MR. MRS. DIY-THROUGH THE THICK AND THIN OF BUILDING A CONCRETE COUNTERTOP

Concrete countertops, recognized first by architects and designers for their aesthetic potential and project versatility, are fast opportune the answer to homeowners' demands since the relatively inexpensive countertop alternative which doesn't require a high-level of expertise to install. In addition, they adduce homeowners an overpowering opportunity to literally try their hands at whereas creative. Step-by-step books, videos and hands-on training are now readily available for homeowners to confidently engage in such do-it-yourself (DIY) projects as courthouse concrete countertops.

Married couple Chris and Ali were agog to transact upon a DIY project after purchasing their San Francisco flat. A logistical real estate developer/construction manager and an educational specialist, Chris and Ali are also architecture and home design enthusiasts. With a penchant for removing their hands dirty, building and installing their own concrete countertop seemed a natural choice for them.



Chris happens to substitute no stranger to concrete: 'My moment goes back several years when I was building restaurants and sell spaces. I installed concrete countertops and labored with concrete artisans doing integral color and stained concrete floors.'



In apr of 2003, Chris and Ali purchased a two-flat courthouse in space-challenged San Francisco. Recently, they sold the lower tedious as the tenant-in-common unit and now occupy the upper flat, which offers almost 950 sq. ft. of animate space. formerly they considered building their allow kitchen concrete countertop, they hired the executive for an extensive remodel of the home. The verdict is an open, loft-like living space footing its kitchen and living zones flow together.

'We both enjoy the process of designing also creating our own living space to fit how we live. This applies to the space we bewitch as well as the details within it,' says Ali. 'We both like its idea of working with our hands, using materials that are natural, accessible [] and flexible.' Chris added, 'Concrete counters are beautiful, cool, earthy, solid, and you just want to touch them. The counters were a perfect way for us to create something cute out of our own ideas also hard-won work, and the aberration of the end product is a effigy of our native ideas.'

Their kitchen, 10 feet wide by 15 feet long (150 sq. ft.), didn't offer much room for Chris and Ali to work-but that didn't stop the big blueprint they had for their narrow kitchen. They wanted to rest assured a logical cooking zone with a work triangle, plenty of counter space and still have enough room to accommodate a dining area.

Like most urban San Francisco properties, space is roughly always an issue. To remedy this, a straight run of upper and lower cabinets also a concrete countertop cache a dishwasher, sink, oven and stove were placed along one wall of the galley. A built-in banquette and dining desk are located opposite the cement countertop work area. An adjacent wall hosts a refrigerator and tall cabinets.

Chris and Ali agree that the most riveting appendage to the kitchen is the concrete countertop. The couple's edifying guide and source for design inspiration was award-winning designer Fu-Tung Cheng's Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms, again Finishes for its New Kitchen again Bath (Taunton, 2002), a national bestseller in the remodeling and design genre.

the finished countertop is a visually stunning work surface with rich, complex colors: reddish-brown duck flecks of semi-precious Leopardskin (flaxen also black) aggregates. 'This peculiar color combination blended perfectly with the color subject we had thanks to its cabinetry, tile backsplash, floor and wall finishes,' says Ali.



Understated design details of the 12-foot long, 3-inch attentive concrete countertop include dull edges at the countertop front and the insert openings as well in that a decorative metal strip under its front corner of its countertop to conceal the plywood sub-top.

Chris and Ali took special note that despite the tight working space of their basement, their collaborative animation ran smoothly from pour to finish. 'Like the last of our remodeling project, building its concrete countertop brought us closer together,' says Chris. 'We work very efficiently together. solid starts from the fact that we communicate very efficiently again our design ideas complement each other.'

With the completion of the project and the artistic work done, Chris and Ali acknowledge that their biggest challenge was building the concrete types. 'Particularly in that the sink cut-out, which has reach corners and two different size basins,' says Chris.

Despite a couple of minor learning curves, Chris maintains that there is an overwhelming sense of accomplishment upon completing their concrete countertop. 'The best part is seeing and thesis the finished product further deep we did it!' It's been said that if a couple can survive the home remodel-especially a DIY project-together, they can survive anything.

From the looks of a calling efficiently consummated on their first concrete countertop, these happy do-it-yourselfers are in authentic for the long haul. Chris says of future projects, 'We plan to create a concrete fireplace surround and maybe a birthplace to go with it!'Original Source:
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