Concrete is slowly becoming demystified as characteristically cold and industrial. In contrary, this age-old material is warm and surprisingly tactile; people cannot help but touch their smooth, polished surfaces. Real estate agent Joy Rasmussen, who has recently sold her mountain home - a short-term investment property in Steamboat Springs, CO - recounts her visitors' experiences with concrete: "When I had open houses, visitors gravitated to the concrete countertops - many people around here have never seen them".

Joy's 2,265 sq. ft. mountain home was a custom build by her husband, Ken Otterman, along with KJ Otterman, president of Classic Special Custom Homes. They built pour-in-place concrete counters for the home's kitchen and three bathrooms by using Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand-colored concrete countertops were polished smooth, then paired with natural slate of varying colors - like charcoal, rust and gold tones - that forms the backsplashes in the kitchen and baths. As a design accent, small rectangular slate tiles were added to the rim of the bathroom sinks, which provided a unique detail to the custom vanities.

When Joy and Ken decided to sell their house, their investment in concrete countertops proved its value. "We were able to list the house $20,000 over market value, and had no problems selling it," comments Joy, while discussing the long list of upgrades throughout their house, including knotty pine solid doors, natural slate wall accents and hardwood floors. "The concrete countertops were easily the most unique and impressive of all the finishes. I believe they were a huge part in adding value to the home. Around here, all you see in homes are granite countertops -and I really think homebuyers are getting quite numb with granite."

"Concrete countertops are a unique offering to homebuyers who see the same finishes used in house after house they visit," explains Joy, offering her observation as a seasoned realtor. "Having concrete countertops almost gives you bragging rights - you have something different from your neighbors."

BREAKING THE MOLD

Another advantage of concrete is its adaptability in either modern or traditional settings, especially when coupled with other materials like varied metals, wood or stone. "Concrete adds so many [possibilities] to stone, and the combination with slate, which is hugely popular here, gives the mountain homes an overall warm, natural touch," says Joy.