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Why all sinks are NOT created equal: how to choose yours

By Jen Bishop •

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Sponsored by Buildmat

There was a time when the sink was the last thing you’d put much thought into for your kitchen unless, perhaps, you were opting for a farmhouse-style ceramic butler’s sink over your more common stainless steel option. Single or double bowl might have been as complicated as it got. But oh, how times have changed! It’s not just two options these days; the sink has become a statement! And we’re happy to see it!

But when it comes choosing your fancy new brushed gold, black, gunmetal or terrazzo sink, what makes a good one and how can you confidently buy one online? Emma Johan, from leading Australian sink supplier Buildmat, which recently started supplying the public as well as the trade, filled us in.

All Buildmat’s sinks are designed by their team in Melbourne. “As a brand, we interact directly with the end user and being able to do that allowed us to understand what styles and designs were missing in the market,” she says. “We’ll often see customers compare our sinks with other brands and they realise they can’t pinpoint why but the designs of our sinks just feel better. The secret is that we purposely designed every ratio, size, corner and angle.”

Emma says their regular interaction with the customer keeps their finger on the pulse and inspires new ideas.”That first-hand information always ends up straight back in the product design and innovation.” An example of this is the unique Ella double corner sink which they designed when they realised there was indeed enough demand for it!

Buildmat have an amazing range of kitchen, bathroom and laundry sinks. While they started with sinks, they’ve now branched out into tapware and complementary products like wastes, towel and toilet roll holders.

Terrazzo, marble and brass basin wastes!

What started as stainless steel sinks in 2014, grew to include concrete, ceramic and terrazzo versions. In stainless steel sinks, their colour range spans brushed stainless steel, brushed nickel, brushed gunmetal, brushed brass gold, and brushed copper. It’s quite the candy store! And if you haven’t heard of them it’s because they haven’t been customer-facing, dealing solely with the trade, until their consumer business took off during the pandemic.

They also sell more kitchen sink accessories than you probably knew existed, such as protector grids, drying racks, chopping boards and colanders, in all the colours!

Cutting out the middleman of expensive retailers means Buildmat can offer a higher spec product for less. “Our sinks are manufactured with 1.5mm thick steel whereas the rest of the industry starts from 0.8mm to 1.2mm. The difference is a much stronger, sturdier sink.” And let’s face it, sinks get a lot of use and you don’t really want to have to be careful with them!

Emma agrees that the sink is becoming more about aesthetics and trends as well as function alongside the rise of the island bench. “We’re seeing a lot more stone benches that match throughout the house and as they become more on show, the kitchen sink and mixer become the masterpiece on the stone. We’re also seeing some customers choose bold colours in tapware and sinkware as the statement and having larger, more functional sinks in their butler’s pantry where all the mess is hidden away.”

A terrazzo and a pink concrete basin

We weren’t surprised to hear that the most popular tapware and sink colour for Buildmat is currently brushed brass gold (which I just happen to have in my own kitchen and laundry!). “It’s become really popular in the last few years. It’s a nice contrast to the more natural concrete and stone colours that we find being used in benchtops.”

And if you’re looking for something specific you haven’t been able to source anywhere else, like a brushed brass pullout mixer tap for example (above), the chances are Buildmat has one!

Although buying renovation materials online, sight unseen, is becoming more and more common, Jimmy appreciates many customers still can’t get their head around it and are nervous. His advice is to measure, measure, and then measure again!

“During the process of buying online, your best friend is always the cabinetmaker as they will tell you the exact sizes that you can work with. We find the people who talk to their cabinetmaker and get them to sign off on the sink size and dimensions always have it the easiest. Always listen to their advice as they are real professionals in measuring and figuring out what fits in your space.”

Buildmat is a 100% Australian owned and operated online supplier of building products. Based in Melbourne, they ship nationally, and their team live by the motto that if it’s not a product we would have in their own home, then they won’t be selling it!

For more information and to shop online

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November 17, 2022

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Colour hug, anyone?! A collaboration with design Colour hug, anyone?!

A collaboration with design studio Nexus Designs, this palette from the new @haymespaint colour forecast is perfect for those looking to create a tranquil environment and has a particular focus on darker shades.

“Inspired by the qualities of an intimate reading room, confident and expressive colours such as Florida Everglade have a muted depth that embody this. Balanced and subtle, it’s also invigorating and luscious. Through all over application, paired with contemporary furniture and styling, this colour and the broader palette plays with tactility, translucency, reflection, and form,” says Myra Murtagh of Nexus. 

See the rest of the colour forecast, include collabs with @adairs and TikTok favourites @joshandmattdesign on the blog homepage now, via link in bio.

#haymespaint #colourforecast #painttrends #colourtrends #paintcolours #paintcolors #darkwalls #readingroom #moodywalls #moodyinteriors #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Featuring in a Block "disaster" room nevertheless Featuring in a Block "disaster" room nevertheless paid off for artist @adoni.art 

Slammed for being too small, @kyleandleslie's living room was otherwise praised by the judges for being beautifully styled.

"In terms of using it as a marketing platform it’s been amazing," he said. "Even for people who don’t follow the show it’s validation that they are following an artist that’s levelling up. The exposure has translated to sales, traffic and attention and it’s everything I wanted because I’m about to launch a new collection.”

Read our chat with Adoni and see more of his gorgeous work via link in bio now.

Have you ever bought something you saw on the Block?

#theblockroomreveals #theblock #theblock2023 #affordableart #affordableartaustralia #affordableartonline #australianartist #australianart #livingroomart #livingroomstyle #livingroomideas #smalllivingroom #adoniart #theinteriorsaddict #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #blockshopper
Pink and green should always be seen! From time t Pink and green should always be seen!

