HEADQUARTERED IN THE city and manufactured in Cahir, Tipperary, Synk’s colourful concrete basins and shower trays are finding a growing market at home and abroad, MD Claire McCann tells Ruth O’Connor.

What is the ethos of Synk?

The brand came from a love of design and the idea that everyday objects can be both functional and beautiful. We wanted to create something with real design integrity where quality and integrity are core to the business. 

Polished concrete can be cast into any shape and colour therefore Synk products are completely customisable.

Tell us a bit about the origin of the company:

The company owners of Synk had already been making concrete products such as reception desks, kitchen counters, sculptures for about 20 years. About 18 months ago we partnered up to create the Synk brand – Pat and Marie Hally are experts in concrete and terrazzo products and we identified a developing need within the design space both commercially and residentially for utilising terrazzo in bathrooms. Realising that there was space in the market for this type of product offering was the birth of Synk. Our HQ is in Belfast and our manufacturing is in Co. Tipperary which gives us great access to both the European and UK markets.

The Erin sink in green marble terrazzo by Synk.

Tell us more about the demand for custom made products.

We keep a keen eye on what’s going on in the industry and we have a great love of the design elements of a project. We have over 58 different finishes but we also do a lot of custom work – we know that increasingly people want customised products and we knew that we could create those for customers. People really want to add a personalised or unique spin on their space and we are experts at custom manufacturing – we make all of our own moulds so if a design team can draw it we can make it. We do a lot of export to the United States too where design intent is extremely important to clients. 

The company partners with Joyce's quarry in Co. Galway to produce a unique Connemara Marble terrazzo.

Who do you work with?

We work with interior designers and bathroom showrooms in Ireland, the UK, France, the US and Portugal. Clients and interior designers typically come up with concepts and we then develop that for them. We can customise anything from the size, the shape, the colours… that is a massive differentiator for us as a business as is our quality and craftsmanship. We have core ranges but can also customise to the nth degree – whether that’s a custom wall-to-wall vanity or a basin. We always welcome direct enquiries from members of the public too.

Pat Hally in production. While headquartered in Belfast, all Synk polished concrete products are handmade by experts in Cahir, Co. Tipperary.

 What has been the response to your products in Ireland?

It has been overwhelmingly positive. Irish homeowners, designers and architects are increasingly looking for products with personality and longevity but they are also attracted to the fact that our products are made in Ireland and the craftsmanship involved. The Irish market has been extremely positive and we have some specifically Irish products too including our Connemara Marble terrazzo which utilises what is essentially waste marble material from Joyce’s quarry making it a very sustainable option too. It’s a great story for people to have something that is authentically Irish in the bathroom – as seen in artist Cora Murphy’s home on The Great House Revival.

There is increased interest and enthusiasm around using something from a local ecosystem – why look to the European market for such products when there are experts on your doorstep making design-led products made in Ireland. Conversely, in terms of export, clients in the US look to Europe for design-led pieces and authentic craftsmanship and love the fact that our products are handmade in a workshop environment with excellent attention to quality control.

The Cassandre pillar style basin is a sculptural piece in its own right.

What’s the difference between your products and other sinks, basins and shower trays on the market?

The pieces are bold in their form but refined in their finish and designed to elevate the space that they sit in. Mass produced products don’t often have that tactile quality and individuality that make them stand out. Every basin we make is totally unique whether it’s a custom made product or one of our core products because concrete and terrazzo. We mix our terrazzo in Tipperary using marble, quartz, granite and so on – every little piece has its own tactile quality that makes it unique. We are always developing new colours, new finishes, new designs too to keep things fresh. We offer designers as much design freedom as possible – designers want to be able to really push the envelope on what can be achieved in a design. Pieces such as our Cassandre and Gabriel, the pillar basins, are sculptural items in their own right.

Synk’s Twisted range is a highly unique and eye-catching range that is made by mixing two or more different colours of concrete to create a contemporary marbled effect.

What trends are you seeing at the moment? 

A popular colour at the moment is Tuscan Red – an autumnal and natural tone in keeping with the season. We are also seeing great bravery in choice when it comes to terrazzos – people are being brave in their choice of colours and finishes that go beyond a sink being a functional item. Clients are also loving our Twisted range which has a marbled effect and which is a great way to pick up on the different tones used elsewhere in a bathroom scheme.  Our terrazzo sinks are also in keeping with the resurgence in popularity of the material as well as in all things Sixties and Seventies. 

Synk basins and shower trays are available in over 50 shades and terrazzo styles and are carefully sealed within and without to withstand years of use.

 What about the functionality of the product?

We use a superior sealant on our basins and the material is impregnated into the concrete so that the water flows away – we are ahead of the curve in this regard. 

The circular Clarice basin comes in a wide range of colours and is perfect for a bathroom or powder room.

How important is collaboration to what you do?

Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We work closely with designers and architects to ensure our products compelement their vision. The best results come when we push boundaries together. 

A new Synk showroom will open in October on Belfast's Lisburn Road.

What’s next for Synk:

Aside from continuing to expand our range and reach, we are just about to open a new showroom/ studio space where designers can come to see and feel the products – we’ll have a huge range of products on display. We want to afford a space to designers where we can develop their designs and come up with custom products. It’s not a shop that’s open to the public but we are delighted to take enquiries from members of the public anytime and we’ll point them in the right direction.

The Poiret sink in watermelon from the Pop collection which contains a wide range of bold colour choices.

Address Book: 

Website: synkconcrete.com

Instagram: @synkconcrete