The industrial concrete trend has been around for some years and it shows no signs of slowing in 2018. With the materials often featured on TV shows and in interior design magazines such Grand Designs concrete kitchen worktops, splashbacks and cladded walls are becoming highly fashionable, but there are shortcomings with the real thing which is why the likes of 'concrete reproduction' from Nobilia and others like it have been such a success.
As Jon Stanley the vice president of marketing at quartz kitchen and bathroom surface manufacturer Caesarstone UK says "with poured concrete a specialist is required, it is costly, can be messy and time-consuming to make; prone to cracking, staining and bacterial growth. Not to mention the environmental impact of real concrete production is huge, even without the added weight of trend-led demand in residential design."
As Stanley adds, concrete also needs considerable maintenance which is why materials such as quartz which Caesarstone’s supply, have become a hugely popular man made stone material in recent years. Rugged Concrete quartz material is its tactile texture; it has a coarse appearance that authentically emulates the randomly pitted finish of concrete, whilst remaining smooth to the touch.
The Caesarstone Concrete series embraces the trend for industrial décor and raw materials used in design. The Concrete Series comprises a variety of finishes that exquisitely achieve the coarseness of concrete to create a real design statement. The addition this year of 4033 Rugged Concrete strives to push these boundaries even further. Rugged Concrete will make a daring and bold addition to a room; its urban inspired design accentuated by dark grey tones and unique imperfections offers a textured look to its finish.
Sleek Concrete™ encapsulates the look and feel of fine concrete with a warm grey base and is the perfect solution for those looking to create that modern industrial look, but with the durability and ease of maintenance that Caesarstone quartz surfaces are renowned for.
Further enhancing the overall appearance of Sleek Concrete™ is the "Concrete" matt finish which brings an authentic industrial patina, look and feel to the surface and like all Caesarstone surfaces, never requires sealing. Compared to the polished finish on other Caesarstone designs, the smooth Concrete matte finish doesn't disguise marks as easily meaning more regular cleaning may be required.