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From top-dollar residences in the San Francisco Bay Area to stretching mountain houses in the Colorado Mountain ranges, discriminating property owners are requiring custom-made layouts and coatings in their kitchen areas. Specifically, they are wanting to share their uniqueness and distinct style preferences with the rapid expanding layout material of choice-- concrete.

As a matter of fact, concrete countertops have actually ended up being rather of a standing symbol for kitchen areas, measuring up to granite as well as various other premium counter top surface alternatives. Consumer Information Publication (August 2004) placed concrete greatest for its "personalization" and also "exclusivity" among premium cooking area counter tops.

As a custom-made product, the amount of time and workmanship required to generate concrete kitchen counters positions them as the most labor-intensive as well as priciest among leading counter top products.

Nonetheless, concrete kitchen counters are coming to be extra obtainable for those on a moderate spending plan. The current do-it-yourself (DIY) fad to mesmerize home owners and also home builders is building your own concrete kitchen counter. This sensation has obtained popularity greatly because of Cheng's very popular publication Concrete Countertops: Layout, Types, and also Ends Up for the New Kitchen Area and also Bathroom (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little financial investment in making concrete countertops, yet the creative gains of collaborating with concrete abound.

THE SHOWSTOPPER

Progressively, home owners are relocating away from the dull, manufactured look of standard kitchen counter surface areas and choosing concrete for its earthy, timeless charm. Plus, the alternatives for individualizing concrete kitchen counters are unlimited: one can color, polish, stamp as well as discolor concrete or imbed individual items like rocks, seashells and fossils right into the countertop's surface, including view as well as character. Practical functions such as drain boards, soap recipes, and trivets can likewise be included to match the home owners' own demands and lifestyle.

Concrete is slowly coming to be demystified as typically cold and also commercial. In contrary, this olden product is warm and also remarkably responsive; people can not help yet touch their smooth, refined surface areas. Real estate agent Joy Rasmussen, that has actually just recently sold her hill home-- a short-term investment residential property in Boat Springs, Carbon Monoxide-- recounts her site visitors' experiences with concrete: "When I had open residences, site visitors moved to the concrete kitchen counters-- lots of people around here have actually never ever seen them".

Happiness's 2,265 sq. ft. mountain house was personalized build by her hubby, Ken Otterman, in addition to KJ Otterman, head of state of Standard Unique Personalized Homes. They built pour-in-place concrete counters for the house's kitchen area as well as three restrooms by utilizing Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand-colored concrete countertops were polished smooth, then coupled with all-natural slate of varying colors-- like charcoal, rust and also gold tones-- that develops the backsplashes in the kitchen and also baths. As a style accent, small rectangular slate tiles were added to the edge of the shower room sinks, which offered a special detail to the custom vanities.

When Joy and also Ken chose to sell their house, their investment in concrete counter tops confirmed its worth. "We were able to provide your home $20,000 over market price, as well as had no problems marketing it," comments Happiness, while reviewing the long listing of upgrades throughout their residence, consisting of knotty want solid doors, all-natural slate wall surface accents as well as wood floors. "The concrete countertops were quickly the most unique and also remarkable of all the finishes. I believe they were a massive component in adding value to the home. Around here, all you see in residences are granite counter tops-- and also I truly assume buyers are obtaining fairly numb with granite."

" Concrete kitchen counters are an one-of-a-kind offering to property buyers who see the very same surfaces made use of in home after residence they visit," clarifies Delight, providing her observation as an experienced real estate agent. "Having concrete kitchen counters practically offers you boasting legal rights-- you have something different from your neighbors."

BREAKING THE MOLD AND MILDEW

An additional benefit of concrete is its versatility in either modern or typical setups, especially when combined with other products like varied steels, timber or rock. "Concrete adds so many [opportunities] to rock, and also the combination with slate, which is widely preferred right here, gives the mountain residences a general cozy, all-natural touch," says Happiness.

Pleasure as well as Ken have actually since constructed a much larger home (4,000 sq. ft.) that supplies extensive sights of the Boat Ski Hotel as well as is meant to act as a long-term investment countertops jobs for the couple. They have actually also expanded their list of personalized coatings, including hand-troweled walls, stylish oil-rubbed bronze equipment, knotty ache doors that arch at the top, closets in a natural, knotty alder, and their favorite-- concrete kitchen countertops.

Unlike in their previous residence, KJ as well as his specialized team poured charcoal-colored counter tops making use of the pre-cast method in the incomplete basement of the new home. Prior to pouring the concrete, they sprinkled a selection of semi-precious stones in the mold consisting of Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and also Blue-green. After the surface was ground as well as gently polished, the completed outcome was an outstanding mix of shades, "Without a doubt, the Mother-of-Pearl was one of the most unbelievable," says Happiness.

The L-shaped concrete kitchen counter has a harsh, rustic rock appearance, enhancing its rugged nation surroundings. An integral drain board and also trivets provides function and also added passion to the concrete kitchen counter. All-natural slate backsplashes, unique wall accents, and also a butcher block countertop at the cooking area island all resonate with the conventional heat as well as earthiness of the concrete countertops.

Pleasure as well as Ken's respective backgrounds in property as well as custom-made homebuilding, and also as financial investment homebuyers, have actually assisted them realize that concrete kitchen counters can add incredible aesthetic and also monetary value to a residence. Concrete's modification and also "show-stopping" appeal is like nothing else kitchen counter surface area. Cheng is a supporter of emotional appearances and also developing houses that capture these feelings, as in the case of Joy as well as Ken Otterman. Cheng wraps up: "People really want distinction, something individual, something personalized-- and concrete can do that for them.