There’s so much to consider when beginning to plan out your kitchen renovation: Cabinets, counters, backsplash, hardware, appliances, even the floors! And once you’ve made material decisions, everything has to be meticulously measured correctly, then remeasured and reconsidered (again, again, and again) well ahead of install day. How many inches wide is your fridge? Did you remember to order toe kicks? The right amount of tile? Faucets cost HOW much?? 

Included in the laundry list of details that need to be decided ahead of ordering and installing your new kitchen: what type of sink you’ll purchase. We have permanent membership to the Farmhouse Sink Fan Club. While the deep basin and front face add to any style kitchen’s aesthetic, there are things to consider ahead of pressing go on your reno orders. We tapped Lauren Thompson, a BOXI by Semihandmade Account Specialist, to share her expertise on everything but the kitchen sink (we’re kidding—literally just the kitchen sink ordering process). Keep reading for three commonly asked questions, answered. 

Should I have my sink picked out before I decide on a cabinet base for my sink?

Your exact sink? No. The style? Yes. 

Lauren says, “You will have to know what type of sink you want to purchase (undermount, apron/farmhouse, vessel, etc.) so that it aligns with your sink base cabinet construction. Plus, it will save you time and money on install day if the sink and cabinet work together in harmony!”

If you need some inspiration, we recommend perusing the Semihandmade Instagram to explore various designs and styles. 

Are sink cabinets different from regular cabinets?

First-time renovators, we got you. The short answer is: yes.  

“Apron sink cabinets are special because the top portion of the cabinet will house the extended sink basin, and the doors are intentionally shorter than the cabinet frame to fit below the apron sink,” says Lauren. 

BOXI by Semihandmade has one base cabinet designed to fit apron or farmhouse sinks. “It takes out a lot of the guesswork and hacking normally needed with other cabinetry lines,” says Lauren. The cost will set you back around $60-80 more, as there are more pieces involved. IKEA offers the same, with sizes including 24”, 30”, and 36” wide—Semihandmade makes fronts sized to fit those cabinets. The smallest option has one door, the larger two are compatible with two doors. 

What if I change my mind after ordering?

Listen, it happens!

Do we think you should abandon your farmhouse sink dreams? Definitely not. But if it happens, Lauren says, “You can always cut down the filler piece on-site to adjust it perfectly to your sink’s dimensions if you decide to size up or down in the process.”

If you order a cabinet sized for a farmhouse sink and decide to go undermount instead, you will still be able to build your way to a solution. “With the BOXI line, apron sinks come with a 10″ trim piece and 20″ high doors. If you have a change of heart and decide to go with an undermount sink, the sink’s look will be fascia with two doors.”