Who would have thought that concrete would burst into our lives, becoming a trendy kitchen finishing material! However, 2020 and 2021 proclaimed concrete in the kitchen in any form, on any surface, the absolute fashion. That is why we decided to devote a separate article to the concrete topic. How will it look kitchen design in grayscale?
Concrete can be safely called a historical material, because more than 4000 years ago people who used it in the construction of structures already knew about it. Since then, the composition of concrete has undergone some changes, but the use for construction purposes has remained the same. And, if earlier in the interior of houses / apartments it was practically not found in its pure form, now the trend has become to create an interior “like concrete”. Kitchen fronts and apron, floor, walls, ceiling, countertop... This gray material can be placed anywhere. Now let's talk about everything in more detail.
Content
- Kitchen facade for concrete
- Concrete kitchen walls
- Concrete floor
- Concrete kitchen apron
- Concrete worktop
- Concrete kitchen styles
- How to use concrete in interior design. Video
Kitchen facade for concrete
It hasn't been long since concrete was considered a rough finish. Now the presence of this material in the kitchen speaks of style, fashion, individuality. The main thing is to use it tastefully. Kitchen fronts can have not only the corresponding shades of gray, with complex shadow transitions, but also differ in a decorative coating that resembles a natural material. In this case, the surface can be glossy or matte.
In order for the kitchen not to visually seem rough, heavy, it is not recommended to use gray tones for concrete on all surfaces. The darker and deeper the gray, the darker the kitchen will turn out. Consider a combination concrete and wood - one of the most common materials in the world. This could be, for example, wooden table top or a wood-like kitchen facade.
Maximum use of natural ingredients in the home - kitchen trend 2021. And this is not only a race for fashion. The wood will perfectly set off the concrete facade, even in a dark gray color.
On a concrete background, use wood in different shades: from light wood (all the way to white) to dark wood. The choice will depend on personal preference. Light shades will emphasize the sophistication of the kitchen, filling it with light, and dark tones - brutality and style.
A more economical option is plasticwhich also goes well with concrete. Due to the variety in color and texture, plastic facade can become an accent in your concrete kitchen.
The most noble colors trendy in 2021, the elegance of the interior is especially emphasized. This is a deep blue, green, olive, mint color, as well as dusty rose, burnt brick, etc.
Concrete blends very well with brick - what characterizes the popular in our time loft style. Recently, a similar combination can be found in other styles, for example, modern.
To get away from the oppressive dark gray concrete, make the top façade in lighter shades of gray. Such a transition will only emphasize the design of the kitchen.
Concrete kitchen walls
Fashion dictates its own rules, and now many are thinking about the desire to create a kitchen interior for concrete. Where to begin? From facades, walls, floors... Choose a concrete pattern for all surfaces at once? No, all surfaces should not be “concreted”. Let's talk about the walls.
Wallpaper. The easiest and most affordable way to "dress" kitchen walls in concrete is to buy wallpaper a certain color. These wallpapers are only gaining popularity, but in stores you can already find a sufficient number of them with the effect of "concrete". Wallpaper is presented in standard width: 0.53 m or 1.06 m.
Decorative plaster. Another common method to turn a kitchen wall into a concrete surface is to use microcement (micro concrete). If we talk about the composition of such decorative plaster, then it is cement, water-based resin, additives, mineral pigments. After applying microcement to the surface, it can and should be varnished to protect it from dirt and moisture.
Advantages of micro concrete:
- environmentally friendly product, because natural materials are the basis;
- resistance to shock, physical damage, exposure to chemicals;
- long service life;
- absolute seamlessness of the coating, which means the number of bacteria, dirt in the kitchen will be minimal;
- laying on any surface, even uneven;
- does not take away the kitchen space, does not increase the load on the building structure, because the layer thickness is no more than 3 mm;
- decorative plaster makes cleaning easier, allowing the use of classic detergents.
The main disadvantage of micro-concrete is the subtleties and complexity of work when applying the material to the wall, so it is better to seek help here. to an experienced professional.
Currently, manufacturers offer a wide range of decorative plaster in texture (coarse, medium roughness), as well as in color. The variety of finishing materials does not end there. You can apply various varnish coatings (from matte to glossy), as well as paints with many effects, for example, metal.
Do not forget that microcement is applied to kitchen surfaces exclusively by hand, so the final drawing on the wall / floor will turn out to be unique.
