and it’s a workhorse. Look new.
I love the brass faucet with the stainless steel sink. I would never have thought of that. The brass brightens the stainless steel instead of blending it with it and it fits well with our stove. I like the brass register. It makes something utilitarian beautiful – I think it’s a lovely accent.
I like the look of the brass faucets. The only thing I would miss is hot water coming out of the sprayer. I use the hot water to rinse food off of dishes and pots. Love how your kitchen came together.
The faucet is beautiful and may have a few quirks but you won’t notice them after a few weeks of using it every day. I can’t wait to see the table come back in – would you ever consider putting a quartz top (or other stone) on it? I know you love the charm of the old original tabletop; however a stone surface top might offer more functionality and I think it would also be visually stunning. IMHO. Just a thought. Bravo on the kitchen progress so far- it is simply gorgeous and well done!
I’ve always thought a large one hole sink was better than a divided one. Open to hearing why others prefer the side by side and Marian why you selected a side by side versus a large single sink. Thanks.
A divided sink is great if you wash dishes by hand, as I do. I do not have nor want a dishwasher and having a divided sink means you can fill up one with soapy water to wash and then rinse the dishes in the other side. Works beautifully for me! Marion may have other reasons, however.
A divided sink is great for washing dishes by hand, as I do. I neither have nor want a dishwasher and a divided sink works well when you fill one side with soapy water to wash and then rinse the dishes in the other side. Works beautifully for me! Marion may have other reasons, however.
I’m on the “divided sink team.” Even with a dishwasher, I always have a pile of things that I wash by hand. I can fill one sink with hot soapy water and then move the clean dishes to the second sink and spray/rinse them. If you have only one big sink, do you have to rinse one dish at a time? The divided sink also allows me to pour drink/food liquids down the second drain if I already have the first sink full of hot, soapy water. Or I can wash and peel vegetables/fruit in the second sink if I have items soaking in the first sink.
It’s such fun watching your dream kitchen come to life. Aside from the terrific outcome, it must be like heaven to you to have a stove to cook on, and sink to clean up in…haven’t heard about a dishwasher yet, but I have no doubt there is one. 🙂 That faucet is, without question , a beauty, and I expect that as you become acquainted with the little quirks, you will continue to love it. I’m so looking forward to seeing that baker’s table and pine hutch in place, and with everything styled, as you plan, that heat vent won’t be an eye-catcher any more. The pastry board will be a perfect touch to the look, whether you use it or not. Handy too, for other purposes….Thinking about it, I bet that magazines are standing in line for the opportunity to feature your new kitchen!
Dear Marian,
The register is lovely and adds a “real” element of old world style. Gorgeous faucet! I’ve followed your example and ordered a handmade, unlaquered brass faucet from India as well ~ and it’s a dream! Thank you so much for sharing all the details of your kitchen, it has been extremely helpful as we are remodeling our right now as well.
Warmly,
Rachel
I only like Stainless Steel Kitchen sinks and that is all I have ever had. The one I have now is top quality ElKay looks like the day it was installed 23 yrs ago. Double sink with one side deeper that the other. I have worked with old time ceramic vs the newer type and you are right they show stains and chip easier. Too much to do in the kitchen to be efficient to “baby” any piece of equipment. Still do not get the lure of ceramic type farm sinks.
Beautiful! Your kitchen has become your dream kitchen and that is what is important. I switched over to a large deep stainless single bowl sink from having a double for years. I like being able to wash large pots and sheet pans in the single bowl and that was why I switched. I have a collapsible basin that I use on one side and then I can rinse on the other. Since the basin is collapsible I can put it away under the sink easily. Your sink and faucet look fantastic. Good job!
Gorgeous! Love the colors and mixed metals! And bringing in the hutch and baker’s table (the top was what attracted you to it in the first place, right?) will add just a touch of textural warmth to enhance the rest!
I have the same quartz counters you chose in my master bath and my laundry room, both of which also feature green. Love it!
I am looking forward to seeing what you are considering for backsplash, hoping you’ll carry it to the ceiling when you do choose something. I always love that look.
So happy to see you getting your dream kitchen! You are a blessing to so many, you deserve it!
