MOLTEN GOLD – Color Forms

When I was a kid, I played with a creative toy called Colorforms, which let you take whichever bright colors and shapes appealed to you from the box and slap them onto a neutral background.  When Pyrolave's eye-popping yellow sink photo landed in my in-box last week, it brought that colorful play back to mind. 


So many kitchens and bathrooms today are like those Colorforms' blank, neutral backgrounds, begging for some energy, drama, fun...  COLOR!  If you like your sinks with a splash of dash, (and can justify spending lots of cash), Pyrolave's new lava stone offerings might appeal to you, too.




Lava Basics 


Volvic lava stone is extracted from the heart of volcanic craters in Auvergne, France. Engineers imbue the stone with colorful enamels and fire it at temperatures exceeding 1000° C. The finished material is incredibly durable. It’s able to withstand high temperatures and corrosive products, making it ideal for residential and commercial kitchens, bathrooms, tabletops, swimming pools, fireplace facades and outdoor living spaces. 




The Sinks 


The sink models shown here are just a starting point. Designers (and homeowners) can give their imagination full rein as each Pyrolave kitchen and bath sink is a unique creation crafted from their designs.   There are 16 delicious glossy and 16 soft matte colors from which to choose.  

The Pyrolave Brand 


I primarily knew this French firm for its luxurious (and lavishly beautiful) lava stone countertops.  I didn’t know that they also made sinks and architectural products.   Pyrolave is the world’s largest manufacturer of enameled lava stone. Headquartered in France, the company has studios across the world and has been importing its product line to the United States through J. Pauwels LLC since 1993. 


Using self-taught techniques, skilled craftsmen and engineers shape, color and glaze the stone into a finished product line renowned for its beauty and durability. Pyrolave can be found in the finest hotels, luxury resorts and the kind of homes you find in the glossiest magazines. 




The Facts 


Warranty:  No warranty


Pricing:  Starts at $4,500 


Website: pyrolave.com

Three favorite bathroom sinks

Gold Notes celebrates its third birthday this month – woo-hoo! In honor of that milestone, I’m featuring fabulous, fun, favorite “threesomes” throughout July. Here’s the latest, my favorite bathroom sinks.

I’ve been a fan of Native Trails for many years and first discovered them through their bathroom sinks. These sinks are classic and unique. I have two favorites, the Calypso and the Tatra. Here’s the Tatra, which lends itself beautifully to a contemporary or traditional spa bath.




One of the most beautiful aspects of this Waza Noir Cast Iron Vessel Lavatory from Toto really can’t be appreciated online. It has a sensuous velvety texture that has to be touched to believe. Its rustic contemporary style is evident, though. I wish they had a toilet to match for a killer powder room application. I would probably pair it with a stainless wall-mount commode with a black wood seat.



Here’s a new favorite! Kohler introduced its Tresham Suite at KBIS this year and I loved its transitional styling. I could definitely see incorporating this into my powder room redo, or in any traditional or transitional client project. I’ve always liked their Memoirs and Devonshire traditional suites, and the Archer transitional. This is a great addition to the Kohler fixture family!