First We Want You to Know:
Next week master craftsman Zac Coletti is leading a two-day comprehensive Buddy Rhodes workshop at his Vero Beach Studio, August 20-21st. This is a great opportunity to train in the warm breeze of the mid-Florida coast with a practicing BR Artisan who loves to teach as well as run his own business in concrete countertop creation. Check it out: www.coletticoncretestudio.com. Or view our nationwide class page.
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Four Ideas to Help You Market Concrete Countertops:
"Why should I use concrete countertops in my kitchen?" the client asks. What are your answers? Try these, but remember, the best concrete countertop fabricators are true artisans, like the woodworker who hand crafts custom cabinetry; you cannot compete on price with countertops that are made in mass quantity on an assembly line, and you don't want to. Not just anyone can make concrete countertops beautifully. It takes time and funds and the trained artistry of a unique individual to accomplish the feat of turning out a masterful concrete countertop.
Why concrete?
1. Flexibility of Form and Color
A homeowner may bring you a vintage tile, a river rock, grandma's antique vase, a piece of fabric, or a photograph of an Italian villa's stone floor. From this a sample tile that reflects the subtlety of color and texture is made and the customer, perhaps after a couple of tries, will find the surface that reflects that river rock or fabric. Curves and angles, thickness or thinness, cantilevers and creative edging: like clay in the hands of a sculptor, the concrete countertop can form to the creative imagination of the designer.
2. "Green" Attributes
Local and sustainable, a long lasting and refinishable material, capable of holding pounds of recycled natural material (shells or broken glass) or memorabilia (used CDs), with no off-gasses.
3. Warmth of Feel and Style
Like pottery from the kiln, or a carved wooden bowl, finished concrete elicits the yearning for heart and hand with its earthen smoothness and warmth to the touch, like an antidote to industrial material.
4. Local Artistry
Not only is it Leed certifiable to use locally sourced and hand crafted building material, it is appealing to be able to appreciatively cite the name of the artist who made one's kitchen or bath countertops. A Stickley chair, a Dior dress, or a Buddy Rhodes (your name here) countertop reflects a homeowner's appreciation for true craftsmanship and bespoke custom creation.
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Share Your Own Ideas at the Buddy Rhodes Station
You can add your own ideas, comments and photos to these ideas and more at buddyrhodes.ning.com. Buddy Rhodes Concrete Station provides a forum for those concrete casters using Buddy's material and or sensibility to create in concrete. Come and just "listen" or join the conversation at the Station.
Chicago skyline grill. BR Artisan Jeremia Sorenson brought his latest "Creation to the Station" on Aug. 4. grill skyline
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Want classes?
Check out all upcoming classes in San Francisco at www.buddyrhodes.com: San Francisco's Three Day Comprehensive in September, or the Advanced GFRC class in October with Brandon Gore.Check out all nationwide classes including the Knoxville's one day classes.
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