Tile. Porcelain stoneware under concrete for walls is used the same as for floors. If for flooring it is better to consider monolithic tiles, as well as, for example, square slabs, which are more familiar to us, then any size is suitable for walls. Do not be afraid of what is for small kitchen large porcelain stoneware will not work. Another principle works here: the smaller the kitchen, the more holistic it will seem due to the absence of joints or seams.
Keep in mind that porcelain stoneware drills very poorly - to hang something on the wall, you have to work on each hole for a long time - drill with a special "pen" on glass (or precisely on porcelain stoneware) at a low rotational speed of the drill - no more than 1500 revolutions per minute.
It is better to choose 1000 revolutions and regularly wet the drill with water - this way it will last longer.
Wall panels. This is not about classic plastic wall panels. Concrete panels are a small layer of concrete on a rigid but flexible base. Manufacturers offer a wide range in color, texture and even the shape of the material: matte, glossy, with rough surface, with the effect of aged, with stains, interspersed, imprint of wooden formwork (oh how!); regular hexagonal, square, etc. The thickness of such a panel is about 6 mm.
Since the concrete-look wall panels are treated with a special varnish, they can also be used as a kitchen backsplash - water is not dangerous for them.
Concrete floor
For many years in Europe, the most popular flooring material has been tile without a pattern, imitating shabby construction concrete. The surfaces of such material are presented in different types and shades, which allows you to create your own unique kitchen interior. Floor porcelain stoneware for concrete goes well with furniture with metal inserts, legs, as well as with any wooden surfaces.
When making concrete, stones of different fractions can be added to it. This technology, known as “terrazzo“, Is simple: stones, marble, specially processed glass of various fractions are poured with concrete or lime. This combination of components makes the floor very strong, durable, and the smooth surface and the absence of any joints when cleaning the floor will not bring any difficulties. The designers did not stop at using terrazzo only on the floor. This material can be found anywhere: as an apron, countertop, on the wall, etc.
Micro concrete also suitable for floor covering, however, the workflow will take quite a long time. Micro concrete is a durable material, but for the floor you will need to apply it in several layers, unlike walls. A big plus in using this material on the floor is that you do not need to pre-level the surface before applying it.
Concrete kitchen apron
The concrete apron is not yet as popular as from ceramic tiles, mosaics, glass, of stainless steel or plastic. Varieties of kitchen aprons a huge amount, however, it is 2021 that is marked by the year of concrete - an environmentally friendly material. So what component can a concrete kitchen apron consist of?
First, it can be monolithic tiles in color and texture, like concrete. An apron from smaller slabs - square, rectangular, will also look good and stylish. In this case, the arrangement of rectangular plates on the apron can be performed both horizontally (with or without displacement) and vertically, which is the trend of the year.
Secondly, one can choose decorative plasterwhich we talked about earlier. The main thing is to treat the surface of the apron with a special varnish, since in the working area of the kitchen there is a large amount of water and products that can leave traces of drops and juice on the apron. If you are worried about the appearance of decorative plaster in the area of the apron, install a protective transparent screen, for example, glass, over it. It will be stylish, modern and effective.
Concrete worktop
Most readers know that different materials can be used for kitchen countertops: artificial or natural stone, wood, glass, stainless steel, ceramic tiles, etc. This is described in detail in our article “Kitchen countertops: choose, look, analyze“. But the work surface can be made of natural concrete - and it will be very stylish, practical, reliable and durable.
Some customers dream of seeing their kitchen countertop not only concrete, but also monolithic with a sink, without a single seam. This is also quite possible. See:
Concrete is afraid of water, which is abundant in the kitchen. Due to the porous composition of the material, it can absorb moisture, dirt, leaving unpleasant shades. In addition, acid is terrible for concrete (for example, from lemon), which, in reaction with it, will leave a stain. Therefore, such a table top must be treated with a special coating, and the varnish can be glossy or matte - at your choice. After proper protection, no pollution, drops of water and other liquids are scary.
Concrete kitchen styles
Concrete is not a material for everyone style. Austere gray is unlikely to "fit" into a kitchen style shabby, provence, classic... Simplicity, minimum decor, clear lines are more suitable here. And these are styles loft, minimalism, high tech.
How to use concrete in interior design. Video
A concrete-colored kitchen is not a place for little things, an abundant amount of decor and a variety of colors. But the presence of a bright accent is quite appropriate if it is, for example, a deep green shade of furniture, a blue chandelier or a mustard-colored apron. Do not forget that gray has a huge number of shades, both in the dark and in the light side. Experiment, play with shadows, saturate the kitchen with deep tones and don't forget about other colors that will dilute the monotony of the gray kitchen.
