Decorative Concrete: Designer Floors Take a New Direction
Designer floors have taken a new direction with decorative concrete as one of the popular options among homeowners and businesses. A recent article in the Spokesman-Review featured the versatile material that is being used at Artworks Spokane. The concrete floor has been changed into another art area with chalk paint. Artworks Spokane is one of many businesses and homes that has found concrete to be the right solution.
Concrete Floors in the News
Liz and Lane Gober have shared their renovation of a home in New Orleans with the Times-Picayune. The couple has decided to keep the concrete floor but has changed it by creating a “subtle checkerboard pattern by staining alternating blocks a rusty brown to contrast slightly with the slate color.” Mike Ramsey also used staining for his home in Pittsburgh to achieve a unique look for the polished concrete floor with charcoal tones. The trend is international with Polished Concrete X being used in multiple homes and businesses. Concrete floors are now considered one of the top designer choices.
Designer Floor Idea: Riverbed
The versatile nature of concrete floors allows for multiple design choices, and the River Lodge on the Susquehanna in Harrisburg has turned to nature for inspiration. The concrete floors resemble a riverbed with natural rocks included in the design. The floors have been polished and stamped to give a smooth appearance. The homeowner “hand-picked” many of the larger stones used in the process.
Designer Floor Idea: Floral Motifs
Floral motifs offer another option for homeowners who want a unique design for their concrete floors. The idea was recently featured in a space that used gray floors but accentuated them with floral patterns. Using simple leaf, stem and flower shapes, the patterns were able to soften the look of the floors without overwhelming the space.
Designer Floor Idea: Stained Mimicry
HGTV has featured a room that uses stained concrete to mimic the look of expensive wood floors. Instead of using “exotic wenge or ipe wood,” the homeowner has found a way to copy the trend without destroying his budget. The final result is a dark floor that is strong, functional and beautiful.
Designer Floor Idea: Intricate Patterns
Chris Swanson has been able to transform a slab of concrete into a spectacular design with intricate patterns. The process was lengthy, but the final result shows the versatility of concrete floors. Swanson has explained that the design was sketched in chalk initially and later dyes were applied after scoring. The completed project has a large display of shapes and patterns in pink, yellow, red, blue, orange and other colors.
Designer Floor Idea: Stripes
Stripes offer a simple design idea that can be accomplished with a DIY project. Brian Patrick Flynn recommends using three different colors to achieve bold and large stripes on concrete floors. Since the design can be created by simply taping off the right areas before painting, it is easier than some other patterns or complicated projects.
Designer Floor Idea: Drama
A dramatic concrete floor may not fit every home or business, but the idea has been embraced by the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. The building’s floors were polished and dyed to a black color from a light gray that had damage. The solid, dark color has been achieved on 3,000 square feet of flooring.
Designer Floor Idea: Rugs
Instead of relying on solid colors, homeowners can recreate rugs on their concrete floors without the hassle of actually buying one. HGTV provides a DIY guide to making a large pattern with painter’s tape and coloring the design. The faux rug idea can also be accomplished with stenciling on concrete floors. One homeowner was inspired by Moroccan tiles to create a blue faux rug for a room.
