Most people don’t think of concrete as art yet its drab, utilitarian image has morphed beyond sidewalks and freeways to become a design medium. Malleable as clay when it’s wet, durable when it sets, decorative concrete makes stunning custom countertops, sinks, backsplashes, mantels and textured or curved walls and furniture. The mix of gravel, sand and cement lends itself to sculpture, fresco, etching, embossing, stenciling and other artistic techniques.
The slurry can be tinted and sculpted to harmonize with nearly any decor, architectural style or collectible. The finish can be edgy and high gloss or as worn and textured as antique French limestone. Decorative inserts like mosaic, shells and recycled glass add personality. It partners well with stone, wood, tile or gleaming metal.
| Resources Box |
| Atmosphyre |
| www.atmosphyre.com |
| Showroom: Easton, Md. |
| 717-509-3797 |
| Concrete Jungle |
| Frederick, Md. |
| www.ConcreteJungleonline.com |
| 301-874-1001 |
| Fox Architects |
| Bethesda |
| 301-718-2021 |
The decorative concrete trend started in California in the ’80s. There, Kelly Carr trained under ceramicist and concrete pioneer Buddy Rhodes before he returned to Maryland to found Concrete Jungle in Frederick.
Carr outfitted every room in Bethesda architect Michael Fox’s house with tinted counters and vanity tops, and a sink inset with glittering glass tiles.
“Concrete by nature can be imbued with character,” Fox said. “You can play with color, finishes and unique shapes you can’t get with granite or marble slabs.”
Not everyone likes the look, he conceded. “The East Coast is more conservative, and homes around here are traditional. It’s more popular out west.”
While the West Coast gravitates toward a sleek, modern feel, James Gardiner, founder of Atmosphyre, in Easton, Md., prefers to recreate the character of antique French limestone, Williamsburg brick or terra cotta. Using layers of tinted cement paste and hand-troweled finishes, he creates classical shapes and surfaces with sculpting and fresco techniques to produce the look of 300-year-old farm sinks, floor tiles and limestone countertops. He embellishes these with period edging, molding or bas-relief.
Unlike imports, Gardiner’s French reproduction mantels can be custom-fit to any fireplace shape. But he sometimes runs into weight issues. Concrete weighs about the same as stone, marble or granite, and its weight can be an issue for mantelpieces, especially for larger, wood-burning fireplaces.
“Our mantels weigh 1,200 to 1.300 pounds,” he said. “There must be adequate footing underneath to support the floor beneath the mantel.”
Likewise, concrete stove hoods may need metal brackets, but countertops do not usually require bracing because the weight is distributed, he added.
An antique mantel reproduction including the surround and installation costs $6,000 to $14,000, Gardiner said. Farm sinks begin at $950.
Prices vary by company and design. Locally, counter and vanity tops range from $75 to $160 a square foot. Orders take four to six weeks or longer. Concrete cannot be installed until it cures.
The material is not expensive, but the labor is arduous and time-intensive. “Each product is customized and handmade from start to finish,” Carr said.
Concrete care also takes more time than some surfaces. Clean with mild soap and warm water. Do not set hot pots on counters or use them as cutting boards. Concrete must be sealed for water and stain resistance. Reseal when worn spots or hairline cracks appear.
Fox waxes his countertops every six to nine months. Gardiner prefers urethane and epoxy sealers, which he considers more durable. Carr recommends a solvent-based sealer and wax, but said some people don’t wax or seal because they prefer the natural look. After all, concrete is no longer set in stone.
