Not every project we undertake is a concrete countertop… Recently we created 15 cast concrete windowsills for a client’s residence in Westmoreland, New Hampshire. The client returned a little while ago and asked about creating a matching concrete hearth for a brick fireplace in the home: the same integral  terra-cotta color and the same molded profile on the lower edge. This was to be 3 inches thick with a gently arcing leading edge and a ”tongue” locking into the firebox area. We decided to block out part of the underside to reduce weight and make handling a little easier for all concerned. By doing so, we reduced the weight by about 25 %, down to 200 pounds of wetcast standard weight concrete. Every little bit (less) helps!

We have just stripped and flipped the last and most intricate piece of the puzzle-seamed kitchen we are creating for a nearby new home in Putney, Vermont. The concrete countertops include an integral sink and drainboard with stainless steel inserts, “mortise and tenon” seams, a ground and bevelled edge, a zero-overhang and no backsplashes (wall scribed). All-in-all, a very exacting challenge which is a fitting component of the owner-designed residence, meticulously hand-crafted with incredible attention to detail. We are honored to be a part of this project!

The images show the features of the piece during the wet-curing process, gaining strength and nearly ready for processing, just prior to installation in its final position atop gorgeous cherry cabinetry hand-made by another part of the puzzle, Claude Blazej of Avalon Woodworking. Look for finished shots coming soon by a photographer much more skilled than I – the owner (these guys are a hard act to follow…).

We are nearly ready to ship out the latest concrete countertop project from our casting tables and one of our most ambitious yet: a total of five sections of 2″ thick pure white concrete, destined for an inhouse restaurant at ABC Home and Carpet, on Broadway in Manhattan. Two of these pieces weigh over 600 pounds and are 10 feet long. They will form the bartops in a newly renovated restaurant at this prestigious New York retailer of interior furnishings – everyone knows of ABC in the design world!  Now a bit (or a lot) of Vermont craftsmanship will help the shoppers to satisfy their hunger for excellent cuisine and the best in architectural concrete surfaces. The bar was designed by Eric Slayton of  Brooklyn (go to http://www.ericslayton.com/) who has his custom furniture pieces on the showroom floor there. His work in steel, concrete, and wood emphasizes the material surface in a clean, straightforward manner, honest and functional.