Otti butler sinks buying guide
The Otti butler sinks here are ceramic sinks with an exposed front: the Otti Hampshire in a 605mm size, the Otti Boston in a 765mm size and the Otti Boston Double in an 845mm size. This page explains what each one measures, what a reversible front means, how a butler sink changes the cabinet, how the sinks are fitted, and what to check before you order. For most kitchens the practical call is to decide the cabinet first. An exposed-front sink needs a cabinet built or cut for it, and the ceramic varies slightly in size, so the cabinet maker should have the sink in hand before the cabinet or the benchtop is cut.
What the Otti butler sinks are made of
The Otti sinks are ceramic, not stainless steel, so a search for a stainless steel butler sink will not find a match here. The wall thickness is 18mm on the Hampshire and the Boston Double, and 21mm on the Boston. Ceramic and fireclay resist scratches, stains and odours, though both are heavy and best handled with care during installation. White shows staining from coffee, tea and red wine more than a darker colour does, and ceramic can sound lively under a running tap, which a mat in the bowl calms.
The three Otti sinks and their sizes
The outer size, the wall thickness and the capacity are:
- Otti Hampshire Butler Sink 605mm: 616 x 465 x 256mm, 18mm thick, 41.6 litres.
- Otti Boston Butler Sink 765mm: 765 x 460 x 255mm, 21mm thick, 46.2 litres.
- Otti Boston Double Butler Sink 845mm: 860 x 462 x 255mm, 18mm thick, 30 litres in each bowl.
The names carry the nominal size of the range, which comes in 530, 605, 746 and 845mm. The outer sizes differ from the names, so the double is called 845mm and measures 860mm overall. Use the outer size and the specification sheet for the cut-out and the cabinet, and not the figure in the name. The waste outlet is 90mm, and the waste is not included and is sold separately, so order it with the sink. See sink wastes for waste options.
Size tolerance and having the sink on site
Allow a size tolerance of 1 to 2 per cent, to allow for shrinking and expansion during the manufacturing process, and have the sink on site before the cabinetry is built and before the benchtop is cut. On a 765mm sink a tolerance of that size is about 8 to 15mm either way, so the cut-out has to be made from the sink in hand and not from the figure on the page. This is the main reason a ceramic sink is ordered early. Choose the sink early, because stone masons often charge for re-cuts, and the plumber, cabinet maker and benchtop installer can then all work from the same sink.
What a reversible front means
Each sink is reversible, with two different facings. The Hampshire has a vertical rib on one face and a box-facing on the other. The Boston and the Boston Double have a vertical rib on one face and a pencil line facing on the other. You choose which face shows at the front when the sink is fitted, so the same sink can be ribbed or smooth. Butler, Belfast, farmhouse and apron-front sinks are the same family. See butler and apron sinks for the wider range and the other makers.
What a butler sink does to the cabinet
A butler sink is not a drop-in replacement for a standard sink. The cabinet front needs a cut-out, the base is larger and deeper, and the cabinet needs reinforcing for the weight. Doors and drawers beside the sink may need custom sizes, and the sink should line up with the neighbouring cabinets. Butler and farmhouse sizes run 610 to 914mm wide, 450 to 600mm front to back and 200 to 250mm high, and the Otti sizes sit within those ranges. The Otti sinks are about 255mm high, which is just above the top of the height range. An apron-front sink sits slightly proud of the cabinets, so water can run to the floor, and sealing the edges matters.
How the Otti sinks are fitted
There are two methods for an apron-front sink. A top-mount sink sits on the benchtop and needs a cabinet built to carry it. An undermount sink is fixed beneath the benchtop and needs support. An undermount sink needs the cabinet cut away before the sink is bought, and is not suitable for wood or laminate benchtops. It needs a waterproof solid benchtop such as engineered stone or granite. Check the specification sheet and the installation notes for the sink you choose, and ask the cabinet maker to plan the support. See undermount kitchen sinks and inset sinks for the two methods in general.
The overflow question
People ask whether a butler sink has an overflow, and practice varies between styles. A butler sink traditionally had the overflow in some patterns and none in others, and the Belfast had a weir overflow while the London pattern was shallower without. Check the specification sheet if you need an overflow. The waste is a 90mm waste, sold separately.
