Renovating
8 Surprising Ways to Use Concrete That Won't Leave You Feeling Cold
From the floor to the ceiling, here are some unique ways to introduce concrete into your interior in a warm and inviting way
Concrete is a surprisingly multipurpose and versatile material. It’s sustainable and affordable and can be moulded to fit any space or shape. While it injects a raw, industrial feel to an interior or exterior space, it can be visually softened – and even look elegant and feel warm and inviting – when used in conjunction with complementary materials such as wood.
If you’re looking for clean lines, durable surfaces and a contemporary look, here are our concrete ideas on how you can incorporate the material in your home.
If you’re looking for clean lines, durable surfaces and a contemporary look, here are our concrete ideas on how you can incorporate the material in your home.
2. Garden walls
Concrete walls provide a subtle backdrop in the garden and are harmonious with a range of architectural styles. Here, they are part of a modern rear addition to a brick Federation-style home. The industrial look of the concrete walls and pavers is warmed by the wooden benches, while silver studs on those benches enhance the urban feel.
Concrete walls provide a subtle backdrop in the garden and are harmonious with a range of architectural styles. Here, they are part of a modern rear addition to a brick Federation-style home. The industrial look of the concrete walls and pavers is warmed by the wooden benches, while silver studs on those benches enhance the urban feel.
3. Chimney
This concrete chimney is all about texture and geometry with brushed horizontal lines that work in contrast to the vertical wooden boards of the house. Angles and straight lines are all at play to create a contemporary rear extension to an existing home.
This concrete chimney is all about texture and geometry with brushed horizontal lines that work in contrast to the vertical wooden boards of the house. Angles and straight lines are all at play to create a contemporary rear extension to an existing home.
4. Floors
Inside the home, concrete floors can be a stylish addition. In this Sydney terrace they have been combined with the homeowners’ love of craft and Scandinavian design to create a visually interesting space. The concrete floors have also been coloured to evoke a warmer feel. Concrete slab floors are durable, long-lasting and easy to clean. Here, they are warmed by the heat of the sun filtering through the adjacent courtyard.
Inside the home, concrete floors can be a stylish addition. In this Sydney terrace they have been combined with the homeowners’ love of craft and Scandinavian design to create a visually interesting space. The concrete floors have also been coloured to evoke a warmer feel. Concrete slab floors are durable, long-lasting and easy to clean. Here, they are warmed by the heat of the sun filtering through the adjacent courtyard.
Concrete can be dyed, stamped, embossed and polished to complement your home’s design. In this eclectic kitchen, concrete floors enrich the cool blue cupboards, subway tile walls and dark wood benchtops. For this renovation, the architect removed the old kitchen’s peach-coloured floor tiles, and simply polished, stained and lacquered the concrete subfloor underneath.
5. Stairs
Concrete stairways are beautifully sculptural and can become both an architectural and artistic feature in the home. In this three-level home, a single stairway weaves the three levels together. It begins with a heavy concrete base and rises to a luminous platform of steel and glass.
Concrete stairways are beautifully sculptural and can become both an architectural and artistic feature in the home. In this three-level home, a single stairway weaves the three levels together. It begins with a heavy concrete base and rises to a luminous platform of steel and glass.
6. Room dividers
Concrete can be moulded to fit any space and shape, and here the massive column and capital is a standout in this loft apartment. Warm timber and brick walls soften its industrial feel. Although it only uses a small area of the valuable floor space, its visual dominance is enough to demarcate the dining room from the living area.
Concrete can be moulded to fit any space and shape, and here the massive column and capital is a standout in this loft apartment. Warm timber and brick walls soften its industrial feel. Although it only uses a small area of the valuable floor space, its visual dominance is enough to demarcate the dining room from the living area.
7. Ceiling
Concrete is used in the same apartment for a jaw-dropping ceiling. Its visual weight is lightened by wood panel walls and wooden floors. Through this sculptural use of concrete and contrasting materials, the room becomes art in itself and requires little decoration or adornment.
Concrete is used in the same apartment for a jaw-dropping ceiling. Its visual weight is lightened by wood panel walls and wooden floors. Through this sculptural use of concrete and contrasting materials, the room becomes art in itself and requires little decoration or adornment.
8. Kitchen bench
A bold concrete kitchen island blends in seamlessly in this warm and elegant kitchen. A silver extractor harmonises with the edginess of the concrete. Concrete kitchen benches can be left raw, polished to mirror finish, or treated with natural sealants.
A bold concrete kitchen island blends in seamlessly in this warm and elegant kitchen. A silver extractor harmonises with the edginess of the concrete. Concrete kitchen benches can be left raw, polished to mirror finish, or treated with natural sealants.
In this inner-city Sydney terrace, a concrete benchtop and concrete floors are softened by wood panel kitchen cupboards. The room has a cool and industrial feel yet remains warm, inviting and elegant.
TELL US
Are you pro concrete or against? What do you love or loathe about it? Are you thinking about using it in a unique way in your own home? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
TELL US
Are you pro concrete or against? What do you love or loathe about it? Are you thinking about using it in a unique way in your own home? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
Concrete forms the long, rectangular ground floor as well as much of the interior structure of this three-storey home … and why disguise it? It works beautifully with the adjoining structural use of timber. With both the concrete and timber finished surfaces exposed, the materials work in unison to become striking aesthetic features.