Aug 8 2007
It's no doubt that the most important feature in a newly remodeled kitchen is the amount of counter space. With an added 18' of counter space, this custom concrete island provides a view suitable to meet every cooks dream. The Concrete Network, the most comprehensive resource for concrete information on the web, features a truly unique concrete kitchen island and countertop showcasing the versatility and adaptability of concrete as a building material. This recently finished custom concrete piece serves as a focal point in a very unusual home.
Completed 18ft long concrete island, resembling a ship.
Working with the homes' unusual floor plan-- one bedroom, 13 bathrooms, and not a straight line in sight, this black concrete island was a challenge for Stone Soup Concrete, a decorative concrete company in Mass., to build and place. Owner, Michael Karmody, was eager to take on the challenge of this massive concrete creation.
Resembling a ship, or perhaps a giant concrete surfboard, the 18' long island is jet black and feels right at home amidst the home's glass and steel structure. Although several architectural factors were taken into consideration in creating the shape of the island, one does not have to completely understand the shape to appreciate it.
A wooden bracing system was created to serve as control points for the shape. For the interior form, Stone Soup workers used Styrofoam that was also supported by wooden cribbing. The concrete mix used was standard low-slump, fairly stiff mix. The black color was integrally mixed into the concrete and placement was never stopped so that the entire base was completed in one pour. Wire mesh and fiberglass were used for reinforcement.