Pink Basins

Pink basins buying guide

A pink basin adds a soft, warm colour to a vanity. This page holds pink basins from Caroma, Eight Quarters, ADP and Timberline: matte pink fine fire clay, blush and plum concrete, and a pink ceramic round. They come above counter, inset, under or over counter and wall hung, in round, oval and pill shapes. The guide below covers the shades, how the colour is made, how to care for it, the sizes, and the tap hole and waste lines to read. Each fact below is attributed to a listing or a stockist guide.

The shades

The shades on the page are matte pink on the Caroma Liano II, blush on the Eight Quarters concrete basins, plum on the ADP Norma and Jean concrete basins, which the listing describes as a neutral plum, and pink on the Timberline Allure. A stockist guide describes pink basins as ranging from delicate blush to deeper rose, so a search for a blush pink basin or a pink sink lands in the same group. A stockist guide adds that pink suits powder rooms, ensuites and guest bathrooms, where a small area of colour does the most.

How the colour is made

The Caroma Liano II basins are hand cast and finished with the application of colour, so each basin is unique and the colour varies from the images. The Eight Quarters concrete basins are pre-sealed and need no further treatment, though the listing recommends a wax polish every 6 months to keep the original appearance. The ADP concrete basins are described as tested and sealed for resistance to stains, water absorption and cracking. Since the colour is part of the material in each case, look closely at the listing photos and treat them as a guide to the shade, not an exact match. See concrete basins and ceramic basins.

What pink pairs with

Stockist guides suggest brushed brass, gunmetal or matte black tapware for a balanced look, and timber or terrazzo benchtops to add warmth. A guide to choosing basins advises keeping the basin finish consistent with the tapware and accessories, so decide the metal finish with the basin colour. The Timberline Allure pink basin has a matching Allure basin waste in pink, and the other listings sell the plug and waste separately. For neighbouring colours see green basins, grey basins, matte white basins and black basins. For a pink vanity, see bathroom vanities.

Choosing a pink: blush, rose, plum or terracotta

The listings name four families on this page: matte pink on the Caroma Liano II, blush on the Eight Quarters concrete basins, plum on the ADP Norma and Jean, and pink on the Timberline Allure. Trade articles on coloured basins sort colours by mood. Soft pastels read as calm, bright tones as bold and modern, and dark tones as dramatic, and a dusty or champagne pink concrete circle basin is one of the examples a retailer gives. Rosy pinks are said to look good against creams and off-whites, and a warm-toned neutral counter is suggested as a complement. One retailer describes its red clay basins as an earthy terracotta shade that grounds and warms modern schemes. Those are stylistic opinions and not tests.

Plum is a different proposition from blush. The ADP listing calls the plum of the Norma and Jean concrete basins a neutral plum, and one trade guide says dark basins suit black fixtures while light basins suit brushed brass. The Timberline Allure pink is a thin-rim ceramic round, and the Liano II pinks are fine fire clay with the colour applied by hand. The practical consequence is that the same word, pink, covers a hand-applied glaze, a coloured concrete and a ceramic round, and the care differs between them.

Tapware for a pink basin

The tapware guides cluster around warm metals. One says a pink basin stands out against gunmetal or brushed brass taps. Another lists brushed brass, gunmetal or matte black as balanced choices. A third says chrome works best with dusty pinks, with gold fixtures suiting pink terrazzo, and another source says chrome keeps a pink and grey bathroom crisp. A retailer suggests brushed bronze tapware or a solid timber vanity for a natural look that softens the design, and a Scandinavian pairing of a pink basin with light wood and white accents. The one rule they share is that the tapware should complement the basin and not match it, because colour-matching taps to a basin rarely works.

The tap still has to suit the mounting. Most pink basins on this page are above counter basins with no tap hole, which take a tall bench mixer or a wall mixer. Two tap guides say the spout should clear the rim by about 100mm to 150mm and the water should land at or slightly forward of the drain centre. For reference, two tall mixers on the store list a spout height of 216mm with a reach of 170mm, and 244mm with a reach of 180mm. Neither was tested with a pink basin, so check the reach against the drain before the bench is drilled. See basin mixers.

