EDGY, FUN, BEAUTIFUL…
CONCRETE
GETS A MAKEOVER!
CONCRETE
GETS A MAKEOVER!
| Interior Design Q&A |
 |
Concrete designs are one of the hot new trends for patios, floors,
entryways, countertops, pool decks, bathtubs, furniture and more. From
elaborate expansive new homes to budgeted one-room remodels,
stunning concrete creations are growing into a viable interior design
option. Concrete is no longer plain, grey and boring, it is now a beautiful
decorative element.
FashionQandA.com caught up with local Florida concrete interior
designer/contractor Zachary Coletti, owner of Concrete Canvas, LLC, a
new and emerging company who is pioneering this “haute” new trend.
entryways, countertops, pool decks, bathtubs, furniture and more. From
elaborate expansive new homes to budgeted one-room remodels,
stunning concrete creations are growing into a viable interior design
option. Concrete is no longer plain, grey and boring, it is now a beautiful
decorative element.
FashionQandA.com caught up with local Florida concrete interior
designer/contractor Zachary Coletti, owner of Concrete Canvas, LLC, a
new and emerging company who is pioneering this “haute” new trend.
FQA: When I think of concrete, I think of a sidewalks or buildings. How has concrete evolved
into a stylish interior-design element?
Zachary: Concrete really lends itself to interior design, mainly because of its versatility and
appeal. For countertops, It starts as a formless sort of “soup” that we can add just about
anything to…glass, metal, fibers, etc…and then form it into any shape we can imagine. In turn
that form can also have function. Its substance and mass creates a warm tactile presence that
is inviting and timeless. It can be adapted to any style and compliment other natural materials.
Finished concrete is nothing like the rough sidewalks or streets that we most commonly
associate concrete with. Really, the only thing that a concrete sidewalk has in common with our
countertops is the word “concrete.” Concrete has been around for a long, long time, but only in
the last 30 years have we found the beauty and versatility in the material, and new innovations in
how and when to use it are being created everyday.
into a stylish interior-design element?
Zachary: Concrete really lends itself to interior design, mainly because of its versatility and
appeal. For countertops, It starts as a formless sort of “soup” that we can add just about
anything to…glass, metal, fibers, etc…and then form it into any shape we can imagine. In turn
that form can also have function. Its substance and mass creates a warm tactile presence that
is inviting and timeless. It can be adapted to any style and compliment other natural materials.
Finished concrete is nothing like the rough sidewalks or streets that we most commonly
associate concrete with. Really, the only thing that a concrete sidewalk has in common with our
countertops is the word “concrete.” Concrete has been around for a long, long time, but only in
the last 30 years have we found the beauty and versatility in the material, and new innovations in
how and when to use it are being created everyday.
| Written by: Rose Smith, Senior Executive |
FQA: Give us some background on how you got started? Where do you see this industry or
trade in the next 5 years?
Zachary: I got started in a home that I was remodeling as an investment for my mother and me.
It was about 5 years ago and I had no idea what to do with the floors. The carpet was really bad
and I didn’t want carpet again (It holds pet dandruff and nasty stuff in it and I don’t find it
necessary unless it’s in a bedroom). Tile seemed boring and too linear, plus I didn’t want dirty
grout lines. I wanted something different. My father was the one who actually said, “acid stain
the concrete!” Since then, we now use earth friendly stains and sealers and are able to create
completely custom projects using various types of materials. Really, from there the rest is
history. In five years, I would like to have our own line of basins, furniture, etc., and would like to
have a patented mix design for these elements. I don’t necessarily want to be a big company,
but I would like to be well known and sought after for our fine work and designs.
FQA: Concrete design is an artistic medium, where did your artistic talent come from and
how do you translate it into this business?
Zachary: I have a fairly artistic family. My grandparents were artistic in many facets and my mom
and dad are both great musicians and singers. I come from a long line of stonecutters,
painters, musicians, etc. I guess it’s just in the genes. I happen to be somewhat logical too. I
think that you need both artistic talent and logical tendencies in this business. It takes a
balance of both the right and left-brain…form and function.
FQA: Describe your typical day when working on a project or creating a design?
