Design Inspirations · April 21, 2024

After 12 Years of Renting, Concrete Collaborative’s Founder Finally Got Full Reno Rein

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When you lot own a concrete too tile company, it makes sense that you lot’d desire to set more or less of your own production inward your abode. But for Kate Balsis, a cofounder of Concrete Collaborative who bought her starting time family unit menage later 12 years of renting, finally existence able to role the goods from her mean solar day job was a dream come up true. She too her hubby bought a iv-bedchamber inwards Dana Point, California, alongside a sprawling backyard, a puddle, together with a room for each of their 3 sons. Some friends couldn’t see the potential inwards the ’70s-built residence, merely Balsis was thrilled. “It was definitely a novelty for us,” she says. “Having always rented, [my husband] Republic of Chad would tell, ‘I want I could cook that or I wish I could modify that.’ Now nosotros tin can really make stuff.” So they at once started renovating.

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“It had carpeted stairs in addition to was all only real grey,” she recalls of the family when they purchased it. Their priority was keeping the integrity of the architecture just updating everything else to arrive feel more mod. 

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Venice Alabaster Terrazzo Floor Tile together with Rivi 48-Inch Circle Alaabster Large Mixed Chip Terrazzo Tabletop, Concrete Collaborative; Maja Dining Table Base inwards Ash, Anthropolgie; Breuer Chair, Etsy; Large Pendant Lamp amongst Rice Paper Shade, Hay; Burnt Rattan White Basket Planter, CB2; Stassi Indoor-Outdoor Side Table, Urban Outfitters; Worn Velvet Curtains inward Alabaster, West Elm.

One of the smallest rooms in the household, the pulverization room, was the kickoff 1 Balsis tackled during the renovation, together with it ready the note for the rest of the domicile. It started with a primal piece: an Etsy-sourced vintage pink john bowl that merely and so happened to be the perfect match for her make’sec new sink basin. She leaned into monochrome too circular motifs that gave the tiny infinite a stiff sense of identity. “It doesn’t actually tie into whatsoever of the other architecture,” she says. “But it’sec sort of cool for it to be such a concentration of style that and then flows out to the residuum of our home.” Curves continue through archways and swoopy article of furniture, and shades of blush nearly create a gradient from the living upwardly to the hallway of the moment flooring.

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Strands Del Sol Arch Pink + Russet Cement Tile and Bondi Millennial Pink Sink, Concrete Collaborative; Circle Brass Mirror, Rejuvenation; Marfa Cowboy Print past Katie Kime.
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Venice Alabaster Terrazzo Floor Tile, Concrete Collaborative; Modern Curved Sofa, Homary; Moroccan Berber Rug, Ounizz; Pipa Black Pendant Light, CB2.

In the kitchen, the couple and so completely demoed, so focused on the refrigerator, a Samsung Bespoke with a tricolor combo. “That was the first thing nosotros got, too everything else went around it,” Balsis says. “We were actually ambitious too moving speedily, then nosotros sketched upwardly the room in addition to just went for it.” They kept the peninsula layout, simply all the cabinets had to become to make fashion for open shelving, drawers (3 of which fit the fridge panels), too lower cupboards inwards warm walnut woods. They picked the countertop too tile from their line of work (a collab alongside Brooklyn-based creative person Heather McKenna) out of necessity because they were inwards stock, but Balsis was more than happy alongside the effect: “It turned out really cool. The tile most looks similar wallpaper.”

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Pacifica Millennial Pink Terrazzo Counter, Venice Alabaster Terrazzo Floor Tile in addition to Strands ten Waycooler Quarter Arch Cement Backsplash Tile, Concrete Collaborative; Santa Barbara Rattan Pendant Lamp, Serena & Lily; Bespoke Refrigerator, Samsung; Toaster inwards Creme, Smeg; Plates together with Bowls, Our Place; Windrift Beige Paint, Behr.

Outside of the kitchen, the existing moisture bar became a place for Balsis to demo fifty-fifty more personality. “Everyone who came to our household originally said, ‘You’re plainly gonna go rid of that,’” she recalls. “Obviously non!” Fluted wood on the front, a tropical covering on the walls, too bright pinkish cabinets beneath the counter brought her playful Hawaii vision to life. “We’re not even large drinkers, but nosotros purpose it a ton,” she says. “It’second such a cool topographic point to assemble when we entertain.” With extra counter infinite for appliances like an espresso machine too a mini refrigerator nether the counter, it’sec besides where Balsis makes her daily pistachio milk lattes. 

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Electric Kettle inward Creme, Smeg; Romance Paint, Sherwin-Williams; Photo past Max Wagner Photography.

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Alfresco Coral Tropical Palms Wallpaper, A Street Prints; Reflecting Rose Paint (on cabinets), Valspar.

