The Short Answer
A farmhouse sink (apron-front sink) has a large, deep single or double basin with the front face of the sink exposed rather than hidden behind a cabinet door. The exposed apron is typically 8-10 inches tall. The design comes from traditional farm kitchens where a large single basin was practical for washing produce and large cookware. Farmhouse sinks require a modified base cabinet — the cabinet must be cut to accommodate the apron front, and the sink is either undermounted to the counter or sits directly in the cabinet opening. Most kitchen cabinet manufacturers offer compatible base cabinet configurations.