The Kitchen Sink Mini Series - 1 -
The kitchen project is somehow past the dream: I'm on to the dreaded making decision stage! I may be the one guilty if the contractor has a nervous breakdown! I need time for each and every decision!
Le projet cuisine a officiellement dépassé le stade du rêve. J'en suis à prendre des décisions! Si vous entendez parler d'un cuisiniste en dépression nerveuse en Bretagne, c'est le mien! Je prends un temps fou pour chaque détail!
But one decision is already taken: it's about the sink!
Mais une décision est enfin prise et cela concerne l'évier!
When I first visited the cottage, it had a very unfitted kitchen...
Quand j'ai visité pour la première fois mon cottage, il y avait une cuisine pas du tout aménagée...
Nothing in that kitchen stayed when I bought it except for the sink, the boiler and a very weird sliding door cupboard that you can see on the picture below, taken the day I got the keys to the house.
Quand j'ai eu les clefs, il ne restait rien dans la cuisine, excepté une chaudière, un évier et un placard aux portes coulissantes (enfin, de nom surtout) qui est tombé en même temps que la cloison que vous voyez sur la gauche.
Unfortunately (or fortunately), I got rid of the wall you see on the left (yes, I also got rid of the gorgeous shinny upc beadboard...) and so the cupboard disappeared with it. So basically, I was left with a sink in the kitchen and that's it!
Given that I'm on a tight budget, you would think that I'm keeping that sink for the new kitchen. It's white and I love white...
Comme j'ai un budget limité pour la cuisine et que l'évier est blanc, ma couleur préférée, vous vous dites sûrement que garder l'évier est une bonne idée...
Wait? Did you say white? Huh, come closer my friend...
And please, imagine that I spent half an hour scrubbing it before I dared snapping a picture for you... It's made of a thermoplastic and as it's old, it makes cleaning tea marks a nightmare!
Une bonne idée? Voilà à quoi cela ressemble de près, après une demi-heure de nettoyage, car vous pensez bien que je n'ai pas osé vous montrer ce que cela donne sans nettoyage intensif au préalable! L'évier en résine, quand il n'est plus de la première jeunesse, c'est le cauchemar de la buveuse de thé que je suis!
Last spring, I had the insulation in the kitchen walls done: the workers had to remove the sink to do it and at some point they screamed to me: "Where do we store the sink for now?" and suddenly I said "you don't ! I can't stand it anymore".
Le printemps dernier, alors que je faisais refaire l'isolation des murs de la cuisine, l'évier a été déposé et là, sur un coup de tête, j'ai décidé qu'on ne le reposerait pas, non mais!
So, here I was with a kitchen looking like "Extreme Makeover" was shooting at my place, on the hunt for an other sink.
Et donc, pendant que la cuisine ne ressemblait plus à rien, je suis partie à la chasse à l'évier...
La suite au prochain numéro! Vous vous en doutiez, hein?
What choice was mine? Well, you'll have to come back for the next post.
Meanwhile, if you have any advice about sink to give, feel free to write them in the comments.
Now, if you can't wait to see more renovation, you'll love reading a blog I just found about the renovation of a darling old cottage in Bavaria, Germany (the blog is bilingual like mine, so you'll have no problem following her progress): Little Hideaway.
See you soon,
A bientôt,
I'm shharing with:
Oh my gosh! ♡ Your sink has been gone since last spring! I sure hope you can choose one soon. ♡
ReplyDeleteA sink is tricky! I think the newer porcelain sinks look good for about a decade that's why I went with copper. (In a former home I had an expensive brand, and it looked terrible in less than five years; I'm not hard on anything.) Copper ages and I like it, but not every one would. I like stainless sinks too, but they are little more noisy, and a little less forgiving of scratches, but seem to look nice longer. I like white sinks.
I love those antique sinks my father use to pull out of old houses with some mineral spots on the east coast, but I live in the west and there are not many houses that are 100 years old. If I could of found one, that is what I would have liked.