With a closer look at the dining surface area, yous get-go to discover the tabular array nigh blends into the flooring. Balsis explains that both terrazzos have the same aggregate too pink marble (from her brand’second Alabaster line), though the floor mixes inwards approximately yellowish as well as white rock, besides. The pinnacle of the bar is a green-on-light-green mix, together with in the kitchen, it’second a micro pinkish. “Pretty much every difficult surface is terrazzo,” Balsis says. “There are nine dissimilar styles in here full.”

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Rivi Pill Pink Slice Terrazzo Tabletop, Venice Alabaster Terrazzo Floor Tile, Pacifica Universal Green Verde Chip Terrazzo Countertop, in addition to Solana Quietude Diamond Concrete Backsplash Tile, Concrete Collaborative; Flora Rattan Pendant Light, Pottery Barn; Vintage Mint Green Sconces, Etsy; Bendt Black Rattan Chrome Dining Chairs, Scandinavian Design; Vintage Cesca Barstools, Chairish; Large Inka Kana Pot, Luisaviaroma; Flora Paint (on ceiling in addition to bar), Valspar.

Although Balsis place a lot of attempt into bringing all the blueprint into this decade, the boys’ bathroom upstairs is total-contention retro. “We wanted to accept something that felt fully ’70s,” she says. “In our head, that meant doing a 4-by-four tile too using a mustard colour, but inwards a new way.” In a go-with-the-flow free energy that matches the era, she embraced what became a happy accident during the demo. The construction squad mistakenly ripped out the vanity Balsis planned to keep, merely she was able to find a novel 1 online that actually fit the infinite improve. With a coat of buttery yellowish paint too, of class, a new slab of terrazzo, the not bad makeover was consummate. 

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Laguna Acacia Concrete Floor in addition to Wall Tiles, Laguna Bay + Quietude Concrete Shower Floor Tiles, together with Pacifica Alabaster Terrazzo Countertop, Concrete Collaborative; Classe Oak and Rattan Vanity, Swiss Madison; Butter Up Paint (on vanity and walls), Sherwin-Williams; Vintage Powder Blue Porcelain Toilet past Recycled Relics, Etsy; moon Blue Sink, Kast; Selene Glass Flush Mount, Leifshop; Happy Face Bath Mat, Urban Outfitters; Asteria Terry Towels, World Market.

While different shades of pinkish too greenish saturate the space, Balsis toned things downward in the principal bedchamber—it’second the exclusively room with all white walls. Breezy curtains as well as a overflowing of natural low-cal prepare the scene for a peaceful escape from the teenagers who skateboard through the family downstairs. Color makes a comeback inwards her fourteen-year-onetime’sec room, though, with a retro surf mural from Society vi. On the floor, a depression-slung leather sofa is the perfect place to plop for his version of escapism—an hours-long gaming session.  

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Bailee Bed inward Citronella, Lulu as well as Georgia; Ria Nightstand, Urban Outfitters; Raffia Black and Natural Stripe Lamps, Etsy; Moroccan Berber Rug, Ounizz; Acrylic on Canvas Art by Kate Balsis.
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Retro Surf Mural, Society half dozen; Leather Sleeper, Urban Outfitters; Limoncello Linen Bedding, Bed Threads; Checkered Walker Rug inward Sage together with Cream, AllModern; Checkerboard Throw Pillow inwards Taupe and Yin Yang Mini Throw Pillow, Urban Outfitters.

The entire family unit ofttimes comes together exterior, in addition to they have options for where to hang. It’s no coincidence it feels similar a resort there. “We were the nigh excited most this infinite,” Balsis says. “We travel a ton as well as wanted to bring some of those elements abode.” Between the puddle, stand up-solitary sauna, cold plunge, too outdoor shower, the backyard rivals the type of hydrothermal spa you’d observe at a v-star rest. 

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Trails Flekk Ivory Pool Pavers, Concrete Collaborative
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Strands ten Dwell Cement Tile, Concrete Collaborative; Retro Palm Towel, Sand Cloud; Dip-Dyed Stool, Serena & Lily

There’second likewise an outdoor dining surface area together with a custom-built surfboard stand. Luckily, Balsis’sec husband is an architect who loves a DIY projection. He sketched all the outdoor pieces by manus, and then he too the boys worked together on everything from cut woods for the deck to tiling the shower. The latter has go a unanimous family unit favorite. “We role it every solar day,” Balsis says. “When [the boys] get surfing, they take a shower before they come within. Sometimes they fifty-fifty shower out in that location in the forenoon on a regular mean solar day.” A family of 5 inwards a rental could never. 

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Alfresco Outdoor Dining Table, Crate & Barrel Chairs; Woven Bamboo Pendant Shade in Black, World Market; Fairest Pink Paint (on exterior), Benjamin Moore.

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Trestles Alabaster Circle Breeze Block, Concrete Collaborative; Eight-Person Garden Sauna, Redwoods Outdoors.