Butler sink or standard sink
A butler or farmhouse sink is limited to a single or a double bowl, has no built-in drainer, is harder to install than a standard sink, and is heavy enough to limit the choice of benchtop. The sink sits slightly proud of the cabinets. Its advantages are the look, the deep bowl and less leaning over the front of the cabinet. If your priority is a drainer beside the bowl, a different sink suits better; see single bowl kitchen sinks.
Drainers, racks and mats
Since a butler sink has no built-in drainer, use the same workarounds as for a single bowl: a drainboard alongside the sink, a colander or rinse basket over the bowl, and a sink grid or protector mat. A dish rack or a drainboard extends the drying area. A mat or grid on the base of the bowl also protects the glaze, since a heavy pot can chip ceramic. The kitchen accessories collection has boards, racks and mats.
Choosing between the three Otti sinks
Choose by the run and the washing. The Hampshire at 616mm and 41.6 litres suits a short run, a butler's pantry or a small kitchen. The Boston at 765mm and 46.2 litres is the all-round single for a household that hand-washes pots and trays. The Boston Double at 860mm gives two 30 litre bowls for a household that washes and rinses at once, on a run of 900mm or more. The Boston has the thickest wall at 21mm, which suits a more substantial farmhouse look, and the Hampshire and the double are 18mm. Pick the facing last, since each sink offers two.
The Otti Essentials 530
The Otti range also includes the Essentials 530, a straight-facing butler basin with a 32mm waste outlet, made for a basin or a utility sink and not for use as a kitchen sink. If you want a butler sink for a laundry, a utility room or a bathroom, the Essentials suits the job, with a smaller waste and a plain face. For the kitchen, choose the Hampshire, Boston or Boston Double, which have the 90mm waste outlet that a kitchen basket waste needs.
Choosing the facing
The two facings give two looks from one sink. The vertical rib is a classic, handmade farmhouse face that suits shaker doors, timber fronts and a traditional or Hamptons room. The box-facing on the Hampshire and the pencil line on the Boston give a quieter, cleaner face that suits flat doors, painted cabinets and a modern kitchen. Decide before the cabinet front is cut, and note which face goes outward when the sink is set, so the installer fits it the way you chose.
The tap
Typical farmhouse sinks have no tap hole, so the tap goes on the benchtop behind the sink or on the wall above it. Check the tap position with the cabinet maker before the benchtop is cut. Pair the sink's size and depth with a mixer of the right reach and swivel, and note that a deep sink may need a taller mixer or a pull-out. The Otti sinks are about 255mm deep, so allow for that in the choice. The kitchen taps collection covers the options.
Single or double
The Hampshire and the Boston are single bowls. The Boston Double has two bowls of 30 litres each, so the pair holds 60 litres. A single bowl suits dishwasher households that rarely wash full loads by hand, large pots and trays, and runs under 600mm. Choose a double if you hand-wash often, prep vegetables or have children who need a separate bowl, and if the benchtop run is 900mm or more. A fireclay sink is typically single bowl only, so a double is a distinct choice. See double bowl kitchen sinks.
Checking the fit
Before ordering, measure what the sink has to fit: the base cabinet's internal width, depth and height and the benchtop cut-out. The cabinet needs to be 70 to 80mm wider inside than the sink, to make room for plumbing and hardware. A butler sink sits in a purpose-built cabinet, so the maker's template and the cabinet maker's plan decide. Where there is a splashback, leave 50 to 100mm between the back of the sink and the wall. Check the manufacturer's minimum cabinet size for the specific sink and not the outer dimensions alone.
Who does the work
A butler sink installation runs across three trades. The cabinet maker builds the cabinet around the sink's size and its support requirement, the benchtop fabricator cuts to the sink and the chosen mounting, and the plumber connects the waste and the water supply once the sink is set. Confirm the sink's dimensions with all three before anything is cut, and lift the sink with two people.
Where to go next
This page covers the Otti butler sinks. For butler sinks from other makers, see butler and apron sinks, and for the main guide to choosing any sink, see kitchen sinks. A kitchen sink is used 20 to 30 times a day, so the size, the facing and the cabinet are worth getting right before you order.