From time to time, we stray from our Australian-homes-only rule when we uncover something we really love! This project, by @2lgstudio (and also the interior design duo’s own home) is featured in Ornament Is Not a Crime, a new coffee table interiors book by Sydney-based design writer @rebeccalgross.

Head to the homepage via link in bio to read about this home and see more colourful pictures in an extract.

#2lgstudio #2lg #londoninteriordesigner #londoninteriors #londonhome #londonhomes #brighthome #brightinteriors #funinteriors #colourfulhome #interiordesignersathome #pinkandgreen #pinkandgreendecor #pinkandgreenshouldalwaysbeseen
Real reno: How's this for a luxe bathroom?! Natas Real reno: How's this for a luxe bathroom?!

Natasha from QLD recently finished a major reno of her Queenslander and this is her favourite room of all. We can see why!

She used @beaumont.tiles  Lux Calcutta slabs in gloss the wall and matt for the floor.

 "We have infused a Hamptons style whilst still remaining true to the traditions of old Queenslanders," she said. "Our bathroom is north west facing and captures such great morning light. We wrapped the cabinetry all the way along the vanity for ease of access for the bath, towels and accessories. We tiled all the way to the ceiling to create a more luxurious space. It's my favourite room in the house!"

#ichosebeaumonts #beaumonttiles #tiles #bathroomtile #bathroomtiling #hamptonsbathroom #queenslanderrenovation #queenslanderbathroom #luxurybathroom #australianbathroom #australianbathrooms #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Block kitchen week is always a goodie and we got 5 Block kitchen week is always a goodie and we got 5 very different looks last night which was great!

One question that kept coming up was just how important is the butler's pantry? Love to hear your thoughts. Do you have one? And which was your favourite last night? Please share in the comments.

Head to the blog via link in bio to find out who won and what the judges said. 

#theblock #theblockshop #blockshopper #theblockroomreveals #kitchenweek #kitchenpalette #kitchencabinetry #kitchenstyles
Located in Melbourne’s Elsternwick, this stylis Located in Melbourne’s Elsternwick, this stylish home was renovated recently with @keenarchitecture and @studio_esar at the helm. Brimming with fun, functionality and colour, the home is shared by ex MasterChef contestant Peter Kritikides, his wife Erica and their two children. 

Occupied by the family since 2015, the renovation brief called for a sympathetic yet modern upgrade to the heritage listed original home as well as the demolition and rebuild of the back of the residence.

Want to see the kitchen? Head to the blog via link in bio.

#elsternwick #melbournehome #melbournehomes #masterchefaustralia #masterchefcontestant #masterchefcontestants #chefskitchen #heritagearchitecture #heritagehome #heritagerenovation #monochromehome #colourfulhome #bookshelfstyling #bookcasestyling #colourfulbooks #fireplacedecor #velvetcouch #livingroomstyle #livingroomart
GET THE LOOK. All the finer details of Sunday's Bl GET THE LOOK. All the finer details of Sunday's Block master bedroom walk ins on the blog now.

Which was your fave?

Via latest posts link in bio now.

#walkincloset #walkinwardrobe #walkinrobe #wardrobes #wardrobe #wardrobe #bedroomstorage #masterbedroomdesign #mastersuite #theblockroomreveals #theblock #theblock2023 #kinsman #kinsmankitchens #kinsmanwardrobes #dressingroom #dressingtable
A home that got all its extra special details AFTE A home that got all its extra special details AFTER handover with stunning results!

When Emma Fuller built her family home five years ago, she went with the ‘basic’ package with a view to elevating the spaces in a more budget-friendly manner down the line. Knowing that she couldn’t afford her entire wish list upfront, she made allowances within the plans so that she could add all the special details later.

“Although the builder could have incorporated every detail we asked for, we knew it would have blown our budget, but that didn’t mean I was going to let the dream go,” says @hamptonsinhighfields 

Patience and hard work have definitely paid off and today on the blog we are showing you how she did it from adding a fireplace, bench seat, wallpaper, french doors, a mudroom, built in bookcases, fretwork, kitchen island trim, IKEA wardrobes and more!

Via link in bio now.

#newbuild #hamptonsaustralia #hamptonsnewbuild #fretwork #benchseat #benchseating #fireplace🔥 #fireplacedecor #ikeahacks #diymudroom #mudroom #kidsroomwallpaper #frenchdoors #frenchdoor #hallwaydoors #frenchdoorpantry #butlerspantrydesign #newbuildupgrades
Flatpack definitely doesn't have to be basic or bo Flatpack definitely doesn't have to be basic or boring!

The latest @kaboodlekitchen trends release, in collaboration with stylist @jono.fleming, are anything but. These are just 4 of 6 new colours for the brand, sold in Bunnings.

Head over to the blog via link in bio to see the others (hint: one of them might be pink! 🩷). You'll also find out how to get a free copy of the latest Kaboodle edit magazine sent to you, chock full of inspiring real projects like my navy laundry!

Which of these is your pick? Would you venture outside of a white kitchen? What colour is yours?

#kaboodlekitchen #kaboodlelaundry #kaboodle #flatpackfurniture #flatpackkitchen #bunningskitchen #flatpackcabinets #budgetkitchen #ontrendkitchens #colourfulkitchen #colouredcabinets #kitchencolourtrends2023 #colourtrends2023 #boldkitchen #jonofleming #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #bunningsdiy #heartyourhome #realreno #realrenovations #kitchenbeforeandafter #kitchenonabudget #colourfullaundry #flatpacklaundry
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 10 years. She is mum to two young boys and lives in Sydney.

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