Cypress Village - Options
- Thread starter Chairman
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I should check but I think my countertops might be higher... it hits me where my belt buckle is so I can see how it might scratch it... and I'm taller than most men in Irvine too.
It's an under-mount sink. The countertop itself comes up approx. 1 3/4" higher than the top of the sink. But yeah, what you said is true. I wonder if the guys really do enough dishes for it to even be an issue - 'cause if so, that is a wonderful problem for the wife to have.
Actually since it's low, little people would find it more ergonomic to reach down inside. I find it back-breaking. 
But it has enough other advantages to make up for it.
I hate hand-washing large loads of dishes because my back hurts afterwards... so I just send them to the dishwasher.
I did the same research you are before I decided on stainless steel. I currently have an old 1984 cast iron sink. That's almost 3 decades of abuse, there's only one chip because of a heavy pot that fell. But what bugs me is the gray scratches. When housekeeping comes over, most of the gray scratches goes away. Until after a couple days of use and it's all back.
From what I've heard, stainless steel will scratch up too but it won't be as apparent as the gray scratches on a white cast iron background. I do prefer the cast iron material for its durably but keeping anything white clean is a pain. My friends own stainless steel sinks and I can't see the scratches unless I look really close.
That's my two cents worth. Best wishes on your decision.
I'm also upgrading the standard WHITE cultured marble counter-tops in my bathrooms to something else. So far if I upgrade to Pietrafina it's only $800/countertop+backsplash. Pretty good deal considering the length of each of my counter-tops. So that goes to show my preference to not having white anything in my house. With 2 kids it saves my sanity.
From a kid's perspective: White surface => free open canvas => crayons/markers artwork
Just a heads up, in case you plan on having little Chairmans running around.
I just grabbed a yardstick and held it in front. My legs are exactly a yard long. That's where the leg meets the body in the front, below the hips. I guess that means I'm a freak. :'(
But then you still have a ways to go before you could scratch the face of the apron. My sink is 9" deep. They vary.
You're right. Frankly, most of the men I've known in my life have a big belly. They put their belt way below their navel, under the gut, with the muffin top above. The only people who wear it at navel level or above are women, Steve Urkel, and old grandpas with their pants hiked up under their armpits.
socal78
Well-known member
I have a white, undermount apron-front single basin Kohler kitchen sink. I love it!
What you do is buy a rack to go inside of it. I bought this. It has really saved the sink a lot of abuse. Get the model number of your sink so you can buy the custom fit:
I thought the comment about the belt buckle scratching was interesting. I never thought about that. I just went over to my sink with a tape measure and stood up in front of it to see where it would be (barefoot). My belly button is 6" above the top of the sink. You'd either have to be really short or wear your belt super low / hip-hugger style for it to come into contact with the apron. For reference, without shoes I am 5'9".
What you do is buy a rack to go inside of it. I bought this. It has really saved the sink a lot of abuse. Get the model number of your sink so you can buy the custom fit:
I thought the comment about the belt buckle scratching was interesting. I never thought about that. I just went over to my sink with a tape measure and stood up in front of it to see where it would be (barefoot). My belly button is 6" above the top of the sink. You'd either have to be really short or wear your belt super low / hip-hugger style for it to come into contact with the apron. For reference, without shoes I am 5'9".
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
You are taller than most women in Irvine... esp Asian ones.SoCal said:
I should check but I think my countertops might be higher... it hits me where my belt buckle is so I can see how it might scratch it... and I'm taller than most men in Irvine too.
socal78
Well-known member
irvinehomeowner said:
It's an under-mount sink. The countertop itself comes up approx. 1 3/4" higher than the top of the sink. But yeah, what you said is true. I wonder if the guys really do enough dishes for it to even be an issue - 'cause if so, that is a wonderful problem for the wife to have.
Actually since it's low, little people would find it more ergonomic to reach down inside. I find it back-breaking. But it has enough other advantages to make up for it.
Chairman
New member
Thanks everyone for all your helpful info. I don't think I would have ever thought about the belt buckle but it definitely helps to have people share their experiences post options being built out. I was trying to do research online about cast iron white sinks vs stainless steel sinks. I could not really find anything that factually and convincingly accurately distinguished between the two. I came across mostly anecdotal comments and people saying one was better over the other and vice versa.
I have a cast iron white sink right now and if you rub any stainless steel pots or pans it can leave a grey mark. The sink has stood up over 10 years and while it might not look spanking new, it seems fine to me given the years it has accumulated.
