Design Centre Stories

Meet the Showroom: London Basin Company

Founded by interior designer Anna Callis and her daughter Nathalie, London Basin Company creates richly decorated, hand-made porcelain basins, designed to form the centrepiece of bathrooms and cloakrooms. The epitome of how the bathroom has become a forum for colour, pattern and personal expression just as much as any other room in the house, its basins help turn functional spaces into highly decorative ones; vanity units, taps and accessories complete its portfolio of products. Here, Anna Callis explains why she chose Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour for the brand’s first-ever standalone showroom, and what to expect from new launches coming soon.

What brought London Basin Company to Design, Centre, Chelsea Harbour?
This is our first showroom, and it was something we had been planning for some time. We are regularly asked where our products can be viewed, so we’re excited to finally be opening the doors and meeting our clients in person.

I had always hoped our first showroom would be at the Design Centre: it really is one of the world’s most renowned destinations for interior design. As an interior designer myself I have spent a lot of time here over the years. It has always been one of my favourite destinations to get inspiration.

What should we expect from the showroom?
As an interior designer, I have fully designed the space. We’ve gone for a light and simple/industrial backdrop, so that our products can shine. The showroom is a colourful feast for the eyes; our full collection of basins will be on display as well as our taps, vanity units and accessories and the different finishes available. There is a table where we can meet with clients and discuss their projects.

Why should customers visit in person as opposed to looking/buying online?
To see and touch our products really is the best way to fully experience them. Our in-house team is happy to give advice on projects, whether large or small – we can discuss space, colours, tiles and floors and advise you on the best combination of our products to create luxurious but playful bathroom or cloakroom schemes.

What’s London Basin Company’s design philosophy?
Our philosophy is to take “everyday” bathroom items and create beautiful, one-of-a-kind products. We believe that bathrooms needn’t be dreary or boring. All our products are handcrafted with excellence and beauty in mind.

Is there a ‘hero’ product that you feel encapsulates that philosophy, or a product that’s been a long-standing bestseller?
Probably the ‘Adriana’ basin [pictured below left]. Trends come and go, but the appeal of traditional East Asian design holds an eternal allure which we believe has contributed to the popularity of this basin. One of our favourite places to travel to, East Asia never ceases to inspire us. We love the bold use of colour, intricate details and luxe, maximalist feel associated with this style of design – it really lends itself to handcrafted porcelain basins.

What are the broad trends you’re seeing in your sector of the industry, and how are your collections embracing them?
The rise of boutique hotels – where a new generation of interior designers have so confidently mixed colours, periods, textures and artefacts – is bringing a new “maximalist” definition of luxury to the home. One of the key ways to incorporate this trend into interiors is to introduce statement washbasins, helping to create a focal point within bathrooms and cloakrooms, and bringing a touch of opulence and drama to the space.

What can we expect from the latest collections?
We will be introducing more unique basin designs plus a new collection of lacquered vanity units with in-built storage. The new vanities are very different from our existing range and we can’t wait to share these.

What craftsmanship and innovation goes into London Basin Company’s products?
Our decorative basins are at the heart of what we do. Each one is handmade by skilled craftsman using traditional techniques: the highest quality porcelain is pressed into a mould before being polished, trimmed, dried and smoothed to perfection. A variety of techniques – from hand-painting to engraving – is then used to decorate the basins before they are fired at 1300ºC, up to three times, to maximise their durability. Each product is therefore totally unique.

All our other complementary products – vanities, mirrors, taps, etc – are also expertly handcrafted by our team of artisans.

Is there anything else you’d like the Design Centre community to know about your brand?
We are a mother and daughter team which means we do things differently! We aim to keep things fun and passionate in a professional world.

London Basin Company, First Floor, Design Centre East

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