Concrete countertops, recognized first by architects and designers for their aesthetic potential and project versatility, are fast becoming the answer to homeowners� demands for a relatively inexpensive countertop alternative that doesn�t require a high-level of expertise to install. In addition, they offer homeowners an exciting opportunity to literally try their hands at being creative. Step-by-step books, videos and hands-on training are now readily available for homeowners to confidently engage in such do-it-yourself (DIY) projects as building concrete countertops.
With the completion of the project and the creative work done, Chris and Ali admit that their biggest challenge was building the concrete forms. �Particularly for the sink cut-out, which has radius corners and two different size basins,� says Chris.Chris and Ali took special note that despite the tight working space of their basement, their collaborative work ran smoothly from pour to finish. �Like the rest of our remodeling project, building the concrete countertop brought us closer together,� says Chris. �We work very well together. It starts from the fact that we communicate very well and our design ideas complement each other.�Chris happens to be no stranger to concrete: �My interest goes back several years when I was building restaurants and retail spaces. I installed concrete countertops and worked with concrete artisans doing integral color and stained concrete floors.�1. To give your cabinets a special flair, use three different stains. Use one lighter stain on the upper cabinets, one slightly darker on the drawers and an even darker one on the bottom cabinets. Add a little pigment in a primary color (red, blue or yellow) to add an additional dimension and a little *pop.*Despite a couple of minor learning curves, Chris maintains that there is an overwhelming sense of accomplishment upon completing their concrete countertop. �The best part is seeing and feeling the finished product and knowing we did it!� It�s been said that if a couple can survive a home remodel � especially a DIY project � together, they can survive anything.Chris and Ali agree that the most interesting addition to the kitchen is the concrete countertop. The couple�s instructional guide and source for design inspiration was award-winning designer Fu-Tung Cheng�s Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath (Taunton, 2002), a national bestseller in the remodeling and design genre.3. Want to update your backsplash? Use beadboard! Have your local home improvement store cut it to length and attach with nails or adhesive.5. Update your cabinets with special memories. Attach frames painted or stained to match the cabinets to the front of each door. Fill the frames with family photos or your children*s artwork. Or highlight a special collection such as vintage handkerchiefs or postcards.The finished countertop is a visually stunning work surface with rich, complex colors: reddish-brown with flecks of semi-precious Leopardskin (yellow and black) aggregates. �This particular color combination blended perfectly with the color theme we had for the cabinetry, tile backsplash, floor and wall finishes,� says Ali.So many times people spend a wad of money renovating a room and neglect to take the lighting into consideration. Properly placed lighting of the correct type can literally make or break a room. That tile backsplash can be brought to life with some low voltage linear lighting. The china in those glass door cabinets can really show itself off with some puck lights and glass shelves.When you carefully plan that next renovation project or new home be sure the lighting is well planned out as well.Married couple Chris and Ali were excited to take on a DIY project after purchasing their San Francisco flat. A logistical real estate developer/construction manager and an educational specialist, Chris and Ali are also architecture and home design enthusiasts. With a penchant for getting their hands dirty, building and installing their own concrete countertop seemed a natural choice for them.
From the looks of a job well done on their first concrete countertop, these happy do-it-yourselfers are in it for the long haul. Chris says of future projects, �We plan to create a concrete fireplace surround and perhaps a hearth to go with it!�
Author: Deborah Meyer
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