E83 - Basins - Bathroom Design Essentials

In this episode of Your Forever Home, Frances has guests Cathryn Matchett and Trisha Narde from Reece Bathroom Life to discuss different types of basins available and when one may be more suitable over another. They chat through different material types along with what to look for in a quality basin. Lots to learn to make good basin decisions.   SHOWNOTES  Types of Basins   Above counter- A popular wash basin that sits above the counter.    Can be used as a featurepiece in your bathroom   They are aesthetically pleasing because it allows you to show off the basin's beautiful design characteristic, colour and palette  They provide more storage underneath  The basin is deeper compared to other basins so are ideal for families   Undermount- Opposite to the above counter basin because the whole basin sits underneath the bench.  Available in different shapes  A clean and simple aesthetic  Doesn't allow a lot of storage underneath  More difficult to clean    Semi inset- Half of the basin is above the counter and the other half is underneath.   Semi Recessed-A wash basin mounted on a furniture unit or worktop.  The rear half of the wash basin is recessed into the top of the unit and all the pipe work can be concealed. The front half of the basin protrudes in front of the unit.  Wall mounted basins- are a great choice for small bathrooms or powder room as they are mounted against the wall.   Washstands- these wash basins are commonly seen in hotels and nightclubs.  They stand on the floor and are all in one piece.     Types of Materials  Steel- has beautiful,fine edges compared to ceramic and available in various different finishes.   Solid surface- made up of crushed minerals mixed with resin. Typically above counter basins are made in solid surface material and it is available in different finishes ranging from matte to gloss.   Porcelain/ Ceramic- these are the traditional materials for basins, and fortunately there have been many technological advancements in ceramic. For instance, Laufen, a swiss manufacturing company, makes ceramic with a mineral found in sapphires soit gives the material a flexural strength, equal to that of steel. It has the potential to have wafer-thin edges.   Concrete Basins- wash basins that are made of cement.   Porous material so it's a little bit difficult to clean.   If not properly sealed, it could stain and discolour.      Types of Colours, Textures and Finishes  Matte Finish- available in solid surface materials  Coloured basins- for cement or porcelain basins.   Ceramic in pottery- For instance,  Robert Gordon creates basins with different types of glazes    Different Buying Criteria  Shape- Rounded shape basins are recommended (such as oval), but you can also buy rectangular or soft square.   Ease of cleaning   Depth of the basin  Which type of bathroom the basin is going into- For instance, typically you would like a beautiful basin in a master en suite, but a more simple option in the main bathroom.      Price points  Undermount basins- approx $300  Above counter basins- depending on material and quality, between $500-550  High quality basins from Laufendepending on their size, between $1,200-1,500  Solid surface- between $550-$700     What's popular at the moment?  Basins that have an Organic shape – eg circle, d-shape    Important links mentioned in the podcast:   Caroma  SaphirKeramik  Reece   Reece is Australia's largest plumbing and bathroom supplies business. Their plumbing and bathroom products are sourced both locally and internationally and can be found in over 600 locations across Australia. Visit their Website here.   Reece Richmond showroom   You can visit the showroom at 641-643 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia.      Services at White Pebble Interiors    Book a Chat    If you're thinking about renovating or creating a new kitchen, Frances would love to hear from you. You can contact Frances by booking a 15 minute chat with her.     Join the "Renovating and Building your Forever Home" Facebook Group    Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.