Slippery Rock Gazette

Featuring Soapstone, Granite and More

Steven Schrenk

Above: A stainless steel apron sink will complement Cambrian Black granite countertops.

Above and Below:  This white cast iron apron sink is paired with oiled soapstone countertops featuring a beautifully functional carved drainboard.  Fabrication by Garden State Soapstone

Above: Pair a carved Cambrian granite sink with matching countertops and backsplash for a unified look.

Above: Warm, traditional wood cabinetry and oiled bronze fixtures and hardware goes perfect with a carved granite sink. This stonework is by Stone Age Marble.

Above: Rustic, carved soapstone sink and splash produced by additive (backsplash) and reductive (sink) processes. The combination of the two processes opens up a wide range of design possibilities, including  matching a carved sink with soapstone counters.

Above: Carved soapstone sink and matching countertops

With its distinctive veining, this Old Dominion Alberene Soapstone sink makes a stunning design statement, by itself.

Polycor

Why does the farmhouse sink endure? Is it the sink’s timeless look or it’s ability to hold up to washing babies, dogs and giant spaghetti pots?

I’m going to say both. Perhaps what also keeps the farmhouse sink on trend is the variety of materials and styles it comes in. Farmhouse sinks (or apron sinks) can be crafted out of almost any material - porcelain glazed cast iron, fireclay, ceramic, stainless, composite and even natural stone. For example, fabricators can custom-build sinks from marble, granite or soapstone.

Stainless steel, porcelain and fireclay sinks are all made in molds and on an assembly line, whereas stone sinks are more customized and can be made to fit any size opening.

Glazed Cast Iron Sinks

A white apron sink makes for a crisp, clean tuxedo look against oiled soapstone countertops in a Brooklyn brownstone. The classic white pairs well in modern, traditional and eclectic interiors.

Deep sinks are great for hiding dirty pots and pans, and built-in drain boards (carved right into the soapstone countertop!) maintain practicality, simplicity and high design. 

Carved Granite Sinks

A carved Cambrian Black granite sink and matching countertops and backsplash give a sculptural quality to an everyday space. 

The naturally-occurring  black granite from Canada is one of the most durable natural stones. Also interesting, the sink’s large radius has curved corners so they aren’t as sharp.

 Fabricated in the same granite, the faucet plinth becomes an interesting design feature.

Warm wood cabinetry is the perfect compliment to the deep black tone of a Cambrian Black granite sink and countertops and oiled bronze hardware.  At right is an example of a granite sink carved from a single block of stone by fabricator Stone Age Marble in British Columbia, with custom cabinetry by Jason Good Custom Cabinets.

Soapstone Sinks

Soapstone farmhouse sinks carved from a block of soapstone feel especially rustic, great for country homes or outdoor installations – notably,  if custom carved with ornamentation or artistic motifs. Natural stone sinks can be crafted from individual pieces of stone attached to each other with adhesives (known as an additive process) or carved from a solid block of stone (the reductive process), which can offer a broader range of design possibilities, like the example below of soapstone counters and sink.

Still, in the hands of the right craftsmen and designers, the additive process can result in a stunning sink. Soapstone sinks can have a variety of looks depending on whether they are treated, with oil, enhancer, wax, or left natural. Naturally occurring veining also adds one-of-a-kind character to soapstone sinks that can’t be replicated in other materials.

While some farmhouse sinks are designed to blend in, this one is designed to stand out as a work of art. Clients can shape the character of their own sink by choosing their own slab of natural stone before custom fabrication and even choosing what areas and pieces they want to highlight for the front or interior sections of the sink. Here prominent veining of the Old Dominion variety of Alberene Soapstone makes the sink a focal point in the black and white kitchen.

Finally, farmhouse sinks need not be confined indoors; outdoor kitchens, even potting sinks – the durable nature of soapstone will be right at home.

For more information about the stone varieties discussed in this article, visit www.polycor.com .