Sesshu Design Associates Ltd.

Monday Morning Musings- Stay Calm in the Storm

2012-10-29T17:30:33Z

Where are the storms in your life? How do you weather them?

Is Concrete Right For Your Home?

2012-10-20T21:03:54Z

Stained and polished concrete is a gorgeous material that can be used in so many ways and create a unique look for your home- but it isn’t the right choice for everyone. You may be intrigued by what you’ve seen on television or in design magazines and even on this blog, and you might be thinking it could fit somewhere in your home. But how do you know if it’s the right material for you?

This modern kitchen features a polished concrete countertop in natural grey.

Should I use concrete in my home?

Here is a quick test courtesy of CS Concrete Interiors to help you decide. Give yourself a point for each “True” answer.

I want something different, something completely unique.
I want an “Industrial”, or “Old World”, or “Natural” look.
I find granite too shiny or common.
I think solid surfacing is plastic with no character.
I like natural limestone but realise it’s not suitable for most counters.
I like soapstone but want something more stain resistant.
I like variation in color.
I need a particular shape or form.
I would like an integral feature such as a sink or trivet.
I need a custom size sink or counter.
I highly value artisan, hand-made work.
I am attracted by it’s unpredictable element.
I want a ‘wow’ feature, a talking point, in my home.
I want something that evolves or develops a patina.
I do not want to use precious and irreplaceable resources.

Total up your points, one for each “True” answer. How did you score?

0-4 points

Concrete may not be suitable for you – keep looking. Your interior designer will be able to suggest other options you will enjoy more.

5-9 points

Get in touch with a qualified fabricator or your interior designer and ask more questions. Consider purchasing a sample (most companies will provide them at a reasonable cost).

10-15 points

Concrete could be for you! Work with your designer to develop a concept, create a sketch and get samples.

Concrete floors can be stained using several colors to create a unique pattern.

Some quick facts about concrete:

Concrete is stain resistant – if fabricated properly. Conditioners in the mix will help to create a slab that is resistant to liquid absorbtion. After curing, the concrete slab should be also treated with food-safe waterborne polyurethane top coat sealer.

Concrete is easy maintenance. If properly sealed as described above, no special maintenance is required. Do not use abrasive cleaners like soft scrub or comet. Simple Green stone cleaner, 409, Windex and similar products work great!

Concrete is very green. In fact, it is one of the greenest products you can put in your home. Portland cement is easily obtained without destroying mountains (unlike granite and marble), and is non-toxic after water is added and it is cured. It is mined in the USA and does not employ low-wage or slave labor (again unlike most granite). It does not need to be shipped aroound the world on large cargo ships that emit greanhouse gases. It can also be recycled and can incorporate recycled fly ash in its fabrication.

Pre-cast concrete offers many advantages over cast in place for countertops. With pre-cast, it is possible to achieve surfaces that are extremely smooth. The weeks needed for curing happen off-site, not in your home. The mess is also kept off-site and out of your living environment.

This custom Zen powder room countertop and integral sink was created out of stained concrete by CS Concrete Interiors for one of our projects.

Personally, we love to use stained concrete for floors, countertops and even walls. There are many diverse possibilities that concrete allows which other materials just can’t duplicate, and the look can range anywhere from Old World to modern- and anything in between.

Monday Morning Musings- Open a Book

2012-10-20T22:07:48Z

Open a book, and friends fly out.

Open a book, and friends fly out

I saw this on Pinterest, and loved it immediately!

First because it is such an obviously piece of cut paper art. I mean, how do they do stuff like this? The way the butterflies seem to be literally flying out of the pages.

But also because of the quote or caption that was below it. I have no idea who said it, whether it was the person who pinned it, or if it came from somewhere or someone else. In any case, that is the primary reason I chose to save it and use it here as a topic for my blog.

I have a lifelong love of books. Anyone who knows me at all, knows this. I have bookcases crammed full all over my house and in my office. In fact, I need more bookcases before I can buy any more books (which is why I love Kindle!)

I love the way real, actual, physical books look and feel in my hand. Turning the pages, and feeling the texture of the paper in my hand is wonderful. The type and the variety that you see in old-fashioned books is something that you often lose in an e-book, and for that reason, the move toward digital readers makes me sad.

But the thing I love the most about books is the way a good story can transport you into another world, and introduce you to new people and places. You can make new friends in all kinds of amazing and wonderful ways. You can visit Scotland in the 17th century via time travel through the stone circles of the UK, or Hogwarts School of Wizardry, or sail on a whaling ship in search of a big white whale. Seeing the life of an illegal immigrant. struggling just to survive and find a better life in the canyons of LA while wealthy white people whiz past on the freeway can be eye-opening.

I love to find a new book, flip through it to see how small the type is (the smaller the better because that means more words per page) and feel the heft of it to judge if the paper is thin or thick (thinner is better – more pages) and flip to the last page to see how many there are (again, the more the better!) A really good book that gets you involved is one I never want to end- so I look for the longest one possible. And when it is finally over, I add it to my bookshelf where I can go back and revisit any time I want.

Decorating with books

Books are something I believe are a must have accessory in anyone’s home. Books tell you so much about a person, and they lend a warmth and coziness to a room that nothing else can. If you don’t have room for a library, at least find a wall, or an unused corner to put a bookcase. Fill it with friends, and knowledge of the world, and learn more about yourself in the process.

Add a comfy chair and a good reading light, and you create a reading space that will transport you to the farthest corners of the universe in an instant!