Your brass register cover is the icing on the cake! There is no way to hide one, so flaunt it! I think you will find the toe space heater is in the perfect position – not blasting your ankles while you are at any particular work center, and the heat will circulate nicely without ankles diverting the flow of air. I actually grimace when I see photos of kitchens with the toe space heater directly under the sink. Moving in and organizing is pure joy! ENJOY the fruits of your labor!
I am on Team Stainless Steel / Divided Sink team for sure. We replaced the shallow white ceramic sink in our current home soon after we moved in. I made sure that we could reuse the new sink as an under-mount when we did the kitchen several years later and I love swiping crumbs right into the basin from the counter. The faucet is stunning but I do appreciate a name-brand faucet for ease and reliability. I can see why you chose it though. It’s a beauty! Also love that brass vent and I know that your feet will enjoy it in the winter. It’s been so much fun watching you pull this project together and articulating the thought process behind your decisions. I find it interesting that I started making design decisions for our kitchen exactly backwards from you. I saw a backsplash tile I fell in love with and figured out the kitchen from there. You will certainly enjoy this kitchen for years to come!
Broken link (or something) to the faucet. So sad! I love it and would love to purchase something similar. Your kitchen is so lovely!!
I just updated it!
Thanks for sharing all of the details of your beautiful kitchen. I just have to share – I have a Rohl bridge faucet and have the very same problem with the temperature being extremely hard to regulate – the cold dominates, and it is very difficult to get just “warm” water. I had two plumbers look at it, and they couldn’t fix it. So it’s not just a Moroccan-faucet-from-Etsy problem, it’s a designer faucet problem too! (But it does make me wonder now if it has to do with both of our faucets being bridge style. – Would love to see if other commentors have had this experience.) Can’t wait to see the room with your vintage pieces in it!
Good to know! I had wondered if that was just the nature of bridge faucets, so it’s nice to hear another account.
It’s simple to keep a fitted wire rack in the bottom of a white sink. We have the Kohler whitehaven and the racks on bottom are great for washing vegetables and fruit and generally keeping your sink clean. I like a single basin, but we entertain frequently and use large platters and pitchers.
Regarding the floor register, the piece itself is lovely but the placement is unfortunate. A kitchen designer would have lined up your cabinetry correctly. Beautiful kitchens are about quarter inches. A flush register painted to match the toe kick is a decent option at this point. Regardless, enjoy your new kitchen!
Yes, I have metal grates in my former white sink and it did really help. I still had to baby it more than a stainless steel sink to prevent stains where the feet of the metal grate were.
As far as the register, that is where our floor vent was located and I really didn’t want to get into moving dut work on top of everything else we were doing. I don’t mind the placement at all, though. I think this is a case of to each his/her own. 🙂
I love your choices, especially the stove probably because I have one just like it! I’m curious as to why you didn’t choose to have windows all along the sink wall since you are already expanding the window and also it doesn’t look like any cabinets are going on that wall?
There are actually upper glass-front cabinets to the right of the sink and then there will be sconces on either side of the window (once it’s in.) There are a few reasons we didn’t put windows along the entire wall… 1 – Windows are expensive! Between installation and the window, it’s over $5,000 for one large window. 2 – There is an electrical box just to the left of the existing window on the outside wall. Putting a window there would require some pretty major electrical work and we have already upgraded the panel and added recessed lights throughout. 3 – It wouldn’t make sense architecturally from the outside of the house to have a long row of windows. It just wouldn’t match anything else on the exterior.
In the end, a renovation, no matter the budget, is about picking and choosing how you want to spend that budget. We felt like making the window bigger was worthwhile for the additional light, but we weren’t willing to put more of the budget towards getting more windows that would look odd from the outside, anyway. It just wasn’t practical.
My stainless sink is a lot like yours, It came from Signature Hardware. Mine has a 60/40 split, I use the small side for a small dish drainer to place cleaned dishes that do not go into the dishwasher. My inside corners are rounded as well, very easy to keep clean, and I love the 14 inch depth. That is one thing the previous homeowners got right when they had this kitchen built on to the back of the house. I don’t think they thought it out as well as you did yours. But it has a lot of positives, and we just repair/replace the errors we find. Your new kitchen is beautiful, and I love that faucet!