Avenue

Cleaning Up Well

Whether for a powder room or a master suite, sinks & faucets with style can bring a splash of Style to a washroom

By Käthe Lemon
Photography by David Dean and Jared Sych

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As with so many home decor items, sinks and faucets have gone high style in the past few years. Time was the choices for bathroom sinks were between pedestal and mounted options with chrome taps de rigeur. No longer. Now there are myriad options of material and form in both basins and faucets, meaning the problem has changed from lack of selection to knowing how to choose a style that suits your space.

Sally Healy of Sally Healy Design notes you can’t go wrong with polished chrome and white porcelain, but these days, there’s lots of fun to be had. “Consider your architecture and millwork when you make your plumbing selections,” she advises.

“The details should compliment each other. For example, a white square edge sink should have a single whole square profile tap.”

Paul Lavoie of Paul Lavoie Interior Design suggests to his clients they consider the impact they are trying to make with a bathroom and select accordingly. “Is this a glamourous, sexy room or a modern, utilitarian look? Is it masculine or feminine?”

Above all, though, a bathroom needs to be functional. “Consider how you live,” advises Healy. “If you have too many face creams, like me, you’ll need some counter space. Also consider your cleaning habits.

Special finishes, like a platinum sink, require special cleaning treatments.”

Healy and Lavoie have used their sought-after design sense to select eight great combinations of sinks and faucets available in the city for a variety of looks and habits.

Kohler Vintage Lavatory Self Rimming in white, $522 & dornbracht mem 3-hole lavatory mixes in polished chrome, $1,491

The classic undermount oval sink with polished chrome taps reigns supreme. “This is the Kelly Bag combo of bathroom pairings,” says Sally Healy. “Modern or traditional, this is a timeless look.” Paul Lavoie agrees. “Both of these are true classics. They give a nice nod to tradition, but are perfect in any bathroom.”

Granite kitchen sink, $2,700 & kitchen faucet with spray, $724

This substantial granite sink, traditionally used for a kitchen space, has a hammered apron that looks commanding with these industrial-style faucets. “This would be great paired with wooden butcher block countertops for a rustic interior with lots of texture,” notes Healy. While the glossy black finish can be high maintenance, Lavoie says it is worth the extra effort. “I love black sinks and own some myself,” he says. “This sink is rough and ready and could work in either a traditional or modern space.
I like the soft finish of the faucet, but I prefer a single handle for ease of use.”

Glass basin sink, $3,380 & Rocky Mountain wall-mounted faucet, $2,117

The graphic pattern of this glass sink teams well with the hand-forged bronze faucet. “This is perfect for a mountain retreat for a stylish home,” says Lavoie. “The basin is artistic and fun while the faucet gives a stylish nod to an old-fashioned feeling.” Healy agrees. “The textures, finishes and colours play off each other and would be great for a Calgary Craftsman-style home.”

Kohler Kathryn self-rimming sink, $508

With a classic style that harkens back to a bygone era, Kohler’s Kathryn suite is subtly glamourous. “This is my favourite undermount sink,” says Lavoie. “I own it myself in black [it’s available in a huge range of shades]. This is a simple, classic and timeless look.”

Bates & Bates Riatta sink in polished silver nickel, $2,130 & Jado Glance faucet in polished silver nickle, $722  (taller model available for $868)

This silver nickel sink is sure to make a statement in any washroom. Paired with the Glance faucet by Jado, the combination screams high style. “With its sparkle and shine, this sink is the crème de la crème of Wow, and, most of all, it’s not a vessel sink,” says Lavoie. “And the faucet is my favourite. I love the ease of the single lever, it really is a perfect design.” 

Vitraform large oval sink in bronze, $1,746 & Herbeau Pompadour Widespread Lavatory in silver, $2,015

This combination gives a pretty and sexy look, perfect for a room with a more feminine feel. “This sink is smoky and sexy, and even if it is a little hard to clean the toothpaste out of, it’s worth it,” says Lavoie. Healy sees this paired with parrot print wallpaper or cast concrete lace embossed tiles in pewter. “This is a sink dressed like jewellery,” she notes, and the rest of the room should compliment that.

Vintage Stone Birdbath circa 1900, $495 & Kallista-Vir stil basin set in bronze, $1,113

To create a unique look, try using an antique stone or bronze vessel rather than a traditional sink. “This is a suitably fabulous look for a deluxe powder room,” says Healy. Lavoie sees it as the perfect look for a French Country-style home. “I don’t know whether to wash my hands or bless myself. This is a real find,” he says.

Wet Style sink, $1,140 & Citterio lavatory faucet, $1,320
This Wet Style sink is a modern play on old French-style stone washbasins. Made out of a stain-resistant composite material,
it is available in a glossy or matte finish. “This option has less vessel and more block. It is clean, clean and, did I mention, clean,” enthuses Lavoie.