Had a similar experience when we redid our bathroom sink. Thought the silicone was off or something because the smell lingered forever. Turns out, just running the exhaust fan for a bit longer after showers helped clear things up. Ventilation really is one of those sneaky things you don't think about until it's an issue... Glad you figured yours out too.
Honestly, ventilation is criminally underrated in home renos, especially kitchens and bathrooms. People get caught up in aesthetics—backsplash, faucets, countertops—but overlook airflow entirely. I've seen clients frustrated by lingering odors or moisture issues, only to realize later that their ventilation was inadequate or improperly routed. If anyone else is dealing with this, check your vent ducts and make sure they're clear and routed outside properly. Makes a huge difference, trust me...
Went through this exact issue last year. Spent ages picking out a nice sink and countertop, thought I had everything covered. But after cooking anything strong-smelling, the odor just lingered forever. Finally checked the vent duct—turns out it was kinked and barely venting outside. Straightened it out, and the difference was night and day. Wish I'd known sooner, would've saved me a lot of headaches (and air fresheners...).
Had a client run into something similar a while back. They'd done a full kitchen remodel, everything looked great, but they kept complaining about lingering smells after cooking. Turns out their contractor had installed the vent duct with a sharp bend that basically choked airflow. Once we straightened it out and made sure it vented properly outside, problem solved. It's one of those things that's easy to overlook, especially when you're focused on aesthetics and layout. Glad you figured it out—bet your kitchen feels way more comfortable now without having to mask odors constantly.
Had something similar happen a couple years ago with a bathroom reno:
- Everything looked spot on, but water drained painfully slow from the sink.
- Turned out the plumber had used a pipe diameter that was slightly too narrow—looked fine at first glance, but functionally it was a headache.
- Swapped it out for the right size and it's been smooth sailing since.
These little details are easy to miss, especially when you're juggling so many other decisions. Glad you got yours sorted out.
