1. USE A SOFT PINK TO CREATE A STRIKING CONTRAST
This Victorian home in Hackney was given a rose-hued extension with a colored concrete wall (tinted with a powered dye) that merges indoor with out. At the forefront of current architecture trends it leads a cozy living room out into the light-filled glass extension.
2. GO WHITE TO MAXIMIZE NATURAL LIGHT
Australian firm Carter Williamson opted for a subtle pale blonde concrete for the ceiling and floor of this soothing neutral living room to maximize light, emphasize texture and give breathing room to the muted tones in the rest of the space.
3. CHOOSE GREEN IN THE BATHROOM FOR A MORE COCOONING FEEL
Vivid green concrete floods the lower half of this statement, hammam-like small bathroom, used to line the walls and floor as well as three-dimensionally cast into the bespoke bath, basin and benches, a lesson in the infinite design possibilities colored concrete creates.
4. CONSIDER A COLORED CONCRETE KITCHEN WORKTOP FOR A SENSE OF PLAYFULNESS
The pea-green concrete kitchen countertop gives this space a sense of playfulness, as well as imparting important practical benefits. ‘The kitchen top is pigmented with a powdered dye which was added directly to the concrete mix, so while it’s incredibly robust, if it does eventually chip the marks won’t show up,’ explains architect Ben Allen. ‘The material also means that the sink and drainage could be seamlessly integrated.' The surface was finished with a porous sealant that lets moisture move in and out of the concrete, so it will develop a unique patina as it ages.
5. USE INTENSE COLORS FOR A MORE STRIKING EFFECT
For more intense colors, renders can be used in place of concrete to create a similar feel. ‘For this project, we wanted a very controlled, even coloration and surface finish as well as graphic curved forms which would have been incredibly difficult to achieve with concrete, so we chose to use a silicone render instead,’ explains Richard Bridges, Founding Director of Alexander Owen Architecture.