Concrete and Interior Design
Images Courtesy of Concrete Jungle
Marrying the words “industrial” and “commercial” into modern kitchen design continues to bear fruit in the shape of hulking stoves, personal pizza ovens, and freezers big enough for a woolly mammoth. But take things a step farther and consider the most utilitarian substance. Suspend your disbelief and gaze upon the humble sidewalk. This material strengthened the Roman empire, permits smooth driving across our interstate highway system, and it makes one heck of a countertop. In the beginning there was California, the blessed origination point for fads that turn into trends, and others that die a deserved death on the idea vine. Flash back five years, and meet a stubborn craftsman named Buddy Rhodes with a penchant for Portland cement. Rhodes thought up a process that many said couldn’t be done, worked out most of the kinks and began redefining Southern California’s interest in concrete. It may of remained a strictly Left Coast phenomenon if not for a Silver Spring, Maryland based kitchen contractor named Kelly Carr. Carr saw early versions of the material in 1996, while he was in California interviewing for a job with (believe it or not), Corian. The material instantly resonated with Carr and led him to the Buddy Rhodes studio where he begged for a job. After testing his faith by initially turning him away, Rhodes relented and tossed Kelly into the flames. “They threw me right in,” he says, “I did the mix by hand all day and then swept the floor and took out the trash at night.” Shrugging off the dents to his self-esteem, Carr allowed concrete to set it’s hooks a little bit deeper. The knowledge gained during his six month apprenticeship was put to work when Carr returned to Maryland and set up shop. Carr talked to skeptical architects, designers and homeowners and gradually won clients one convert at a time. Carr remembers, “In the beginning we were trying to be everybody’s best friend. We would talk to anybody who would listen.” Time has gradually softened the need for a hard sell.
“It’s a very honest material, it doesn’t try to be something that it’s not,” says Carr, who has recently branched off from his mentor and turned his company, Concrete Jungle, into a separate corporation. The material is available in 16 standard colors which trace their lineage to the earth tone family. Countertops are available with the standard “slab” edge, bevels, bull noses, front returns, and ogees. Besides countertops the material is also used to cast sinks, picture frames, fireplace surrounds, tables, vanity tops, floor tiles, shower walls, benches and just about anything else that can be dreamed up.
One of the most eye popping uses of the material locally occurs in the home of Roseann McGeehin. She says, “Kelly is very accommodating and likes to do odd things.” A dominating two story wall in McGeehin’s family room was supposed to be covered in natural stone, until the designer decided on a more modern approach. The result was a wall full of custom batched, chocolate colored tiles mounted in repetitive rows. The challenges stemmed from aesthetic concerns, and engineering puzzles. McGeehin says, “It took them 3 1/2 weeks because the wall had to be reinforced with mesh and plywood. Then each tile had to hung and hand polished.” When evaluating concrete as a design element weight must be factored into the equation, but it’s actually not any heavier than natural materials including granite and marble. It’s most popular advantage over stone is it’s ability to take colors that will play off the other design elements. Kathryn Scriven took a novel approach when considering her color choices in the kitchen. Scriven says, “Kelly told me to pick anything but primary colors so I found this leaf that I thought would be perfect.” The leaf was actually multi-colored, but Kelly concocted a customized light gray that knocked the homeowner out. It was dubbed aubergine. “We needed some kind of a cool yuppie name for it,” says Scriven with a decidedly non-serious giggle. Like marble and granite the material is cool to the touch, but the matte finish transfers a feeling of warmth that resists a rational explanation. Unlike natural stone which forces a designer or architect to work around exiting dimensions, colors, and veining, it can be molded into any shape.
How that’s actually done slides under the classification of “trade secrets,” but this much is known. Measurements are taken and a template is made from plywood. Forms are constructed around the template creating a negative mold. Once the color has been selected, pigments are added to a batch of concrete and samples are prepared for final approval. The approved mix is then poured into the molds and a 28 day curing process begins. Once cured, the material is polished to a non-sidewalk like smoothness and installed. All of this happens in Concrete Jungle’s building which is equal parts manufacturing facility and artist studio. It’s also fertile grounds for preaching the cement gospel. “People come here on the fence, but when they leave they’re ready to be a disciple,” remarks Carr. Giant sized, objects d’ art that are destined for the somebody’s garden and resemble bocci balls on steroids await the polishing wheel. Huge fireplace inserts are splayed out on the floor and countertops lay on finishing tables awaiting the master’s touch. The care and maintenance of concrete is similar to other natural materials. Regular applications of non-toxic sealer keep liquids from seeping into the material’s well documented porosity. Olive oil is an arch enemy and diligence is the best weapon to avoid stains.
Hairline fractures are also a possibility but most of the faithful subscribe to the notion that tiny flaws and an uneven patina adds to the material’s allure. Kelly Carr explains the material's selective appeal by saying, “It’s not for everybody, in fact it’s almost like a secret club.” Dues to the club depend on a number of variables including the amount of curves that are drawn into the mold, but prices are roughly comparable to natural stone. In commercial applications a durable material is always a hot commodity. AOL, and Pottery Barn have both availed themselves to concrete technology and Concrete Jungle recently completed the installation of 14,000 tiles in Baltimore’s PSI Stadium. Countertops in reception areas have suddenly become very desirable as the material continues it’s stretch into the business world. Another solid attribute that appeals to corporate and some residential clients is the ability to permanently embed items into the wet mix. These elements add color, texture, and imbue the countertop with unique meaning. Carr, “we’ve put in colored glass, shells, coins, subway tokens, paper clips, nails, bits of copper, CD’s, thumbtacks, even watches.” The new age of concrete is now upon us. Techniques inch toward perfection, and the fear of street paving is receding back into the dark ages. Roseann McGeehin says, “When I told people that I was putting concrete into my kitchen they thought I lost my marbles. But now I’ve had one woman who called me quite a few times, she’s come over, and now she’s doing all of her counters.” Architect Michael Fox is a man who equates concrete promotion with professional relevance, he says, “When it comes to new materials it’s important to stay ahead of yourself.” And Kelly Carr revels in the artistic approach applied to functional items by saying, “we are the only handmade countertops out there, we have the ability to pull ideas out of people’s heads and make them real, and they like that.” If the possibilities offered by
concrete countertops
appeals to you, cutting edge design may be part of your own point of view.
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