Zachary: Mostly hard work - 90% of our work is preparation, cleaning, masking, mold making,
pattern line snapping, material mixing, rock washing…yes, rock washing and much, much
more. We get to be creative too, but most of that is dreaming up the design.
FQA: What kind of music do you listen to when you are working or creating a custom piece?
Zachary: So much music, it moves the soul. We like to listen to rock, folk, jazz, reggae…it really
just kind of depends on how we’re feeling.
FQA: Scientists and architects have rediscovered concrete’s potential to save energy, but
what makes it a “green” product for use in interior design projects?
Zachary: Great question! First of all, concrete is primarily made from locally attained
ingredients. This cuts down on the transportation and energy it takes to bring slab type
materials like marble or granite to our location. Although it takes quite a bit of energy to make
cement (it makes up 20%-35% of concrete), we can substitute about 30% of it with recycled
materials that actually make the final product three times stronger! In fact, we can use many
recycled products in the entire mix, like recycled carpet fibers, glass, crushed concrete and
granite, and many other recycled materials. There is actually a pigment that we can use that not
only gives us a true bright white, but also absorbs pollutants at the same time. Concrete’s
thermal efficiency reduces the need for air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter.
FQA: The boom in decorative concrete, outdoor living and sustainable design are in full
force. Who is your target market and what types of projects are you creating utilizing
concrete?
Zachary: Our target market is generally the high-end market for many reasons. Mainly, there are
never two projects that will ever be the same. The main appeal of concrete is its ability to be
customized, molded and shaped into any form one can imagine. Concrete countertops are
priced in the $85-$150 per square foot range. Our handmade tile is priced about $50 per
square foot. Stained concrete flooring on the other hand is relatively affordable, and actually will
save the homeowner or business owner money over the long term compared to other floor
coverings. The price for stained floors is on par with mid grade tile or wood floors.
trade in the next 5 years?
Zachary: I got started in a home that I was remodeling as an investment for my mother and me.
It was about 5 years ago and I had no idea what to do with the floors. The carpet was really bad
and I didn’t want carpet again (It holds pet dandruff and nasty stuff in it and I don’t find it
necessary unless it’s in a bedroom). Tile seemed boring and too linear, plus I didn’t want dirty
grout lines. I wanted something different. My father was the one who actually said, “acid stain
the concrete!” Since then, we now use earth friendly stains and sealers and are able to create
completely custom projects using various types of materials. Really, from there the rest is
history. In five years, I would like to have our own line of basins, furniture, etc., and would like to
have a patented mix design for these elements. I don’t necessarily want to be a big company,
but I would like to be well known and sought after for our fine work and designs.
FQA: Concrete design is an artistic medium, where did your artistic talent come from and
how do you translate it into this business?
Zachary: I have a fairly artistic family. My grandparents were artistic in many facets and my mom
and dad are both great musicians and singers. I come from a long line of stonecutters,
painters, musicians, etc. I guess it’s just in the genes. I happen to be somewhat logical too. I
think that you need both artistic talent and logical tendencies in this business. It takes a
balance of both the right and left-brain…form and function.
FQA: Describe your typical day when working on a project or creating a design?
Zachary: Mostly hard work - 90% of our work is preparation, cleaning, masking, mold making,
pattern line snapping, material mixing, rock washing…yes, rock washing and much, much
more. We get to be creative too, but most of that is dreaming up the design.
FQA: What kind of music do you listen to when you are working or creating a custom piece?
Zachary: So much music, it moves the soul. We like to listen to rock, folk, jazz, reggae…it really
just kind of depends on how we’re feeling.
FQA: Scientists and architects have rediscovered concrete’s potential to save energy, but
what makes it a “green” product for use in interior design projects?
Zachary: Great question! First of all, concrete is primarily made from locally attained
ingredients. This cuts down on the transportation and energy it takes to bring slab type
materials like marble or granite to our location. Although it takes quite a bit of energy to make
cement (it makes up 20%-35% of concrete), we can substitute about 30% of it with recycled
materials that actually make the final product three times stronger! In fact, we can use many
recycled products in the entire mix, like recycled carpet fibers, glass, crushed concrete and
granite, and many other recycled materials. There is actually a pigment that we can use that not
only gives us a true bright white, but also absorbs pollutants at the same time. Concrete’s
thermal efficiency reduces the need for air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter.
