The Value of Concrete Countertops: Personalization Rises Visual Charm and also Property Investment for Homeowners

1. From top-dollar residences in the San Francisco Bay Area to sprawling mountain homes in the Colorado Mountain ranges, discriminating homeowners are requiring custom styles and also surfaces in their cooking areas. Specifically, they are aiming to share their individuality as well as distinctive style choices with the quick growing design material of option-- concrete. As a matter of fact, concrete kitchen counters have actually come to be somewhat of a standing icon for kitchen areas, rivaling granite and other high-end countertop surface area alternatives. Consumer Reports Magazine (August 2004) placed concrete highest for its "personalization" and "exclusivity" amongst high-end kitchen counter tops. As a custom-made product, the amount of time as well as craftsmanship required ikea countertops butcher block to generate concrete counter tops places them as the most labor-intensive and also priciest amongst leading countertop products. Nevertheless, concrete counter tops are coming to be much more obtainable for those on a moderate budget. The most up to date do-it-yourself (DIY) fad to astound homeowners and also builders is building your own concrete kitchen counter. This sensation has obtained popularity mainly as a result of Cheng's best-selling book Concrete Countertops: Layout, Types, as well as Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little monetary investment in making concrete kitchen counters, yet the imaginative gains of collaborating with concrete are plentiful. THE SHOWSTOPPER Progressively, property owners are moving far from the tedious, manufactured look of conventional counter top surface areas and choosing concrete for its natural, timeless charm. And also, the alternatives for personalizing concrete kitchen counters are countless: one can color, polish, stamp as well as tarnish concrete or imbed personal items like stones, seashells as well as fossils into the kitchen counter's surface area, adding belief as well as personality. Functional functions such as drainpipe boards, soap meals, as well as trivets can likewise be included to match the homeowners' own requirements as well as way of living. Concrete is gradually ending up being demystified as classically cool and also commercial. In contrary, this old- time product is cozy as well as surprisingly responsive; individuals can not help yet touch their smooth, sleek surface areas. Realty agent Pleasure Rasmussen, who has recently offered her hill house-- a temporary financial investment home in Steamboat Springs, CO-- states her site visitors' experiences with concrete: "When I had open homes, site visitors was attracted to the concrete kitchen counters-- many people around right here have actually never ever seen them". Delight's 2,265 sq. ft. hill home was custom develop by her spouse, Ken Otterman, together with KJ Otterman, president of Classic Unique Personalized Houses. They constructed pour-in-place concrete counters for the residence's kitchen and three restrooms by using Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand-colored concrete

2. counter tops were polished smooth, then coupled with all-natural slate of varying colors-- like charcoal, rust and gold tones-- that creates the backsplashes in the kitchen area and baths. As a design accent, tiny rectangular slate tiles were contributed to the rim of the washroom sinks, which gave a distinct detail to the custom-made vanities. When Joy and Ken made a decision to market their residence, their investment in concrete counter tops confirmed its value. "We had the ability to list your house $20,000 over market price, as well as had not a problem selling it," comments Delight, while reviewing the long list of upgrades throughout their residence, including knotty ache strong doors, all-natural slate wall accents and hardwood floorings. "The concrete countertops were conveniently the most special as well as outstanding of all the coatings. I believe they were a substantial part in adding worth to the residence. Around right here, all you see in residences are granite countertops-- and also I actually assume homebuyers are obtaining rather numb with granite." " Concrete counter tops are a special offering to property buyers who see the very same coatings used in house after residence they go to," describes Happiness, providing her observation as a skilled real estate professional. "Having concrete kitchen counters almost provides you boasting rights-- you have something various from your next-door neighbors." BREAKING THE MOLD AND MILDEW An additional benefit of concrete is its flexibility in either modern-day or conventional settings, especially when paired with various other materials like different metals, wood or stone. "Concrete includes a lot of [possibilities] to stone, and the combination with slate, which is extremely popular below, gives the hill residences a total cozy, all-natural touch," states Joy. Pleasure as well as Ken have actually since constructed a much larger home (4,000 sq. ft.) that provides expansive views of the Boat Ski Resort and also is meant to act as a lasting financial investment for the pair. They have actually additionally expanded their checklist of custom surfaces, including hand-troweled walls, stylish oil-rubbed bronze hardware, knotty want doors that arch on top, cabinets in an all-natural, knotty alder, as well as their preferred-- concrete cooking area counter tops. Unlike in their previous home, KJ and also his specialized crew put charcoal-colored kitchen counters making use of the pre-cast approach in the incomplete cellar of the new home. Prior to pouring the concrete, they sprinkled an array of semi-precious rocks in the mold and mildew consisting of Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and Turquoise. After the surface area was ground and also gently polished, the completed outcome was an excellent blend of shades, "By far, the Mother-of-Pearl was one of the most incredible," says Delight. The L-shaped concrete kitchen counter has a harsh, rustic stone appearance, complementing its rugged nation environments. An integral drain board and also trivets gives function as well as added passion to the concrete counter top. All-natural slate backsplashes, unique wall accents, as well as a butcher block countertop at the kitchen island all resonate with the traditional heat and earthiness of the concrete counter tops. Joy as well as Ken's particular histories in property and also customized homebuilding, and as investment homebuyers, have actually helped them recognize that concrete countertops can include incredible aesthetic and also economic worth to a home. Concrete's modification and also "show-stopping" allure resembles nothing else kitchen counter surface area. Cheng is an advocate of emotional visual appeals as well as constructing homes that catch these feelings, as when it comes to Joy and Ken Otterman. Cheng concludes: "People actually desire differentiation, something personal, something customized-- and also concrete can do that for them."