In regards to metal sinks the thicker sinks are quieter or ones with insulation. I like one big space and not two, but that's not for everyone. I like apron (farmhouse) front sinks, but that's a little trickier to install,l and one needs to make the decision before getting the cabinet. An under-mount sink is a little easier to keep clean and gives you a tad more of counter or the allusion of more space.
XOXO
We bought a white double sink, porcelain, at Leroy, and it stood up to everything, no marks, no chips.
ReplyDeleteA sink is a major decision. We redid the kitchen in 2006. If I had it to do over again, I would choose a farmhouse sink.
ReplyDeleteOh that is so not fun. I hope your kitchen will be back soon.
ReplyDeleteRenovating teaches me patience... Thouggh living with no sink really isn't fun!
DeleteThat sink had to go! Good luck in your search for a new one. I really like white enamel over cast iron. They are so heavy but practically indestructible. I also prefer big single basins instead of a divided sink. I like being able to clean really big things in my sink and have never really had the need for a second sink. Anything that I need to soak separately, I just stick in a big bowl or bucket. Can't wait to see what you decide.
ReplyDeleteAnd gone it is! I'm going for single bowl as well rather than the divided sink I had before.
DeleteI mùst agree with Jessica : go for the biggest single basin you can find ! A giant belfast sink or an old maternity baby bath :-) Good luck with your search!! Mandy
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of putting a bathtub in the kitchen, now that would be very vintage French ;)
DeleteWhat a great idea ! Mind your back though, bathtubs can be deep :-) ... When washing lots of dishes, you could use the garden hose LOL
DeleteOH my! Pick a sink! We got a single bowl cast iron (white). I had to put some of those rubbermaid sink protectors at the bottom, though, so my cast iron skillets don't mark it and my boys don't break dishes when they throw them in there :) I love having a single bowl, not too deep, so it does't hurt my back to wash up. Our faucet is high and curved so it's no problem getting stock pots under the stream of water. Can't wait to see the progress!
ReplyDeleteGoing thru this myself as I type......We are renovating a cedar shake cottage and it has been gutted. My hubby said now is the time to be picking out a kitchen sink, bathroom vanity and tub.....my brain has been going in circles! So much to consider, not just style, but size and will it fit!! Can't wait to see your progress~~~Roxie
ReplyDeleteBefore I remodeled my kitchen I has stainless which I liked and didn't. Stainless wore well for us BUT I hated how it never looked clean, always had those nasty "spots'. the only time it looked good was right after it was cleans. I do love my single cast iron beige. You must have something on the bottom or it will scratch. Also can chip if you drop something heavy in it.
ReplyDeleteDecisions can drive you to drink! It did me for the kitchen remodel.
My mom has had stainless for ever and she likes it a lot. I guess choosing a sink is difficult because each of us have different criteria!
DeleteWe installed the IKEA double farmhouse sink and it is fabulous. The price in the US is $300, and that was good too. I put a plastic dishpan in the sink when I am washing dishes. I think this extra step has helped to protect it and keep it new looking. Also, I am extra careful when I am washing my heavy Dutch oven.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I'll have the patience to put a plastic dishpan in the sink everytime I do the dishes... I have lots of dishes to wash with the shop!
DeleteGood tips above I see - I have no suggestions as I am not knowledgeable! I just know you CAN DO IT!
ReplyDeleteOooh, I can't wait to see what comes next! I love these series. ~Angela~
ReplyDeleteDear Magali,
ReplyDeletethank you for mentioning me at the end of your blog. You have allready made your choice? I cant wait to see how you have decided. But when I sink (confusing for a non-native speaker, but I have allways wanted to get rid of the "th", so be it) about your post(s) about to that famous TV-kitchen...Some movies are worth watching just for the nice places. What is it´s title, the one with Jack Nicholson... As good as it gets? I love that house! And your special relation to china, and you have been to IKEA, so perhaps... I would guess, that you will take a farm house sink and use on of these rubber things.
Yours
Sarah
Sarah,
DeleteI love the film you mention, or rather I love the set! I have an other TV-kitchen post scheduled (actually not written, but in my head) for February!
