When we first moved into our house, we had a stainless steel kitchen sink with a faucet that wasn’t my style. I wasn’t ready to replace my counter tops, but I was determined to figure out a solution for how to replace my sink and faucet without replacing the counters or cabinets. Here’s how it looked:
before
Not terrible, not great, but definitely not me. It was boring and I wanted beauty. As you may know, I’ve been doing everything humanly possible to complete a budget friendly kitchen remodel. I started by painting the fridge pink, then the cabinets got painted, next I even attempted to to redo my counter tops with a coat of paint, I installed open shelving, and updated the hardware.
In a few years, I’ll do a full kitchen renovation. But I want it as pretty as possible for now while I live in the space and figure out what I’ll change down the road. I figure I can always use the new sink and faucet. When we renovated our kitchen in our last home, I loved the big stone sink we used.
So, I started doing my research. And guess what I figured out?! They make stone sinks the same size as a standard stainless sink! And if I select a drop-in sink, I can pull out the old sink and replace it with the sink of my dreams!
how to replace a stainless steel sink with a stone sink
My stainless steel sink measured 33″x22″. So when I found this Elkay drop in quartz sink with the same measurements, I was so excited! I selected the color Greystone and placed the order. You can’t buy directly from Elkay’s website, so here’s the link for where you can buy the same sink online. It has mostly 5 star reviews and I 100% recommend it.
Once it arrived, we pulled the old sink out of the hole. It took a bit of work to loosen up the old adhesive that held it on, but we were able to get it out.
Next, we simply put the sink in the new hole. It fit nicely! The sink came with pre-scored holes. My husband took a chisel and hammer to break through the holes. It was a bit of a nail biter (no one wants to ruin their brand new fancy sink!), but the pre-scored holes helped us make a nice and round hole.
After the faucet was installed, my husband use clear caulk to go around the edges where the sink meets the counter top. That’s all it took to get my dream sink! I love the color- it doesn’t show much so it usually looks clean. It is deeper than my stainless steel sink which I love because when dishes are in the sink, you can barely see them across the room. Plus, without having a center divider, you can fit so much more in the sink.
At the bottom of the sink, I use a sink grid. These are nice to have so that you can protect the bottom of your sink from excess wear. From preventing food particles sticking on the sink to creating a buffer so glassware doesn’t break when hitting the sink, sink grids or gills are a good little insurance policy. It’s also convenient to have for placing hot pans or heavy skillets on.
brass faucet
I love brass faucets! That’s the metal color I’ve chosen for my house. I particularly like it because I think it works well with the age and style of the house. For my kitchen, I selected this Restoration Bridge Faucet from Kingston Brass (here’s a link for where you can buy it).
I’ve used Kingston Brass faucets in 2 bathroom renovations and 2 kitchen renovations now. The reason I love them is because they sell the most affordable brass faucets that I’ve found. Plus the styling is always spot on and perfectly classic! The quality is good too. I also like that Kingston Brass sell fixtures for bathrooms and kitchens so you can buy coordinating items for both spaces.
after
Once everything was installed, I was thrilled with how it looked! The whole room felt elevated. This was the most expensive update I’ve done for the room, but I think it was well worth it. I can use these pieces again when I do my big renovation. And for the meanwhile, I get to live with this beauty!
Not the dog, but the sink ;)! I’ve lived with this sink and faucet for a few months and have LOVED it!
The sink is really the heart of the kitchen. And I’m so happy with how its looking!
If you have a sink you hate, but aren’t ready for a full kitchen renovation, you can have your dream sink! You don’t have to live with a “just ok” sink and faucet, you can update them now. I promise, you’ll love them! At about $600 for this update, it’s more of a splurge, but one I heartily recommend.
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments!
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Valerie Hill says
Your kitchen is looking great – all those small projects are adding up to a space that you are making your mark upon! I love that so many of the improvements you do are accessible to anyone interested in diy and making their space beautiful!!