I think what SoCal said about adding the sink rack is money. I will definitely look to add that to keep the sink in good condition. Stainless steel in the model homes seemed like they scratch pretty easily and water spots are probably an annoying factor. I read online that some people use different kinds of oil (baby, olive, etc.) to polish it up.
Anyone care to chime in with what sink material they prefer?
I have a cast iron white sink right now and if you rub any stainless steel pots or pans it can leave a grey mark. The sink has stood up over 10 years and while it might not look spanking new, it seems fine to me given the years it has accumulated.
I think what SoCal said about adding the sink rack is money. I will definitely look to add that to keep the sink in good condition. Stainless steel in the model homes seemed like they scratch pretty easily and water spots are probably an annoying factor. I read online that some people use different kinds of oil (baby, olive, etc.) to polish it up.
Anyone care to chime in with what sink material they prefer?
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
So if your belt buckle hits you in the middle of your body, a 6 footer should have issues with their buckle scratching... a shorter person would have that issue if it were an apron/farmhouse sink... but it depends on the length of your legs.SoCal said:
I hate hand-washing large loads of dishes because my back hurts afterwards... so I just send them to the dishwasher.
ZeroLot
New member
Chairman said:
I did the same research you are before I decided on stainless steel. I currently have an old 1984 cast iron sink. That's almost 3 decades of abuse, there's only one chip because of a heavy pot that fell. But what bugs me is the gray scratches. When housekeeping comes over, most of the gray scratches goes away. Until after a couple days of use and it's all back.
From what I've heard, stainless steel will scratch up too but it won't be as apparent as the gray scratches on a white cast iron background. I do prefer the cast iron material for its durably but keeping anything white clean is a pain. My friends own stainless steel sinks and I can't see the scratches unless I look really close.
That's my two cents worth. Best wishes on your decision.
I'm also upgrading the standard WHITE cultured marble counter-tops in my bathrooms to something else. So far if I upgrade to Pietrafina it's only $800/countertop+backsplash. Pretty good deal considering the length of each of my counter-tops. So that goes to show my preference to not having white anything in my house. With 2 kids it saves my sanity.
From a kid's perspective: White surface => free open canvas => crayons/markers artwork
Just a heads up, in case you plan on having little Chairmans running around.
socal78
Well-known member
irvinehomeowner said:
I just grabbed a yardstick and held it in front. My legs are exactly a yard long. That's where the leg meets the body in the front, below the hips. I guess that means I'm a freak. :'(
But then you still have a ways to go before you could scratch the face of the apron. My sink is 9" deep. They vary.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
I think women's waists are higher than men's... I could Google but I'm lazy.
socal78
Well-known member
Chairman, I've had mine (enamel coated cast iron) 2 years w/ no grey marks but I have had them on other white sinks in the past. The sink rack has been a life saver! No utensils or pots / pans come into contact with the sink! It keeps everything up & off it. I wash heavy cast iron pans in mine with no problems. (They can not go in the dishwasher.) I use toilet bowl cleaner with bleach to keep it white.
Imo, I wouldn't care as much about the material as I would the style. I'd go with anything as long as it had some of the features I like: single basin, offset drain, etc. Then I'd pick whatever looks best with the kitchen or the other way around - I designed my kitchen around my sink. Good luck choosing.
Imo, I wouldn't care as much about the material as I would the style. I'd go with anything as long as it had some of the features I like: single basin, offset drain, etc. Then I'd pick whatever looks best with the kitchen or the other way around - I designed my kitchen around my sink.
Good luck choosing.
socal78
Well-known member
irvinehomeowner said:
You're right. Frankly, most of the men I've known in my life have a big belly. They put their belt way below their navel, under the gut, with the muffin top above. The only people who wear it at navel level or above are women, Steve Urkel, and old grandpas with their pants hiked up under their armpits.
ZeroLot
New member
Did anyone go with a full kitchen back splash? Was it worth it?
I'm debating whether to upgrade to full granite back splash or to just leave it alone as is. Touch decision.
I'm wondering if going with the standard granite as a full backsplash would look ugly? But then I don't want to look cheap and go full tile backsplash.
I'm debating whether to upgrade to full granite back splash or to just leave it alone as is. Touch decision.
I'm wondering if going with the standard granite as a full backsplash would look ugly? But then I don't want to look cheap and go full tile backsplash.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
@zerolot:
I think it depends on how much backsplash space you have, what kind of granite and what kind of cabinets to determine if you should go full.
I always felt that granite countertops with a different type of backsplash looked better because it broke up the space.
I think it depends on how much backsplash space you have, what kind of granite and what kind of cabinets to determine if you should go full.
I always felt that granite countertops with a different type of backsplash looked better because it broke up the space.
