Length - 04:18 Fu-Tung Cheng, award-winning designer and author of Concrete Countertops, shows the first concrete countertops he designed and built in his own home 25 years ago. Cheng began the design of these concrete countertops by first thinking about how they are used. Cheng was cooking at children's camps, on ships, and at a few restaurants which led him to thinking about making a very practical countertop. At the time, he could not afford even formica countertops so he found a material that was durable, inexpensive, and could be molded into a very unique surface. Concrete was the material of choice. From the germination of this idea, he then thought about creating a laboratory sink where cooking ingredients or spilled soup, for example, could simply be brushed into the sink. The food preparation sink is separated from the clean-up sink by a sloping drain board and cutting board area. A second sloping drain board is incorporated into the concrete surface next to the main sink. Reliefs in the concrete countertop surface serve practical uses. Chopping boards can be placed into these reliefs, slide from one end of the sink to another, and allow the chef to sweep chopped food into a bowl over the sink as opposed to over the floor. Two sinks and chopping boards are incorporated into the design so two chefs can use the space at the same time without rubbing elbows. Another design idea Cheng uses is metal trivet strips to protect the concrete counters from pots and pans. The countertop has aged and still has a timeless quality. People want to touch it and feel the character that has developed over the concrete countertop's 25-year life. Find a Concrete Contractor 23 Services in 200 Metros -- U.S. and Canada © 2008 ConcreteNetwork.com None of this site may be reproduced without written permission |