The Pantheon. The Panama Canal. The Hoover Dam.
When you think of concrete, you might imagine great feats of engineering, or at least highway overpasses and other sturdy, stolid structures.
But concrete has become a stylish medium in the home, thanks to interior designers and artisans.
“Concrete is such an amazing and cheap material. I can get an 80-pound bag from Home Depot and turn it into tables, vases and planters without using power tools,” says designer Ben Oyeda, who offers instructions for several projects at www.homemade-modern.com
Oyeda uses Lego blocks to make the moulds for his tables; his pendant fixtures start with plastic bottles.
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“Working with concrete has changed the way I see waste,” he says. “Every plastic bottle or box has the potential to be used as a mould for making a concrete object.”
Eric Boyd makes creative countertops by mixing concrete with other materials. Aggregate additions such as recycled glass or semi-precious stones give the concrete a terrazzo look, and he hones the slabs to emphasize their geologic characteristics. He has used shells, mother of pearl, tiger’s eye or bands of copper to create one-of-a-kind slabs for homes and stores.
Danish designer Doreen Westphal uses fine Belgian lace to make patterns and moulds for concrete curtains, vases and tables. There’s a yin-yang tension that emerges from the interplay of the delicate lace motifs and the sturdy concrete. (menschmadedesign.com)
Montreal-based CDI International has a collection of midcentury modern-style coffee table and stools with oak legs. (allmodern.com)
A concrete game table would make a substantial permanent fixture for outdoor entertaining. Add the Laguna fibre-cast concrete fire pit, a sleek coffee table-size piece with glass panels and a contemporary vibe.
(restorationhardware.com)
If the look of concrete intrigues you, but you’re not prepared to deal with the material itself, consider wallpaper photoprinted to look like raw concrete slabs. Some even come with graffiti, if you’re after an edgier look.
(concretewall.no)