Studio Concrete, Inc., Like Homeowners

It began as three brothers who embarked on a venture in order to do something together. Now, just one brother remains involved in the decorative concrete company — the brother for whom perhaps concrete runs thicker than blood, who feels right at home with concrete and loves the endless possibilities, creating some of the most unique concrete countertops in the Chicago area.

Studio Concrete, based in Glen Ellyn is four years old and specializes in concrete countertops, fireplace surrounds, tile, and other colored concrete projects.

Owner Pat Brugh, whose professional background is in real estate and retail, together with his brothers forged the company at a time when they were looking for something they could do together. They ultimately bought a pre-cast facility.

Clients started asking for countertops, so they began producing them. Brugh's brothers eventually got out of the business, but his own passion for concrete kept the company thriving. He now has a mold maker and a laborer to make up for their absence.

"I really got into it, especially when I started making the countertops," he said. "I have a good sense of color. I enjoy putting colors together and achieving a different look in the concrete."

Brugh especially enjoys mixing glass and metals and grinding the concrete until the materials sparkle through, spreading warmth and personality throughout its surroundings, much like terrazzo.

His first concrete job involved creating balusters for one of the Chicago Northern Trust Corp. branches. The building was constructed some 100 years ago. The steel had decayed, and back then sealers weren't routinely used. So Brugh was asked to create something that matched the granite. And he ultimately created concrete look-alikes and did it for a lot less than granite would have cost.

"That was the first thing that really got me hooked," he said.

Another early project that got Brugh's concrete juices flowing was creating part of the pier entranceway along Burnham Harbor — a popular area in downtown Chicago on Lake Michigan adjacent to Soldier Field.

"We matched the concrete they had. This project really gave me the itch — it's high profile, right at Soldier Field," he said.

Since then, Brugh's home has transformed into a concrete sample extravaganza.

"My wife keeps telling me to take the samples to the shop," he laughs.

After owning a hat store in Vail, a clothing store in Aspen and subdividing land in Baja California, concrete consistently holds Brugh's attention and continues to bedazzle him. He loves to experiment. Whether it's taking light gray cement, adding multi-colored glass to create a confetti look or mixing bronze in the concrete, he loves to explore the possibilities.

And that, he says, is also what piques the interest of homeowners, especially when it comes to countertops.

"With concrete there are a lot more things that can be done," he said. "People can pick whatever color they want — the possibilities are endless."

People, Brugh said, are looking for something different — something personal to them. Brugh had one client who wanted golf balls in his vanity, so Brugh set and epoxied them in the concrete. Brugh is also working on putting clients' initials and names in concrete. They especially want that in the kitchen and master bedroom and bathroom.

"If you ask any Realtor what the focus of the house is, they'll tell you it's the kitchen and then the master bedroom," he said.

Brugh said he often plays a role in helping clients envision the wide expanse of possibilities, especially after he sees what else is going on in the room — the style, colors, materials, and patterns.

Brugh recently finished a table for a sushi bar. The six-foot-by-six-foot table was ground with a brown-colored stone. The backsplash was accented with bronze filings — real subtle, but enough to be noticed and give it an extra sparkle.

Another one of Brugh's favorite projects is the kitchen countertop he fashioned for the owner of an old English-style house with flagstone walls. But once inside the look turned contemporary: Brugh produced a bold yellow countertop.

"It turned out spectacular," Brugh said.

Aside from countertops, Brugh has produced some other unique projects, including an outdoor potting area with a concrete countertop, copper sink and spicket, and a potting bench. He's now dreaming up ways to create a concrete entertainment center.

Another of Brugh's goals is to someday have a showroom where clients and potential clients can see samples of projects, colors, and textures. Brugh especially admires Colorado Hardscape's showroom, which was created because the company players knew that today's concrete could dramatically change the look and atmosphere of a room.

Visitors can see how the concrete looks sealed versus unsealed, or how water will bead up on the concrete. They can move blocks around in different colors and configurations. They can try to match colors in the designer's palette or color scheme, and most importantly, they can see just how impressive the array of concrete products is.

"Some companies have showrooms," Brugh said. "I think you'll be seeing a lot more of them. My goal is to have something where people can come and see the process — maybe even help do it themselves."

In fact, Brugh says that when his neighbors or friends request a concrete countertop or other creation, they come help.

"It's messy and dirty — it's fun," he laughs.

Brugh, who estimates that about 80 percent of his work is residential, said he's been keeping busy and is at the point that he has all the work he can handle. In fact, he's had to turn a few projects down.

One of Brugh's ongoing challenges is finding the ideal employee who can help in both the installation and mold-making process.

"It's tough to find someone who is detail-oriented. And it's crucial that the person who does the templating does the installation because he sees it all. It's not something you can put on paper," he said.

Meanwhile, Brugh derives inspiration from classic European architecture, something that continues to amaze him on his visits there.

"The Louvre in Paris has a lot of polished concrete. It's polished to a glass-like finish," he said. "There's a lot around Paris."

Brugh said he even asked around to find out what they use to clean the concrete.

"They just need to clean it with water — that's it," he said.

Closer to home, Brugh said he thinks concrete countertops will gain momentum.

"I think it's going to grow like crazy," he said. "People don't like to be limited to a box of 20 samples."

Studio Concrete Inc.
Patrick Brugh
541 Park Row
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
(630) 330-9203
(330) 469-4413 FAX
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