| p>Concrete's use in kitchens and bathrooms may | | | | lamps. What concrete application would be |
| still be considered relatively "modern" design-wise | | | | appropriate in this situation? I would look into one |
| by some homeowners. But while concrete can be | | | | or more of the following ideas in combination:o |
| used to create a modern or minimal look, it's also | | | | Choose an earth tone color or natural gray. No |
| perfectly adaptable to a more traditional setting -- | | | | bright colors.o Keep the front face, or thickness, |
| where it was so extensively used in the first | | | | of the countertop at a minimum of 2-1/2" up to |
| place. | | | | 5".o Inset "panels" into the front face of the |
| Concrete can act as a substitute for more | | | | countertop to reflect the cabinet doors. These |
| traditional materials. Rather than just using | | | | panels would be no deeper than 3/8" and would |
| concrete to explicitly re-create something from | | | | measure approximately 1/3" to the height of the |
| the past, you can also combine it with other | | | | front face, oro Recess the appropriately sized or |
| elements to suggest a timeless quality. In my | | | | proportioned ceramic tiles with some embossing |
| work, I always strive to strike a balance between | | | | on them into the face of the countertop or into a |
| innovation and emotion, between spare | | | | cast backsplash. Allow the recess to be at least 1 |
| contemporary and warm traditional. Adding mosaic | | | | 4" in depth.o Mosaic tiles in groups of four |
| tile along the front edge of a concrete surface, | | | | separated by 1/8"-1/4" spacing could be placed on |
| inlaying bits of tile along a backsplash, or even | | | | the countertop surface as inlaid "trivets" next to |
| embedding a fossil in a countertop all connect us | | | | the stove burners. (In the mold, they would be |
| to the past. | | | | placed face down on the bottom of the form.)o |
| A California cottage we recently renovated | | | | Line the drain board into the sink with tile or |
| moved from "traditional" to "transitional." A large | | | | marble. |
| concrete curved wall and counter boldly separates | | | | Now I wouldn't want to use all of the above |
| the living room from the kitchen. Meanwhile, a | | | | accents -- just enough to carry a complementary |
| stainless steel integral sink countertop straddles | | | | flavor to the Craftsman look and feel. The |
| one wall-- yet, by inlaying glass tiles into the | | | | concrete itself is earthy enough to carry that load. |
| backsplash and inserting a traditional plate holder in | | | | It's up to you as a homeowner or designer to |
| the cabinetry, enough balance is achieved to avoid | | | | add the touch that personalizes and enhances the |
| a conflict of styles. | | | | piece. In some cases, for instance, the |
| Let's take a turn-of-century "Craftsman" style | | | | overwrought "traditional English manor" kitchen, |
| kitchen for a hypothetical example. The cabinets | | | | usually full of elaborate detailing, can use a touch |
| would most likely be frame-and-panel with flush | | | | of restraint -- the concrete counter with a simple |
| inlay doorframes. There would be wood | | | | ogee edge detail and a complementary white |
| wainscoting in the dining area and perhaps tile | | | | porcelain farm sink might just be perfect. |
| around a single porcelain sink. The lighting fixtures | | | | As they say, it's all in the details. |
| might have beveled glass or echoes of Tiffany | | | | |