Keeping the room quiet around a pink basin

The trade guides agree on restraint. Keep the rest of the room simple, with neutral tiles, understated accessories and subtle tapware, so the basin stays the focal point. One source warns that if a bathroom already has a bright tile, bold tapware, or dark grout around a busy tile pattern, a coloured basin might be a step too far. Another says to match the basin to the walls or tiles for a tonal look, or to contrast it for a focal point. A pink basin in a powder room or an ensuite, where a small area of colour does the most, is the case the stockist guide gives.

Looking after a pink concrete basin

The Eight Quarters blush and ADP plum basins are concrete. The Eight Quarters listings say the basins are pre-sealed and need no further treatment, with a wax polish every 6 months to keep the original appearance. The ADP listings say the concrete basins are tested and sealed for resistance to stains, water absorption and cracking. General concrete guides add three points. Concrete is porous, and a sealant is applied to reduce deterioration and keep water out of the pores. That sealant is not permanent and may need renewing every few years, depending on use and exposure. And if stains start to appear, the sealant may have worn.

The cleaning rules are the same as for other concrete. Use a mild dishwashing soap, which is generally pH neutral, and avoid abrasive and acidic cleaners. A pH neutral cleaner is also recommended for coloured concrete to prevent dirt build up that can lead to colour degradation. Sunlight is a factor for colour: if left in direct sunlight a coloured concrete basin may change colour over time, and sealers with UV inhibitors help protect the pigment. That applies to a blush or plum basin beside a window. Coloured concrete commonly stains from oil spills, leaf tannins, UV exposure and lack of sealing. None of these sources addresses hair dye or make-up on a pink concrete basin, so ask the supplier for the maker's recommendation and test any product on a hidden area first. Do not leave hot water standing in the basin, because the basins are designed for washing and not soaking.

Looking after the pink ceramic

The Liano II and Allure pinks are ceramic. Maker care text says to wipe ceramic with a soft cloth and a weak non-abrasive detergent, dry any spills, and avoid scourers, because a scratch in glazed ceramic cannot be repaired. The Liano II listings say the colour is hand applied and varies from the images, so test any stronger product on a hidden area. The vinegar that a vitreous china care sheet recommends for limescale suits glazed ceramic and would harm the sealer on a concrete pink, so check the material line before cleaning. One supplier of ceramic basins warns that ink, make-up and hair dye may stain the surface and says to wipe them up quickly, which is worth knowing for a basin in a powder room.

Bowl volumes and sizes in pink

The listings give most of the volumes. The Liano II pink basins list 9.7 litres for the 400mm round above counter basin and 7.5 litres for the inset. The 530mm pill lists 11.9 litres above counter and 10.3 litres as an inset basin. The 580mm pill under or over counter basin lists 6.7 litres, the 440mm round 4.9 litres and the hand wall basin 2.7 litres. The Eight Quarters blush circle lists 10.2 litres and its Mini Pod 7.5 litres, the ADP Jean lists 8.5 litres, and the ADP Norma lists 11 litres on one line and 10.5 litres on another. The Timberline Allure pink listing gives no volume and describes a 360mm radius, which has to be read as the overall width. Capacities can be measured to the rim or to the overflow, so compare like with like.

What the pink sources do not say

No independent source tests a pink glaze or a pink pigment over time, the colour guides are retailer and trade advice, and none of the sources covers hair dye on a pink concrete basin. One trade article page was blocked, and no independent review of the pink basins turned up. Ask the supplier for a finish sample where one is offered, and check the finish description on the product page.

Heights and clearances for a pink bench basin

Most of the pink basins sit on the bench, so their height adds to the bench height. The Eight Quarters circle is listed at 125mm high and the Mini Pod at 120mm. A vanity guide gives floor-mounted vanities at 850mm to 900mm and wall-hung vanities at 800mm to 900mm, with a depth of 460mm to 550mm, and a UK guide offers 800mm to 850mm to the rim. Accessible guidance puts the rim at 800mm to 830mm. A renovation guide says a vessel bowl of 150mm to 180mm puts the rim at about 1,000mm or higher on a standard 850mm vanity. It calls that awkward for children, so the lower pink basins are the safer choice where a child will use the basin. Measure the basin height from the listing, add it to the bench height and compare the total with the rim you want.

