What could possibly be creative or artistic about concrete sinks?

10/20/2005

When many of us were still living in rustic communities, the sink was a multifunctional necessity. Cleaning dishes, pots and pans was only a small part of its function. Since sinks made from decorative concrete were unheard of in those early days, a metal washboard which doubled as a musical instrument was leaned along one face of whatever container was being used to get out dirt and grime from hard working denim overalls. That container also served as a washtub for people who stood in line to wash before a generous farm dinner and was usually situated outside between the kitchen and the outhouse for sanitary reasons.

Many authors like Zane Grey who wrote countless western novels, painstakingly described the sometimes primitive containers that the pioneers used from wooden pails to zinc tubs to the luxury of an enameled bathtub imported from the East from a Sears-Roebuck catalogue, and carefully transported westward by stage coach or wagon train.

It is a different scene altogether in modern times. We live in an affluent and sophisticated society where taste and fashion go hand in hand with functionality. The average sink is in plentiful supply in stainless steel or enameled cast iron, but the kitchen sink need no longer be common, it has become an architectural fashion feature with the use of the most fashionable and versatile materials available today – decorative concrete.

Architects and interior decorators agree that some of the artistic creations serving as sinks and made of decorative concrete are features that enhance the appearance and the value of any home. The variety of design, color and texture are infinite and some of the novelty features are truly remarkable both from an aesthetic and functional point of view.

"Using decorative concrete makes the creative process a lot easier" said Blayde Penza, CEO and founder of Ace Concrete from his Sun Valley studio and workshop in Southern California "because of the versatility of the material. Whether it's a farm sink or an integral sink the variety of design, texture and color is only limited by imagination. Embedded copper strips as a built in draining feature, or a sliding panel as a cutting board for either end of a double sink, or a vibrant color to fit in with the décor of the rest of the room, all these things are possible with this amazing material".