Magali
Ah, on ne peut pas dire que tu prends tes décisions à la légère ! Et l'évier, ce n'est rien... ensuite il y a le four, la plaque de cuisson, la hotte ou pas la hotte, les placards en haut ou en bas seulement, le frigo (tu le changes ou pas ?) et parfois, j'ai une petite pensée pour le cuisiniste... Mais j'espère que tu auras la plus belle cuisine de Bretagne !!!
ReplyDeleteI like a white porcelain sink. I have a two sided one but when I replace it I will get a big white one. I just put some bleach in mine for stains and to sanitize it. Good luck with your choice - I know you will make the right one.
ReplyDeleteMary
Telle est prise qui croyait prendre (http://thelittlewhitehouseontheseaside.blogspot.fr/search?updated-max=2014-01-02T21:00:00Z&max-results=7&start=4&by-date=fals) , mais je joue le jeu (lol).
ReplyDeleteLa suite au prochain numéro.
Bisous bisou. Babette
I was just dreaming of the perfect sink this past weekend. We had to make a trip to IKEA for a few things for Holland's room and my mom had never been so she went with Tristan and I and we took her thru the showroom. Tristan LOVES the kitchens. One had a really nice farmhouse sink and it got me thinking about our next house. Oooh the decisions I will be faced with. I'm kind of glad we are waiting a few years before starting that project. Meanwhile, I'll just sit back and admire your choice and follow your Pinterest boards and get some ideas.
ReplyDeleteSink, sank, sunk. I've only had one white sink and it was hard to keep clean too. Now everything I have is stainless steel so I'm no help. But then again, you're teasing me again, so it's only fair. :)
ReplyDelete-andi
No sink advice....other than to say, I love farmhouse style sinks and hope to have one myself eventually! I can't wait to see what you chose...:) Always something to look forward to reading your blog! Have a lovely evening.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Vicky
Oh,
ReplyDeleteStainless steel here as well-porcelain is beautiful but as you suggested sinks are expensive and oh - require so much decision making.
Repainting and adding new chandeliers to the kitchen as me fresh out of any ideas;)
Jemma
Hi Magali!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI also love white sinks, but, have always had stainless steel. The one item I use on tough stains is an SOS pad. I don't know if they are available over there, but, it's a steel pad with some kind of blue soap with it. It's the best!!!!
I use it on all sorts of things. People may say that it can scratch surfaces, but, you don't have to scrub hard to get the surface clean. I love it!!!
Can't wait to see what your choice is for a sink!!!
Enjoy the rest of the week!!!
Pam
xox
So you've been living in a bit of a building site, can't be fun.
ReplyDeleteIn the last place I lived in, we remodelled the kitchen and put in a white ceramic sink. I absolutely loved it, although it did mark a little bit. It never really bothered me though because I grew up with a large farmhouse sink and I love the look.
At the moment I have a stainless steel sink, but if I remodelled, I'd definitely have a ceramic one.
We are in the planning/I want stage of kitchen redo. My dream sink is either copper or soapstone, but will probably stick to stainless for ease of cleaning. You must be very patient to live this long with all the renovation going on.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow, Magali--I wish you best of luck in getting the sink that you like, and that you have a beautiful kitchen in the end!
ReplyDeleteYou certainly have come a long way with that kitchen! I love white sinks, but I've never had one. They've always been stainless steel, which I honestly don't like. For some reason, mine always looks dull and dirty. I always thought I wanted a white one, but now I'm not so sure about that either!
ReplyDeleteIck...our kitchen sink is stained too. The gentleman who installed it (for the previous house owners) said if it got stained, it could be buffed out with a scouring pad. So I tried that, and it looked good for one afternoon, and then it was twice as bad. So I just bleach it any time we're having guests. :)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you picked, I'm sure it will be gorgeous!
Can't wait to see it! It's hard not to stain a white kitchen sink…if you use it at all!
ReplyDeleteWell, as usual, you have left us with a cliffhanger (which I love!), so I can't wait to read about the next Sink episode. I am going to check out the Little Hideaway blog.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is "yehey" - just think about that it's PROGRESS - the chaos is something you have to bear first in order to get the beautiful in the end!
ReplyDelete