The bright and beautiful new concrete basin collection by Elle + James featuring five washbasin models in 22 different vibrant shades is now exclusively available at Ca' Pietra – we talk to Ca' Pietra creative director Hamish Smith about how this collaboration came about.
Tell us about the partnership with Elle + James and why it was such a good fit for Ca' Pietra
We love to support new British talent, so when we spotted Elle + James on Instagram, we knew we had to contact them. They have a beautiful collection of concrete basins which we’ve shot with our tile and new paint collection, Proper Good Paint to bring to Ca’ Pietra consumers on our website. We’re in the early stages of introducing Elle + James to our network of retailers too.
This trend-setting design duo are the perfect fit for Ca’ Pietra, as Elle + James are ingenious independent British designers who have elevated what is essentially a raw, industrial material and transformed it into a handcrafted thing of beauty. It felt like a very natural partnering.
Are there any particular consumer trends that have prompted you to decide to offer the 'complete package for the home' concept?
During the first lockdown we introduced a free virtual design service for consumers, so that they could be inspired from the comfort of their home, helping them with a virtual mood-board and advising them on the colours, shapes, sizes and patterns of tiles that work together. We had already started working on our new paint collection and just felt that the offering of Elle + James basins slotted in perfectly and would be a wonderful addition to our collection. These consumer leads are then passed to the consumer’s closest showroom to fulfil.
Tell us about the basins and what they offer bathroom designers in terms of flexibility and creativity
Retailers can register their interest to sell Elle + James basins with Ca’ Pietra – I personally love the freedom of creativity that these basins offer. We have five concrete basins in the collection, ranging from an angular, fan-shaped basin with an Art Deco feel, a contemporary shallow basin with a strong rectangular shape and our favourite, a subtle and sophisticated hexagonal basin that combines geometric glamour with timeless appeal.
Are there any particular trends that the basins tap into?
So many! As they’re available in an array of wonderful colours and sizes, the possibilities are endless, so whether a customer wants to tap into the ever-popular trend for a pop of pink, or a nature-inspired green, or perhaps an Art Deco feel, the collection offers it all.
