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The ultimate guide to retrofit a corner sink cabinet for a farmers sink

As a farmhouse sink enthusiast, I’ve dreamed of beautiful farmhouse sinks! I was excited when my contractor told me we could retrofit our corner sink cabinet for a farmer’s sink.

Installing a corner sink can seem daunting, but with the right planning and forethought, you can have a corner kitchen sink that you absolutely love. In this post, I’ll share with your our experience replacing our sink, and then answer some common questions at the end. 

Kitchen with white kitchen countertops, white retrofitted farmers sink, and maple base cabinets.

Can I Put A Farm Sink In Existing Cabinets?

Most people think that they need to buy all new kitchen cabinets when they want to install a farm sink. However, this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. 

You can sometimes find a way to incorporate a farm sink into your existing cabinets. However, it may involve removal and cutting of cabinet doors, removal of faux drawers, and/or cutting out a section of the countertop. 

Another option is to install the sink in an existing opening in the cabinet, such as where the dishwasher used to be. You could also look at standard sink base cabinets, and just buy one that fits farmhouse kitchen sinks.

Even in contemporary kitchens, you should be able to find a way to add a farm sink to your kitchen without having to replace your entire cabinetry.

How do you fit a farm sink retro?

If you’re considering retrofitting your existing cabinet with a farm sink, here are a few things you’ll need to take into account: 

  • Measure the space you have available. A farm sink is typically larger than a standard sink, so you’ll need enough room to accommodate it. 
  • Consider your needs: maybe you need a sink that can handle large pots, or maybe you prefer double basin sinks.
  • Think about the style of your kitchen. A farm sink can give your kitchen a more rustic or country feel, so if that’s the look you’re going for, this is definitely an option. 
  • Consider your budget. The sink may be an expensive option if you have to hire someone to custom cut your existing countertops, or even installing new countertops entirely.

Can you install a farmhouse sink in existing countertop?

Farmhouse sinks are becoming increasingly popular in today’s homes, and you can install one such sink on your existing countertop.

If you consider yourself a DIYer this might be the project for you. We knew when we bought our 1700s farmhouse we’d be taking on a lot of projects like this one (read about what made us leave the city and move to the farm).

First, you’ll need to take careful measurements, and cut into your countertop. This may likely require hiring a professional, especially if you’re cutting into stone like granite or marble.

Also, be sure to take into account whether you want an undermount or top mount sink, as this will affect what size opening to cut into your countertop.

How much does it cost to install a farmhouse sink? 

If you’re to install a farmhouse sink, the cost of its installation can vary quite a bit depending on the size and style of sink you choose, as well as the type of countertops you have.

In general, however, you can expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $600 for professional installation. Keep in mind there are additional costs associated with purchasing new countertops, cutting existing countertops, and any associated disposal fees.

The brand name will affect cost as well: Ikea sinks will cost much less than a really nice Kohler sink.

What Tools and supplies will I need to retrofit my sink cabinet?

Here are the supplies you’ll need to install an apron front corner sink:

  • Measuring tape 
  • Safety goggles
  • A pencil
  • Reciprocating saw or jig saw
  • Construction adhesive
  • at least 8 feet of 2″x4″ board 
  • Hardwood plywood minimum 36″x36″
  • Screws
  • A screw gun
  • Carpenter’s level

Steps to retrofit a corner sink cabinet for a farmer’s sink

Once your supplies for installing a corner sink are ready, follow these steps to complete this project and give your kitchen a new look.

  1. Take Measurements, lots of them!

Prior to purchasing your new sink, you’ll want to take measurements to ensure the new sink will fit in your space. Keep in mind things like water line placement, dishwasher drain connections, plumbing, and garbage disposal. There are several types of sinks to choose from: apron-front sinks, drop-in sinks, or an undermount sink.

Once you have those measurements, you can start planning how the sink will (or will not) fit in your current cabinet. Draw a sketch or use a computer program to design it, keeping in mind the measurements you took earlier. 

It is at this stage where you need to know for certain whether you are going to use your existing countertop, or be installing new countertops. You’ll want to make sure you have overall dimensions for your countertops.

In our case, we figured out what cuts we had to make in our current cabinet to make room for the new sink. We wanted a kitchen corner sink that fit our current base corner cabinets, and wanted an undermount apron sinks.

Read below for more details, but if you need to cut your countertops for this project, please consult a professional!

2. Prep the sink area

Turn off the water supply to the sink, and clean out all the items stored under your sink. You’ll want as much space as possible, and ensure that it’s well lit.

Man disconnecting plumbing to take out old sink.

3. Remove the old sink

There’s no need to be nervous about removing your old sink. First, disconnect the water lines and drain the pipes. 

