Concrete Bath Tub by Swiss company, Dade Design[/caption]Concrete, once relegated to industrial and commercial use, commands new respect as a go-to material in home interiors. Lately, the cement and water mixture is one-upping other decorative surfaces for its ability to take on any shape, finish and function. Designers call concrete liquid stone, a material with the pliability of clay and the durability of stone.
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Concrete sink from the Wave Collection by Dade Design[/caption]Imagine taking your favorite color play dough, mixing some really cool decorative doodads such as shells or glass rocks, the possibilities are limitless. Now, sculpt that embellished play dough into anything you want and let it cure for a rock solid surface that doesn’t stain, mold or rot. That is the allure of decorative concrete and why concrete’s unconventional uses include household countertops, sinks, tubs and all things in between.
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Concrete kitchen countertop by Dade Design[/caption]Concrete also scores points with consumers interested in sustainable products. There is an unlimited supply of concrete unlike marble, granite, or other surfaces made by Mother Nature. This year, The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) singled out “the contemporary application of cement,” as a trend gaining traction. Concrete compliments perfectly au-courant design styles such as Nature in Design, Monolithic Design and the Industrial Luxe look, able to meld its raw, natural properties with these aesthetics much like a chameleon. I sought out some of the tastemakers in concrete design to check out creative uses of concrete.
I discovered the Swiss company Dade Design whose Designer Phillip Bruni is crafting modern design pieces for the home including sinks and tubs out of high-quality concrete.
“Our creations are developed in perfect symbiosis between Austro-Italian design and Swiss engineering and craftsmanship,” says Bruni.
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concrete sink in wave cubed design by Dade Design[/caption]Dade’s signature collection, The WAVE fuses soft, sinuous shapes with straight, geometric borders. “The intriguing appeal of WAVE is not only very inviting, it is also ergonomic and comfortable to lie in,” explains Bruni. A black center seam accentuates the design and points out the symmetry and harmony within the object. The seam is optional and doubles as a design accent dividing the bathtub into two pieces for easy transport and installation. “Each half mounts together on-site making WAVE a bathtub for both new construction and existing houses,” explains Bruni.
The sinks and tubs are available as free-standing or as built-ins with either a varnish coated finish for a matte look, a silicon coating or no surface treatment. Wave Cubed is a more linear, cubic version of the series. It combines the sinuous inner shape of the wave-series with flat sidewalls.
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award-winning concrete countertop design in Shutt by Hyde Concrete[/caption]Hyde Concrete, winner of the 5th Annual Decorative Concrete Countertop Award by The Decorative Concrete Council also caught my attention for its award-winning outdoor kitchen countertop. “ We are seeing a lot more creative use of concrete in design including stained or polished floors, countertops, vanities, bathtubs, decorative wall panels and fireplace surrounds,” says Designer/Owner Gregory Hyde Hryniewicz. His award-winning outdoor kitchen design includes cabinets made of decorative Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) panels and custom concrete countertops with embedded conch shells.
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award-winning concrete countertop design in Shutt by Hyde Concrete[/caption]This is just a sampling of concrete's creative potential that I've culled together. I wanted to show you two ends of the design spectrum: modern sculptural designs and whimsical, colorful, embellished looks. Because concrete can mimic so many looks: the veining of marble, the patterns of granite, the polished patina of metals; it works with any style and can be an affordable alternative.
Some amazing things can be done with polished concrete and it is arguably long lasting compared to other floor coverings. Recently was involved in a concrete bench top that was pigmented jet black and had bleached shells throughout, it was cut, polished and low gloss epoxied and the black white contrast was amazing. Great article BTW.
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