Fitting the Liano II pinks

The Caroma guidance for its own basin ranges says to use the template supplied with the basin for the cut-out, an acetic cured silicone sealant to secure it and no epoxy type glues. The Liano II hand wall basin follows the Caroma wall basin method: a fixing kit that bolts to the finished wall, with fixing centres in a stated range, and a 40mm trap. The wall needs a support beam between the studs, with noggins added before the wall is sheeted. The listings say the Liano II is supplied with a matching ceramic pop-up plug and waste, and the maker sheets say to tighten a ceramic basin's waste by hand only, with a foam washer under the waste neck sealed with neutral cure silicone. Water connections need a licensed plumber.

The concrete pinks need a 32mm waste sold separately. The Eight Quarters listings say a matching waste is available, and the Timberline Allure pink has a matching waste in pink, added from the product page. Choose the waste before the basin arrives.

Mounting types in pink

The Caroma Liano II comes in pink as a 400mm round above counter basin, a 530mm pill above counter and inset basin, a 400mm round inset basin, 440mm round and 580mm pill under or over counter basins, and a hand wall basin. The Eight Quarters, ADP and Timberline pink basins are above counter basins. A stockist guide says above counter basins are the simplest to install, and that wall hung and semi-recessed styles may need wall reinforcement or cabinetry changes. The makers' installation sheets say wall hung basins need fixing to a support beam fitted between the studs, with noggins added before the wall is sheeted. See above counter, inset, under counter and wall hung basins.

Sizes on the listings

There is no one normal size, so read the listing. The Liano II 400mm round holds 7.5 litres as an inset basin, the 440mm round holds 4.9 litres and the 530mm by 350mm pill holds 11.9 litres as an above counter basin. The Liano II hand wall basin is 530mm by 280mm with a 2.7 litre bowl. The Eight Quarters circle is 390mm by 390mm and 125mm high with a 10.2 litre bowl, and the Mini Pod is 400mm by 280mm and 120mm high with a 7.5 litre bowl. The ADP Jean is a 400mm round with an 8.5 litre bowl and the ADP Norma is a 550mm by 350mm pill with a 10.5 litre bowl. The Timberline Allure is a 360mm round. See round basins and oval basins.

Tap holes, overflow and waste

Nearly every pink basin here has no tap hole, so the mixer mounts on the bench or the wall, and the Liano II hand wall basin has one. A stockist guide says to check the basin's height and reach before pairing it with a wall mounted mixer. See basin mixers. All the pink basins are listed as non-overflow only. The Liano II basins include a matching ceramic pop-up plug and waste. The Eight Quarters listings give a 32mm plug and waste as sold separately, with a matching waste available, and the ADP listings sell the plug and waste separately. Manufacturer installation guides add that a ceramic basin's waste is tightened by hand only, with a foam washer sealed with neutral cure silicone, and that water connections need a licensed plumber. See basin wastes.

Care

Manufacturer care text says to wipe ceramic with a soft cloth and a weak non-abrasive detergent and to dry spills, and that a scratch in glazed ceramic cannot be repaired. For a pink concrete basin, the care rules on the concrete page apply: a pH-neutral cleaner, a soft cloth, no acids, bleach or abrasives, and the wax polish the Eight Quarters listings recommend.

Brands on this page

Browse Caroma basins, Eight Quarters, ADP basins and Timberline basins for the full ranges.

How to choose

1. Pick the shade from the listing photos, allowing for variation in the colour.
2. Choose the mounting type from the bench or the wall.
3. Read the tap hole line and plan a bench or wall mixer, then choose the tapware finish with the basin.
4. Read the overflow and plug and waste lines, because they differ between makers.
5. Check the length, width and height against the bench.
6. Ask the supplier how often the concrete or the hand-applied colour needs attention, and keep the maker's care sheet with the receipt.
7. Check the glaze or sealer for chips and marks before the basin is fitted, since a chip is hard to repair once it is in place.

The bathroom basins page sets pink basins beside the other colours and types.