The Value of Concrete Countertops - Customization
Increases Aesthetic Appeal and Real Estate Investment for Homeowners
by: Deborah Meyer
From top-dollar homes in the San Francisco Bay Area to sprawling
mountain homes in the Colorado Rockies, discriminating homeowners are
demanding custom designs and finishes in their kitchens. In particular,
they are looking to express their individuality and distinct design
preferences with the fast-growing design material of choice — concrete.
In fact, concrete countertops have become somewhat of a status symbol
for kitchens, rivaling granite and other high-end countertop surface
options. Consumer Reports Magazine (August 2004) ranked concrete highest
for its “customization” and “exclusivity” among high-end kitchen
countertops.
As a custom product, the amount of time and craftsmanship
required to produce concrete countertops places them as the most
labor-intensive and priciest among leading countertop materials.
However, concrete countertops are becoming more accessible for
those on a modest budget. The latest do-it-yourself (DIY) trend
to captivate homeowners and builders is building your own
concrete countertop. This phenomenon has gained popularity
largely due to Cheng’s best-selling book Concrete Countertops:
Design, Forms, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath
(Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little
monetary investment in making concrete countertops, yet the
creative gains of working with concrete are plentiful. |
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THE SHOWSTOPPER
Increasingly, homeowners are moving away from the monotonous,
manufactured look of traditional countertop surfaces and choosing
concrete for its earthy, timeless appeal. Plus, the options for
personalizing concrete countertops are endless: one can color, polish,
stamp and stain concrete or imbed personal objects like stones,
seashells and fossils into the countertop’s surface, adding sentiment
and character. Functional features such as drain boards, soap dishes,
and trivets can also be incorporated to suit the homeowners’ own needs
and lifestyle.
Concrete is slowly becoming demystified as characteristically cold and
industrial. In contrary, this age-old material is warm and surprisingly
tactile; people cannot help but touch their smooth, polished surfaces.
Real estate agent Joy Rasmussen, who has recently sold her mountain home
— a short-term investment property in Steamboat Springs, CO — recounts
her visitors’ experiences with concrete: “When I had open houses,
visitors gravitated to the concrete countertops — many people around
here have never seen them”.
Joy’s 2,265 sq. ft. mountain home was custom build by her husband, Ken
Otterman, along with KJ Otterman, president of Classic Special Custom
Homes. They built pour-in-place concrete counters for the home’s kitchen
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 the kitchen and baths. As a design
accent, small rectangular slate tiles were added to the rim of the
bathroom sinks, which provided a unique detail to the custom vanities.
When Joy and Ken decided to sell their house, their investment in
concrete countertops proved its value. “We were able to list the house
$20,000 over market value, and had no problems selling it,” comments
Joy, while discussing the long list of upgrades throughout their house,
including knotty pine solid doors, natural slate wall accents and
hardwood floors. “The concrete countertops were easily the most unique
and impressive of all the finishes. I believe they were a huge part in
adding value to the home. Around here, all you see in homes are granite
countertops —and I really think homebuyers are getting quite numb with
granite.”
“Concrete countertops are a unique offering to homebuyers who see the
same finishes used in house after house they visit,” explains Joy,
offering her observation as a seasoned realtor. “Having concrete
countertops almost gives you bragging rights — you have something
different from your neighbors.”
BREAKING THE MOLD
Another advantage of concrete is its adaptability in either modern or
traditional settings, especially when coupled with other materials like
varied metals, wood or stone. “Concrete adds so many [possibilities] to
stone, and the combination with slate, which is hugely popular here,
gives the mountain homes an overall warm, natural touch,” says Joy.
Joy and Ken have since built a much larger home (4,000 sq. ft.) that
offers expansive views of the Steamboat Ski Resort and is meant to serve
as a long-term investment for the couple. They’ve also expanded their
list of custom finishes, including hand-troweled walls, elegant
oil-rubbed bronze hardware, knotty pine doors that arch at the top,
cabinets in a natural, knotty alder, and their favorite — concrete
kitchen countertops.
Unlike in their previous home, KJ and his specialty crew poured
charcoal-colored countertops using the pre-cast method in the unfinished
basement of the new home. Before pouring the concrete, they sprinkled an
array of semi-precious stones in the mold including Leopardskin,
Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and Turquoise. After the surface was ground
and lightly polished, the finished result was an impressive blend of
colors, “By far, the Mother-of-Pearl was the most incredible,” says Joy.
The L-shaped concrete countertop has a rough, rustic stone appearance,
complementing its rugged country surroundings. An integral drain board
and trivets provides function and added interest to the concrete
countertop. Natural slate backsplashes, distinct wall accents, and a
butcher block countertop at the kitchen island all resonate with the
traditional warmth and earthiness of the concrete countertops.
Joy and Ken’s respective backgrounds in real estate and custom
homebuilding, and as investment homebuyers, have helped them realize
that concrete countertops can add tremendous aesthetic and financial
value to a home. Concrete’s customization and “show-stopping” appeal is
like no other countertop surface. Cheng is a proponent of emotional
aesthetics and building homes that capture these emotions, as in the
case of Joy and Ken Otterman. Cheng concludes: “People really want
differentiation, something personal, something custom – and concrete can
do that for them.”
About The Author
Deborah Meyer works as Marketing Assistant for Cheng Design, an interior
design company headed by award-winning designer Fu-Tung Cheng, who has
pioneered the craft of making concrete countertops. Deborah's work
includes writing press releases with a focus on the do-it-yourself
stories of the company’s customers. For more information visit
http://www.ConcreteExchange.com.
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