Green basins buying guide
A green basin brings colour to a vanity without a full colour scheme. This page holds green basins from Caroma, Fienza, Bao and Timberline: matte green fine fire clay, sage concrete, a dark green and textured ceramic basin, and a mint round. They come above counter, inset, under or over counter and wall hung, in round, pill, oval, arch and rectangular 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.
The shades
The shades on the page are matte green on the Caroma Liano II, sage on the Fienza concrete basins and mint on the Timberline Allure. The Bao Round has a textured, speckled matte white exterior and a smooth dark green interior, a British racing green. Green basins run across a wider spread, from sage and olive to forest, emerald, mint and teal, so a search for a sage green basin or an olive green basin lands in the same group. Whichever shade you choose, a close look at the product photos is worth the time, because the finish varies.
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 appearance varies from the images. The Fienza concrete basins may also vary from their images because of the high colour variation in concrete. In concrete the colour is part of the material, the pigment runs through the whole basin, and minor batch differences are possible. Both the hand finished ceramic and the concrete vary from the photos, so treat the photos as a guide to the shade, not an exact match. See concrete basins and ceramic basins.
Materials in green
The Liano II is fine fire clay, which is much more resistant to impact, with a thin rim and a smooth, stain-resistant, non-porous surface. The Fienza Jada, Alba, Blanca and Valentina are concrete with a food-grade nano sealant. The Bao Round is ceramic with a concrete-like exterior and a smooth interior, and the Timberline Allure is a ceramic round with a thin rim. For stone looks, see stone basins.
Caring for a green basin
A matte finish is easy to maintain, and mild soap and water keeps it looking its best. Wipe ceramic with a soft cloth and a weak non-abrasive detergent and dry spills. For a green concrete basin, keep hot objects off the surface and avoid prolonged direct sun, which helps the earthy tones stay vivid. The care rules on the concrete page also apply: a pH-neutral cleaner and no acids, bleach or abrasives. Dry the basin, the tap and the surround after use, because a mould mark on a green surface is easy to miss and a dry basin does not grow one.
What green pairs with
Gunmetal or matte black tapware gives a balanced palette, and green pairs with white, black, natural wood tones and metallic accents. Keep the basin finish consistent with the tapware and accessories, so decide the metal finish with the basin colour. For black fittings, see black taps and black basins, and for neighbouring colours see grey, pink and matte white basins. For a green vanity, see bathroom vanities.
Mounting types in green
The Caroma Liano II comes in green 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 Fienza Jada and Alba concrete basins are above counter, and the Fienza Blanca and Valentina are wall hung. See above counter, inset, under counter and wall hung basins. Wall hung basins need fixing to a support beam fitted between the studs, with noggins added before the wall is sheeted.
Basin sizes
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 and holds 2.7 litres. The Fienza Jada round is 390mm across and 120mm high with a 10 litre bowl, the Jada pill is 600mm by 280mm, and the Alba is 362mm across and 145mm high with a 7.2 litre bowl. The Fienza Blanca wall hung basin is 650mm by 300mm and 200mm high with an 8 litre bowl, and the Valentina fluted arch is 465mm by 360mm. The Bao Round is 370mm by 370mm and 135mm high with an 11 litre bowl, and the Timberline Allure is 360mm. See round basins, pill shape basins and fluted basins.
Matching the tapware to the green
The tapware should follow the undertone of the green. Warm emerald and khaki greens pair with brass or gold, and cooler, muted greens suit chrome or brushed nickel. Sage is the most popular green for bathrooms, and brushed brass, brushed copper or matte black sit well with it. Olive is a warmer cousin of sage that goes with timber vanities and brushed brass. Emerald is strong and polished, especially beside brass tapware, stone, fluted glass or warm timber. A matte black mixer sharpens the edges of a green scheme, while brushed nickel or brass warms it.
One rule is worth repeating: do not try to colour-match the taps to the basin, because it rarely works, and choose a tone that complements or frames the basin colour instead. That fits the sage, mint and dark green basins on this page, which sit best with a neutral or metallic tap. Keep the metal finish consistent across the basin mixer, the shower and the accessories. See black taps and basin mixers.
Fitting a green concrete or ceramic basin
The ceramic greens follow the ceramic fitting rules. Tighten a ceramic basin's waste by hand only, with a foam washer under the waste neck sealed with neutral cure silicone, and use a licensed plumber for the water connections. The Bao Round needs a plug and waste sold separately and has no tap hole, so it suits wall mounted or tower basin mixers. The Timberline Allure mint has a matching mint waste. The Fienza concrete basins need a 32mm non-overflow waste that is not included.
For the bench, the above counter greens need a flat, fully supported surface, and a tall mixer or wall mixer with the spout clear of the rim. Two tall mixers in the store have a spout height of 216mm with a reach of 170mm, and 244mm with a reach of 180mm. Floor-mounted vanities run at 850mm to 900mm and wall-hung vanities at 800mm to 900mm, with a depth of 460mm to 550mm. Add the basin height to the bench height and compare the total with the rim height you want.
Looking after the green ceramic
The Liano II, Bao and Allure greens are ceramic. 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. Water and a damp cloth are enough day to day, and household vinegar removes limescale. Harsh chemicals of the bleach type damage the chrome on overflow caps and the rubber seals in wastes. The vinegar advice is for glazed ceramic only, and it would harm the sealer on a concrete green, so check the material line first. The Liano II colour is hand applied, so test any stronger product on a hidden area before using it on the visible surface.
Fixing the Liano II greens
Use the template supplied with the basin for the cut-out, an acetic cured silicone sealant to secure it and no epoxy type glues. For the hand wall basin, the D.200 fixing kit bolts to the finished wall, with fixing centres in a stated range, and a 40mm trap. Wall hung basins need a support beam between the studs, with noggins added before the wall is sheeted, so decide the basin before the wall is closed in. The Liano II is supplied with a matching ceramic pop-up plug and waste.
Tap holes, overflow and waste
Nearly every green 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. See basin mixers. All the green basins are non-overflow only. The Liano II basins include a matching ceramic pop-up plug and waste. The Fienza basins need a 32mm non-overflow waste, which is not included. The Bao is sold with the plug and waste separate, and the Timberline Allure pairs with a matching Allure basin waste in mint. A ceramic basin's waste is tightened by hand only, with a foam washer sealed with neutral cure silicone. See basin wastes.
Choosing a green for your room
Start with the room's light. A north-facing room with warm light flatters olive, sage and mint, while a bright, cool room shows emerald and dark green at their strongest. Then choose the material: matte green fine fire clay for an even, easy-wipe surface, or sage concrete for a soft, mineral look that varies across the bowl. Then choose the shape for the bench: the Liano II pill for length, the Jada round or the Alba for a short bench, the Blanca or Valentina for a floating wall basin. Last, choose the tap, with brass or gunmetal for warmth and chrome for a cooler scheme. Settling these four in order keeps the colour a decision, not a gamble.
Brands on this page
Browse Caroma basins, Fienza basins, Bao basins and Timberline basins for the full ranges.
How to choose
- Decide between a ceramic green and a concrete green, and allow for colour variation in both.
- Choose the mounting type from the bench or the wall.
- Read the tap hole line and plan a bench or wall mixer, then choose the tapware finish with the basin.
- Read the overflow and plug and waste lines, because they differ between makers.
- Check the length, width and height against the bench.
The bathroom basins page sets green basins beside the other colours and types.