FQA: The boom in decorative concrete, outdoor living and sustainable design are in full
force. Who is your target market and what types of projects are you creating utilizing
concrete?
Zachary: Our target market is generally the high-end market for many reasons. Mainly, there are
never two projects that will ever be the same. The main appeal of concrete is its ability to be
customized, molded and shaped into any form one can imagine. Concrete countertops are
priced in the $85-$150 per square foot range. Our handmade tile is priced about $50 per
square foot. Stained concrete flooring on the other hand is relatively affordable, and actually will
save the homeowner or business owner money over the long term compared to other floor
coverings. The price for stained floors is on par with mid grade tile or wood floors.
Concrete can be customized, molded and shaped into your desired specifications.
Pictured on this page are projects designed and
created by the talented team at Concrete Canvas.
created by the talented team at Concrete Canvas.
FQA: I’ve seen some beautiful concrete floors that look quite
extravagant, what separates concrete from granite or marble stone?
Zachary: For flooring, concrete is different in so many ways. The most
obvious is that an entire slab can be stained and transformed into a
beautiful seamless floor without the necessary grout lines that come
with marble or granite. Also, we can achieve very similar effects to
marble or granite without the impact on our planet from cutting into the
mountains and shipping the material overseas. Concrete is actually a
natural stone and the stains that we use just bring out its hidden
beauty. The cost of an intricately designed stained concrete floor would
be a fraction of what it would cost to do the same with marble or granite.
FQA: This month’s issue of Fashionqanda.com focuses on
“Designers who don’t play by the rules,” what rules have you broken
with this edgy design concept?
Zachary: Well, we’re still working on breaking the rules. In our market,
I would say that just the use of our products in design is pushing the
envelope. When I think of not playing by the rules, I think of Christoph
Ingenhoven and his “Main Train Station” in Stuttgart Germany, or
Richard Meier with his “Jubilee Church” in Rome. Those are beacons
of inspiration for me.
FQA: What do you do in your free to time to escape the “concrete
jungle?”
Zachary: I have a 9 ½ month old little girl and a beautiful wife. They are
all the escape I need – them, fishing and surfing.
FQA: What’s next for Concrete Canvas, LLC?
Zachary: We are continuously working on new and innovative ways to
create our works. The future is lined with growth, both internal and
external for us. That’s what we have to focus on.
extravagant, what separates concrete from granite or marble stone?
Zachary: For flooring, concrete is different in so many ways. The most
obvious is that an entire slab can be stained and transformed into a
beautiful seamless floor without the necessary grout lines that come
with marble or granite. Also, we can achieve very similar effects to
marble or granite without the impact on our planet from cutting into the
mountains and shipping the material overseas. Concrete is actually a
natural stone and the stains that we use just bring out its hidden
beauty. The cost of an intricately designed stained concrete floor would
be a fraction of what it would cost to do the same with marble or granite.
FQA: This month’s issue of Fashionqanda.com focuses on
“Designers who don’t play by the rules,” what rules have you broken
with this edgy design concept?
Zachary: Well, we’re still working on breaking the rules. In our market,
I would say that just the use of our products in design is pushing the
envelope. When I think of not playing by the rules, I think of Christoph
Ingenhoven and his “Main Train Station” in Stuttgart Germany, or
Richard Meier with his “Jubilee Church” in Rome. Those are beacons
of inspiration for me.
FQA: What do you do in your free to time to escape the “concrete
jungle?”
Zachary: I have a 9 ½ month old little girl and a beautiful wife. They are
all the escape I need – them, fishing and surfing.
FQA: What’s next for Concrete Canvas, LLC?
Zachary: We are continuously working on new and innovative ways to
create our works. The future is lined with growth, both internal and
external for us. That’s what we have to focus on.
 |
"Concrete has been
around for a long,
long time, but only in
the last 30 years have
we found the beauty
and versatility in the
material, and new
innovations in how
and when to use it are
being created
everyday."
Zachary Coletti
around for a long,
long time, but only in
the last 30 years have
we found the beauty
and versatility in the
material, and new
innovations in how
and when to use it are
being created
everyday."
Zachary Coletti
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  |