Everyone has seen concrete polished and used for countertops on the DIY networks. The stunning finished product is stunning, but even more so is Raw Concrete Homewares that are flooding the market today. Concrete with all the varying textures, colors and additional infusion of different textures colors and materials is a blank palate for artisans with vision to bring to our homes.
Barstools and chairs
Using concrete for barstools by paring with wooden legs is a perfect balance of cool and warm textures together. The concrete is highly polished for a smooth and comfortable seat. The concrete can also be set in an ergonomic mold before polishing and completion. Adding wood for the legs warms the visual feel of the concrete in your setting. Chairs using concrete for the frame and adding in leather strap seats are very trendy right now. Obviously the frame needs to be slender, for weight reasons, but once sanding and polishing is complete on the raw concrete the result is beautiful. The addition of the leather to create a strap sling chair lends to a perfect paring of textures.
Light fixtures
You would not normally think of concrete light fixtures only because the word concrete has made us think of heavy but this is not the case in concrete housewares. What is interesting about concrete is that the artists vision of creating a mold, sanding and polishing for the desired result is being done in the exact opposite with other rocks and minerals such as granite, marble, sandstone etc. For a light fixture in one of these materials a small rock is acquired and then a grinding wheel or stone cutter would remove the part of the rock that is not needed. Using concrete with added color and sparkle can mimic a nature stones’ properties with the same weight and perception.
Dinner and service wares
The popular dinner and service ware on the market are polished bowls, plates and even drinking glasses/cups. Stains, color and sparkle appears in the dinner and service ware created from raw concrete. Concrete utensil holders pared with cork on the bottom appear on the sets of many of the cooking shows. Some mimic marble through color and stain, others embrace the raw material that is polished and a beautiful addition to the set. Dinnerware available compare to about the same offerings that any clay artisan creates only through a different medium. Concrete can be painted and glazed just like its counterpart.
Understanding the use of concrete for Raw Concrete Homewares can open up a whole new world of business, or maybe just a new alternative that will update and bring a new style to your home décor.
