Make a statement
It’s easy to take your bathroom sink for granted. The water always flows out when you turn on the tap and only really requires our attention when it gets blocked. Stefan Warnaar of Crete Basins says it’s time to let your sink take centre stage.
Sinks or basins are increasingly becoming a fashion statement that can tie together a bathroom or kitchen, incorporating both form and function equally. That is certainly the view of Stefan Warnaar, owner of Crete Basins, whose aim is to create beautiful, durable and unique basins.
Made out of concrete in Christchurch, New Zealand, the basins are cast in any shape and set as hard as stone. The look is ‘old-school’, organic and textured, giving a beautiful, sustainable product. Due to the manufacturing process, there may be minor imperfections in the colour and texture or small air bubble holes in the concrete, but this does not affect its structure or performance.
“Customers often describe the basins as having a rustic simplicity or an understated elegance,” says Stefan. “I think the textured appearance with the Mediterranean palette gives the basins a fantastic beauty.”
We have seen an incredible amount of variety in the kitchen and bathroom basin market over the last few years. With multiple styles, shapes and materials on offer, it’s all about creating a statement look.
“The pure rectangular shape is very much in style right now, with bathrooms becoming less ornamental and more about simplicity,” says Stefan. “Interior designers love these basins, as they are simultaneously creating a look that is both stylish and timeless. Anything that has an emphasis on natural materials is definitely a winner.”
Stefan hand makes the basins using safe, non-toxic and sustainable materials. It’s a multi-step process that takes about four weeks to complete. The pigments that go into the cement come from the soils in France, and the sealant is water-based and completely food-safe.
The four shapes of the basins (round, oval, square and rectangular) mean there is much versatility in this range. Despite its unique look and feel, the waste hole fits most standard size waste traps. Crete Basins is also open to making custom-coloured basins, to match as close as possible to examples or pictures that you may have. It’s this unique speciality that makes Crete basins stand out from the crowd.
Always looking to expand the range, Stefan has plans to make a small powder room basin and a kitchen butler’s sink in the coming months.
Crete Basin’s range of products are available to view at Unico on Victoria Street, Christchurch.
027 753 6764 | cretebasins.co.nz
