Concrete and other things
Late Night Photo Shoot. + Snack.
This is a stand up eating bar built for the Lift office. It was a fun project to work, the client gave Concrete Cat the freedom to design something for their personal usage and space.
The most important thing in the design process is the end user experience. When we design something like this Bar/Desk I like to think about who will be using this desk and what will they be doing.
Employees could be sitting at it this desk close to 40 hrs a week and it will outlast any other piece of furniture in the office. I’ve added subtle details to edge profile and the knockouts in the back for cords, I have also added just a hint of blue that runs along the edge of the bar. The grind is very subtle and this piece was completely hand mixed. This adds a really appealing natural texture both in aggregate and colour variation.
This desk will be a joy to work at for years to come because at the core of the design is a focus on the user’s experience. Even though I have used the desk in the shop, it was a nice place to have a quick late night snack!
Dr. Zira from Planet of the Apes in Concrete
Even though I like James Franco I still don’t think there has been an “Apes” movie that has topped the originals. Special effects have come a long way but I feel the new Apes series glosses over the social commentary the originals tackled.
In honour of the originals here is Dr. Zira.
Roughly 20” by 15” she has been hand formed and polished out of traditional wet caste concrete. Frame and name plate has also been hand made in house out of salvaged mahogany and brass.
Stay tuned for many more lovely and interesting pieces coming down the pipes.
Quality Concrete Sculptures at The Calgary Zoo
The Calgary Zoo has a some gorgeous concrete work in the main entrance tunnel. My kids and I really liked it so I snapped a few pics. I hope you Like them too.
The animals wear great too! We are big fans of the Red Panda and of course any cats.
The Very BEST Roasted Baby Potatoes
Many have asked for this so here it is, my roasted baby potatoes recipe. I hope you all enjoy it!
Ingredients
Baby potatoes – I usually plan for about 5 potatoes per serving – I like Yukon golds.
1 Tbs sea salt
3 Tbs olive oil
1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
1 1/2 Tbs fresh herbs – my preference is rosemary but thyme, oregano and sage also works.
1. Start off by preheating your oven to 425 F. I also turn on convection but it is not necessary if you don’t have it. I find it helps roast them a bit more evenly.
2. In a mortar combine all spices and salt and give them a good bash up with your pestle.
3. Fill a large stock pot with cool water. Put your baby potatoes into the water and place on the stove at medium to high heat until they come to a boil. Let boil for 7 minutes.
4. Immediately strain potatoes and place on cutting board.
5. Pour olive oil into hot empty stock pot.
6. Halve potatoes and place into pot, put on the lid and give them a gentle shake just to coat with oil.
7. Add spices to stock pot, just do a little at first. You want to get a good even sprinkle on all the potatoes but not too much. Some people like salty and spicy and some like subtle. This step I leave up to your own discretion but remember that too salt is impossible to take back. Once you feel they all have a good coating hold the lid on the pot with oven mitts and give it a good shake. You are trying to actually grind off a the outside edges of the potatoes and pound the spice and salt into them.
8. Spread the potatoes evenly on a pan, give them some room so they will crisp up.
9. Place potatoes into your preheated oven and let roast for about 15 minutes or until golden brown, this could be a bit more or less depending on your oven but 15 minutes will get you close.
Take your potatoes out and enjoy them with friends and family. You can eat them on their own or serve with sour cream or curry ketchup.
Seiko’s “Golden Tuna” 7549-7009
I have been trying to hold off talking about this newest addition to my watch family but can’t hold back any longer. I recently received a Seiko 7549–7009 diver watch back from a great company that did a refurbish for me. Jack from IWW (http://internationalwatchworks.com/) did a fantastic job on my watch, he replaced the crystal, cleaned up the movement and changed the battery and seals, pressure tested the watch, sourced new titanium screws for the shroud, replaced the bezel seal and spring to get it clicking again, and cleaned and relumed the hands and face of the watch. I found Jack on a watch blog a frequent, but something else interesting I found out on the blog is that there is a decent watch collecting community here in Edmonton and Calgary as well.
The watch was originally produced in the late seventies to the early eighties, mine can be dated from the serial number to 1980 which is kind of neat because I was also born in 1980. I was originally drawn to the design of the watch because I wanted something in black and gold but I also really liked the rugged appearance of the watch. Some might scoff that this watch has a quartz movement but at the time the quartz movement used in this watch was much more expensive and difficult to design and produce than an automatic movement.
The 7549–7009 was also the first all titanium dive watch. This is contrary to what many believe was the first titanium dive watch designed by Porsche Design for IWC the Ocean 2000 which began production in 1982 the Seiko Golden Tuna predates the Ocean by 5 years. The Golden Tuna also made an appearance in the Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only” so if it’s good enough for James freakin’ Bond it’s good enough for me.
Concrete Fireplaces – Modernize your room.
Concrete Cat has done a pretty steady stream of concrete fireplaces lately. A concrete fireplace, hearth, mantle or whole surround is a quick and seamless way to modernize your room without breaking the bank or tearing out everything to start from square one. Let’s face it Edmonton, Alberta is crazy cold so it makes sense that fireplaces would be a big part of modern homes in Canada. A concrete fireplace can be made in almost any shape you want and is quite a bit cheaper than many comparable natural stone alternatives.
This first client has a beautiful brick fireplace but felt that the tile hearth really dated the whole room and was a bit too busy. We both felt that a concrete hearth was a good solution because we could clean up the lines but still provide a depth of colour and texture in the pieces.
After we replaced the hearth with concrete it really changed the overall feel and look of the room. It the clean lines almost made the room feel a touch bigger without having such a busy look in front of the brick. There already is so much texture and colour from the brick the tile really was a bit of overkill and clash of texture. We went with “stone” which is a darker natural grey but it is also a colour that with the right amount of polishing you really get some amazing colours out of it that I can’t do justice in these photos.
The second fireplace is is one that was in a brand new spec home. The home owners were in a position where they needed a home quickly and so had to buy a spec home where they did not get to choose their furnishings. In my previously lives I have worked for a few different home builders and I am always in close contact with builders so I’ll try and word this next section carefully as not too insult anyone. That being said this fireplaces characterizes what I despise in the new home and renovation market. Many of the new homes and renovations are not built to last. This entire fireplaces is built out of molded mdf!!! Are you kidding me? It’s a fireplace! I don’t care if it is a gas box inside that’s creating the fire it’s a complete joke that that this fireplace surround is made of mdf. Fireplaces need to be built to last, as should the rest of the home. A solid surface fireplaces looks better, last longer making it better for the environment and if designed to look timeless it can be a permanent fixture in a home not something that looks dated in 10 years.
In addition to being a fireplace that was made out of pretty shoddy materials it was also a very poor fit for the room. The fireplace was way too ornate and stuck out some what deep in an already crowded space. The concrete fireplace we replaced this with was very clean and gives the room a strong look without taking up to much room in a crowded space.
This last fireplace is just really nice. It fits the room really well and once the rest of the room is finished this will really be a showpiece. I am constantly amazed by the depth of colour that we end up getting out of concrete, it is absolutely beautiful and has so much character.
A concrete fireplace can be made to fit any room and can be designed to also fit the style you want. Installing a concrete fireplace can be done in a day and a half leaving you with very little downtime. Our concrete fireplaces are hand molded and finished making it a piece of sculpted art for your room. Design your home with a timeless elegance out of materials that are built to last, it is easier on your bank account and easier on the environment.