Next, loosen the brackets and adhesive that are holding the sink in place. If your sink is glued down, you may need a putty knife to pry it up.

Then, lift the sink out of the cabinet and dispose of it properly. With your old sink gone, clean up any remaining “gunk” that may be left behind. If your project involves new countertop, there’s no need to clean the old countertop, as it will be removed.

Man removing old sink to retrofit a corner cabinet for farmers sink.

4. Cut into the front frame of the cabinet

Our next step was to cut into the cabinet front. I measured the width of the new sink and marked the lines onto the apron of the cabinet with a pencil. 

You can easily do this by measuring the width of the front of the sink and cutting into the cabinet, or the “false front.” Remember to save these pieces for trim later in the project! 

I used a saw to cut along the lines, being careful not to damage the rest of the cabinet.

Man measuring center of the sink cabinet to cut for retrofit cabinet.
Man cutting cabinet to widen the front to fit the farmer sink.
  1. Build a “free standing” platform for the farmer’s sink to sit on

Your next step is to build a free-standing table for your farmer’s sink to sit on. Farm house sinks are heavy and n

This platform will be the foundation for your new sink, so it must be well-built. First, measure the dimensions of your sink and your existing cabinets so that you can determine the appropriate size for the platform.

Next, cut legs out of 2x4s and a top out of plywood. Be sure to cut a hole in the middle of the platform top for the sink drain.

Once everything is cut to size, assemble the platform by attaching the legs to the top. Make sure the platform is very well secured, as it will be holding the weight of the sink.

Plywood, 2x4s, drill, and screws pictured as supplies to build table for farmers sink.
Table insert for farmers sink to sit on inside retrofit cabinet.

6. Reconfigure The Front Of The Cabinet

The next step is to reconfigure the front of the cabinet. The first thing you’ll need to do is remove the doors and hinges from the front of the cabinet. Then cut into the cabinet front to allow for the new sink.

In our case, we only had to trim down our opening a little bit, and move the supportive cross bar down about an inch, as seen below.

Man moving center bar to fit new doors on retrofit cabinet.
Man notching side of cabinets tot add center bar.
Adding the center bar to the new notching of the retrofit sink.

7. Reinstall the cabinet doors

Next, you will want to measure carefully and re-install the doors at the new height so that they don’t hit the new sink when you open them.

If you want to avoid having to cut your cabinet doors, look for sink manufacturers that make a sink with a shorter apron. In our case, our sink apron fit in where a faux drawer was previously.

Man measuring cabinet to retrofit cabinet for corner farmers sink.

8. Install the sink

The final step of course is to actually install and then connect the sink based on the type of sink, and the manufacturer’s recommendations.

9. Install the counters

It’s now time to install new counters around your farmer’s sink. Be careful when taking them out if they are made of granite, like ours. 

They are cumbersome, and you don’t want to damage your floors or walls. Once they are out, you can dispose of them or repurpose them as we did. The next step is to measure your new counters to make sure they fit perfectly in your kitchen so that there are no gaps. 

The company we bought our counters from came and measured for us so that we knew exactly what size to order. Once you have your new counters, the next step is to install them. 

This is relatively easy, especially if you have someone helping you. You want to ensure that the counters are level and flush with the cabinets, so there are no gaps.

White farmers sink with gold faucet in maple corner retrofitted cabinet.

New faucet for your farmers sink

We also bought a new faucet to coordinate with our new farmers sink and new hardware. The countertop company that came and installed our new countertops also installed our new faucet.

If you’ve bought a new faucet, but aren’t replacing your countertops and need to install it yourself, I’ve got a post for you. Replacing your faucet is fairly simply and can make a big impact.

Big picture window with corner farmer sink.

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Rounding up

So, there you have it, some thoughts regarding how to retrofit farmhouse sink.

It might take some effort, but it will surely be worth it when you see how great your new farm sink looks in your kitchen. Not only will this sink add a touch of rustic charm to your kitchen, but it will also be easier to clean than a traditional sink. 

Want to shop this post? Just click on an image to be redirected to that link. *These are affiliate link and if used I make a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting the brands that support this blog of mine.

Want to read more about updating your home on a budget? Check out my post below!

How to paint your ceramic floor tiles – what to do and not to do!

Painting ceramic floor tiles can be the perfect way to update old tile on a budget! 

It can take some research and a few substantial hours of work, but the results can be so worth it! I painted my tile floors last year, and it was an easy quick fix to updating my entryway, but now it’s due for a touch-up. 

Today, I’m doing another coat of paint to freshen things up and I’ll be sharing the whole process from start to finish…

Chat soon,

Kori

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