So, our sink arrived! Or at least, what will become our sink once its base is built. As you may have noticed from the image, its not really a sink. Its a basin. A deep enamelled metal basin.
As many prospective vanlifers do, we've spent months following other van conversions happening on social media, watched the videos, seen the inspirational Pinterest posts and again, come to the conclusion we wanted to keep it basic!
We actually viewed a couple of 'finished' vans before deciding to build our own. One of the ones we viewed had a super cute ceramic sink installed, the type you might find in a modern WC where space is limited. They look neat and clean, but noooo. Just no. We happen to live in a cottage which currently has one of those sleek micro sinks, and I'll say now - it's not fit for purpose. Filled to the brim, it holds about three inches of water - at the deepest point. Most of the sink is sides in fact. If you want to wash in it, or clean anything bigger than a teaspoon get ready for it to over spill or be satisfied with filling it up two about two inches max. The only way they really work is if you don't actually want to fill them. Washing hands under running water is what they're only really useful for. In a tiny WC that's probably all they're needed for. (Ours is actually installed in the homes only shower-room, and had it been our house we would have chosen something better! but the joys of renting!)
So, something deeper was needed. We also decided that we wouldn't have a fixed sink, as we don't intend on having it plumbed in. I wanted the flexibility of using the space many ways and a basin that we can use inside or out, that can be put on the counter when I wash my hair, or on the floor when I fancy a foot spa was more important than the convenience of running water in a fixed spot. It is also deep enough to hand-wash wash clothes if necessary. We will also have a basic portable shower that we will set up when we want to use it and pack it away when not, so its not our only means of staying clean and hygienic.
The basin is seven inches deep and 15 inches across, and very light compared to a ceramic sink, so keeping our weight down was also a consideration. It also fits with the vintage aesthetic of our interior. It will be stored in a hidden, multi-use cupbored, which I'll talk about in a future post. That particular unit will not only hold the sink, it will also provide an extra 2ft of sleeping leg-room for Mike, who is 6' 4, a tiled counter-top, and some additional storage! It is also worth pointing out that our conversion is in a MWB Sprinter. We don't have that extra few feet of length to indulge in a 'proper' kitchen area. Especially when you also consider that our counter-top is also home to our woodburner and gas hob!
I will post updated photos to our socials as we get its cupboard built to house it, but that was a little intro to our £30 ebay sink, and why we chose it over a conventional one!
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