1. The Worth of Concrete Countertops - Customization Rises
Aesthetic Allure and Realty Investment for Homeowners
From top-dollar houses in the San Francisco Bay Area to sprawling hill residences in the
Colorado Mountain ranges, discriminating homeowners are demanding personalized layouts
and finishes in their cooking areas. Particularly, they are looking to share their individuality as
well as distinct layout preferences with the fast-growing style material of selection-- concrete.
As a matter of fact, concrete kitchen counters have ended up being somewhat of a condition
icon for cooking areas, equaling granite and also other premium countertop surface
alternatives. interesting (August 2004) rated concrete greatest for its "modification" and
"exclusivity" amongst high-end cooking area counter tops.
As a custom product, the quantity of time as well as workmanship called for to generate
concrete kitchen counters places them as the most labor-intensive and priciest amongst
leading counter top materials. Nevertheless, concrete kitchen counters are becoming more
available for those on a small budget plan. The most up to date diy (DIY) trend to captivate
property owners and building contractors is developing your own concrete countertop. This
sensation has actually gained appeal mostly because of Cheng's very successful publication
Concrete Countertops: Style, Kinds, as well as Completes for the New Cooking area and
Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). Inning accordance with Cheng, there is little financial financial
investment in making concrete counter tops, yet the creative gains of working with concrete
abound.
THE SHOWSTOPPER
Progressively, home owners are moving far from the boring, manufactured appearance of
typical kitchen counter surface areas and also choosing concrete for its natural, ageless
charm. And also, the choices for personalizing concrete countertops are limitless: one can
tint, polish, stamp and tarnish concrete or imbed individual items like rocks, seashells and
also fossils into the kitchen counter's surface, adding belief and personality. Practical
functions such as drain boards, soap dishes, as well as trivets could likewise be included to
suit the home owners' own needs and also way of living.
Concrete is slowly ending up being debunked as classically cool and also commercial. In
contrary, this old-time product is warm as well as surprisingly responsive; individuals can not
assist however touch their smooth, refined surface areas. Realty agent Pleasure
Rasmussen, that has just recently sold her mountain home-- a temporary financial
investment home in Boat Springs, Carbon Monoxide-- recounts her visitors' experiences with
concrete: "When I had open houses, site visitors gravitated to the concrete countertops--
many individuals around below have never seen them".
Delight's 2,265 sq. ft. mountain house was custom-made construct by her hubby, Ken
Otterman, along with KJ Otterman, president of Classic Special Custom-made Homes. They
developed pour-in-place concrete counters for the house's kitchen and also three washrooms
using Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand-colored concrete kitchen counters were
brightened smooth, then coupled with natural slate of differing shades-- like charcoal,
corrosion as well as gold tones-- that forms the backsplashes in the kitchen as well as baths.
As a design accent, little rectangular slate floor tiles were contributed to the edge of the
restroom sinks, which offered a distinct detail to the custom-made vanities.

2. When Pleasure as well as Ken decided to sell their house, their investment in concrete
kitchen counters proved its value. "We were able to detail your house $20,000 over market
value, as well as had not a problem marketing it," comments Happiness, while reviewing the
lengthy checklist of upgrades throughout their residence, including knotty pine solid doors,
natural slate wall accents and wood floors. "The concrete kitchen counters were conveniently
one of the most one-of-a-kind as well as impressive of all the finishes. I believe they were a
significant component in adding worth to the house. Around here, all you see in houses are
granite counter tops-- and I truly believe homebuyers are obtaining fairly numb with granite."
" Concrete countertops are a distinct offering to property buyers that see the very same
coatings made use of in house after home they visit," clarifies Pleasure, providing her
observation as a skilled realtor. "Having concrete counter tops nearly provides you bragging
legal rights-- you have something different from your next-door neighbors."
BREAKING THE MOLD AND MILDEW
One more advantage of concrete is its versatility in either contemporary or traditional setups,
especially when coupled with various other materials like varied steels, timber or stone.
"Concrete adds numerous [opportunities] to stone, and the combination with slate, which is
hugely popular below, offers the mountain homes a total warm, natural touch," states
Pleasure.
Delight as well as Ken have actually because built a much larger residence (4,000 sq. ft.) that
supplies expansive sights of the Boat Ski Resort and is indicated to serve as a lasting
financial investment for the pair. They have actually likewise broadened their listing of
custom-made coatings, including hand-troweled walls, stylish oil-rubbed bronze equipment,
knotty want doors that arch on top, closets in a natural, knotty alder, as well as their favorite--
concrete cooking area countertops.

4. Unlike in their previous residence, KJ as well as his specialized crew poured charcoal-
colored counter tops making use of the pre-cast approach in the unfinished cellar of the
brand-new residence. Before pouring the concrete, they sprinkled a variety of semi-precious
stones in the mold and mildew consisting of Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and
Blue-green. After the surface area was ground and gently brightened, the finished result was
an impressive mix of colors, "Without a doubt, the Mother-of-Pearl was the most incredible,"
says Joy.
The L-shaped concrete countertop has a rough, rustic rock look, enhancing its tough nation
surroundings. An indispensable drain board as well as trivets offers function and also
included interest to the concrete counter top. Natural slate backsplashes, distinctive wall
surface accents, as well as a butcher block kitchen counter at the kitchen island all
reverberate with the traditional heat and earthiness of the concrete counter tops.
Delight as well as Ken's respective backgrounds in real estate and also customized
homebuilding, and as investment buyers, have aided them realize that concrete kitchen
counters can include significant aesthetic as well as economic worth to a home. Concrete's
customization and also "show-stopping" charm resembles no other countertop surface area.
Cheng is an advocate of psychological aesthetics and developing houses that catch these
feelings, as in the case of Happiness as well as Ken Otterman. Cheng concludes:
"Individuals truly want distinction, something individual, something personalized-- and also
concrete can do that for them."
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