The Worth of Concrete Countertops: Customization Increases Visual Appeal and
The Worth of Concrete Countertops: Customization Increases Aesthetic Appeal and Realty Financial investment for Homeowners
From top-dollar homes in the San Francisco Bay Location to sprawling mountain homes in the Colorado Rockies, discriminating property owners are requiring custom styles and finishes in their cooking areas. In particular, they are aiming to reveal their individuality and unique design choices with the quick growing design material of option concrete.
In truth, concrete countertops have actually become rather of a status sign for kitchens, measuring up to granite and other high-end countertop surface alternatives. Consumer Reports Publication (August 2004) ranked concrete greatest for its modification and exclusivity amongst high-end cooking area countertops.
As a custom-made product, the quantity of time and craftsmanship needed to produce concrete counter tops positions them as the most labor-intensive and priciest among leading countertop products.
However, concrete counter tops are ending up being more accessible for those on a modest budget plan. The current diy (DIY) trend to mesmerize homeowners and contractors is building your own concrete counter top. This phenomenon has actually acquired popularity mainly due to Chengs very popular book Concrete Countertops: Style, Forms, and Completes for the New Kitchen Area and Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little financial financial investment in making concrete counter tops, yet the imaginative gains of working with concrete are plentiful.
THE SHOWSTOPPER
Increasingly, homeowners are moving away from the boring, manufactured look of traditional counter top surfaces and selecting concrete for its earthy, ageless appeal. Plus, the options for individualizing concrete countertops are unlimited: one can color, polish, stamp and stain concrete or imbed personal items like stones, seashells and fossils into the counter tops surface area, adding sentiment and character. Practical features such as drain boards, soap dishes, and trivets can also be included to suit the homeowners own needs and lifestyle.
Concrete is slowly ending up being demystified as characteristically cold and commercial. In contrary, this olden material is warm and remarkably tactile; individuals can not help however touch their smooth, sleek surface areas. Property agent Happiness Rasmussen, who has actually recently offered her mountain home a short-term investment residential or commercial property in Steamboat Springs, CO recounts her visitors experiences with concrete: When I had open homes, visitors gravitated to the concrete counter tops many people around here have never seen them.
Joys 2,265 sq. ft. mountain home was custom-made construct by her other half, Ken Otterman, in addition to KJ Otterman, president of Classic Special Customized Residences. They developed pour-in-place concrete counters for the homes cooking area and three bathrooms by using Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand-colored concrete countertops were polished smooth, then paired with natural slate of varying colors like charcoal, rust and gold tones that forms the backsplashes in home plumbing article the kitchen area and baths. As a design accent, little rectangular slate tiles were added to the rim of the bathroom sinks, which supplied an unique information to the custom vanities.
When Happiness and Ken chose to offer their house, their financial investment in concrete countertops showed its value. We had the ability to note the house $20,000 over market price, and had no problems offering it, comments Pleasure, while discussing the long list of upgrades throughout their house, consisting of knotty pine solid doors, natural slate wall accents and hardwood floors. The concrete countertops were easily the most unique and outstanding of all the surfaces. I believe they were a huge part in including value to the home. Around here, all you see in homes are granite counter tops and I actually think homebuyers are getting rather numb with granite.
Concrete counter tops are a distinct offering to property buyers who see the exact same finishes used in home after home they check out, discusses Pleasure, offering her observation as a seasoned real estate agent. Having concrete countertops nearly offers you bragging rights you have something various from your next-door neighbors.
BREAKING THE MOLD
Another benefit of concrete is its versatility in either modern-day or traditional settings, specifically when coupled with 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 here, gives the mountain homes an overall warm, natural touch, says Pleasure.
Unlike in their previous home, KJ and his specialty team poured charcoal-colored countertops using the pre-cast method in the incomplete basement of the brand-new home. Before pouring the concrete, they sprinkled a range of semi-precious stones in the mold consisting of Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and Turquoise. After the surface area was ground and gently polished, the finished outcome was an excellent blend of colors, Without a doubt, the Mother-of-Pearl was the most amazing, states Happiness.
The L-shaped concrete counter top has a rough, rustic stone appearance, complementing its rugged nation environments. An integral drain board and trivets offers function and included interest to the concrete counter top. Natural slate backsplashes, unique wall accents, and a read this butcher block countertop at the kitchen area island all resonate with the conventional heat and earthiness of the concrete countertops.
Joy and Kens particular backgrounds in realty and custom-made homebuilding, and as investment homebuyers, have assisted them recognize that concrete countertops can add significant aesthetic and monetary value to a home. Concretes modification and show-stopping appeal is like no other counter top surface. Cheng is an advocate of emotional visual appeals and constructing homes that capture these emotions, as when it comes to Joy and Ken Otterman. Cheng concludes: People truly want distinction, something personal, something custom and concrete can do that for them.