The Value of Concrete Countertops: Modification Boosts Visual Appeal and
The Worth of Concrete Countertops: Personalization Increases Aesthetic Appeal and Real Estate Investment for Homeowners
From top-dollar homes in the San Francisco Bay Area to stretching mountain homes in the Colorado Rockies, discriminating house owners are requiring custom designs and surfaces in their kitchens. In particular, they are looking to express their individuality and distinct style choices with the quick growing design product of option concrete.
In reality, concrete counter tops have actually ended up being rather of a status symbol for cooking areas, equaling granite and other high-end counter top surface choices. Consumer Reports Magazine (August 2004) ranked concrete greatest for its customization and exclusivity amongst high-end kitchen countertops.
As a custom-made product, the amount of time and craftsmanship required to produce concrete countertops places them as the most labor-intensive and most expensive among leading counter top materials.
THE SHOWSTOPPER
Increasingly, homeowners are moving far from the boring, manufactured appearance of traditional countertop surfaces and selecting concrete for its earthy, ageless appeal. Plus, the options for individualizing concrete counter tops are endless: one can color, polish, stamp and stain concrete or imbed individual objects like stones, seashells and fossils into the countertops surface, adding sentiment and character. Practical functions such as drain boards, soap dishes, and trivets can likewise be integrated to match the property owners own requirements and lifestyle.
Concrete is slowly ending up being debunked as characteristically cold and industrial. In contrary, this age-old product is warm and surprisingly tactile; people can not assist but touch their smooth, sleek surface areas. Realty agent Delight Rasmussen, who has just recently offered her mountain home a short-term investment residential or commercial property in Steamboat Springs, CO states her visitors experiences with concrete: When I had open homes, visitors gravitated to the concrete countertops many people around here have never ever seen them.
Joys 2,265 sq. ft. mountain home was custom construct by her spouse, Ken Otterman, in addition to KJ Otterman, president of Classic Unique Custom-made Homes. They constructed pour-in-place concrete counters for the homes kitchen and three restrooms 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 area and baths. As a design accent, little rectangular slate tiles were added to the rim of the restroom sinks, which supplied an unique detail to the customized vanities.
When Joy and Ken chose to offer their home, their financial investment in concrete countertops showed its worth. We were able to note your home $20,000 over market value, and had no issues offering it, comments Pleasure, while discussing the long list Canberra residential plumbing article of upgrades throughout their home, including knotty pine strong doors, natural slate wall accents and hardwood floors. The concrete countertops were easily the most distinct and remarkable of all the surfaces. I believe they were a huge part in including worth to the home. Around here, all you see in homes are granite counter tops and I actually believe homebuyers are getting rather numb with granite.
Concrete counter tops are a distinct offering to homebuyers who see the exact same finishes used in house after house they check out, describes Joy, providing her observation as a skilled realtor. Having concrete counter tops practically offers you boasting rights you have something various from your next-door neighbors.
BREAKING THE MOLD
Another benefit of concrete is its adaptability in either modern-day or traditional settings, especially when combined with other products like varied metals, wood or stone. Concrete adds numerous [possibilities] to stone, and the mix with slate, which is extremely popular here, offers the mountain homes a total warm, natural touch, says Pleasure.
Joy and Ken have actually considering that constructed a much bigger home (4,000 sq. ft.) that uses extensive views of the Steamboat Ski Resort and is suggested to serve as a long-lasting investment for the couple. Theyve likewise broadened their list of customized surfaces, consisting of hand-troweled walls, stylish oil-rubbed bronze hardware, knotty pine doors that arch at the top, cabinets in a natural, knotty alder, and their preferred concrete kitchen countertops.
Unlike in their previous home, KJ and his specialty team put charcoal-colored counter tops utilizing the pre-cast method in the incomplete basement of the brand-new home. Before putting the concrete, they sprinkled a range of semi-precious stones in the mold including Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and Turquoise. After the surface was ground and lightly polished, the completed outcome was an outstanding blend of colors, By far, the Mother-of-Pearl was the most amazing, states Delight.
The L-shaped concrete countertop has a rough, rustic stone appearance, complementing its rugged country surroundings. An important drain board and trivets offers function and included interest to the concrete countertop. Natural slate backsplashes, distinct wall accents, and a butcher block counter top at the kitchen area island all resonate with the conventional warmth and earthiness of the concrete counter tops.
Joy and Kens respective backgrounds in real estate and custom homebuilding, and as financial investment homebuyers, have assisted them understand that concrete counter tops can add significant visual and monetary worth to a home. Concretes modification and show-stopping appeal is like no other countertop surface. Cheng is an advocate of psychological visual appeals and developing homes that record these feelings, as when it comes to Joy and Ken Otterman. Cheng concludes: Individuals really want distinction, something individual, something custom and concrete can do that for them.