These custom concrete countertops and kitchen island were designed to incorporate leftover tiles from the backsplash, creating a cohesive color palette throughout.
Edge detail of the island with inlaid glass tiles. The island also has crushed glass fragments scattered across the top.
Along with the glass-tile edge, the island features interesting angles, including a cantilever on one side to accommodate seating.
On the perimeter countertops, glass swirls run through the top into the edge.
A support beam becomes the center point for a sunburst design of glass tile, which you can also see in the base of the countertop.
This renovated kitchen in a home in Easton, Pa., makes the most of the leftovers, using extra tiles from the backsplash in the concrete countertops and kitchen island to create a beautiful mosaic of color strewn across a canvas of white.
“The clients felt that concrete was the best countertop material to incorporate their glass tile,” says Jordan Hardiman of Concrete Decor Studio and Store, Bethlehem, Pa. “They designed the patterns, and we assisted them in laying it out for them, which resulted in a totally custom look.”
A white-portland-cement-based precast concrete countertop mix served as the perfect backdrop for the tile, allowing the colors to pop. Whole pieces of tile were incorporated along the edge of the kitchen island, and crushed tile fragments were scattered over the top. On the perimeter countertops, swirls of glass run through the top into the edge. And around a support beam, the tiles were artfully arranged in a sunburst design.
“To get the tiles embedded into the edges of the kitchen island, we lined the edge of the form before the concrete pour with double-sided tape and placed the tiles that way,” says Hardiman. “To expose the glass pieces embedded in the countertop surfaces, we polished the countertops then sealed everything with a high-gloss water-based polyurethane sealer.”
Custom countertops such as these are a growing market for Concrete Décor Studio, as more homeowners become aware of the design possibilities. “We have definitely seen a growth in interest for custom countertops after we added some samples to our showroom. A lot of potential customers do not know that incorporating tile or any other inlay into a countertop is an option, so it is great to educate them on the topic,” says Hardiman.
Project submitted by:
Olvin Espinosa and Jordan Hardiman
Concrete Decor Studio and Store, Bethlehem, Pa.
Materials used:
Precast concrete countertop mix: Surecrete Xtreme series
Countertop sealer: Surecrete XS-327
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