We have been seeing more and more instances of multiple fireplaces in homes, and so the need for versatility in opening and surround measurements are more important. We provide the use of our standard designs exclusively or adapt them to fit your needs. Concrete allows for custom designs and new designs, not limited to pre-cast colors and shapes. Also, the wait for the longer lead times and shipping costs of pre-cast are eliminated. Most of the time, after shipping a pre-cast surround and installation, concrete fireplaces are less expensive.
Concrete is a great medium for peninsula fireplaces, or fireplace with platforms and panels, or a stone insert with a built in bookcase. Concrete can accommodate even the most unique shapes and situations.
Our finishes are as versatile as our designs. All of our finishes are integral, from our proprietary limestone technique to antique finishes and natural cast colors. No company offers more variety or better service to bring your visions to life.
www.jmlifestyles.com
Porfido Table
Wine Room Houzz Best of 2013, Concrete Network's 10 best!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Construction Expo
Just wanted to remind everyone that we will be teaching an AIA accredited class at the Construction Expo at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.
The course is called "Everything Concrete: Functional to Decorative" It is 2 credits and you can register free. The course will be taught December 5th and 6th from 9am to 11am. This seminar is a comprehensive look at using concrete in interior design for commercial and residential environments. You will learn about composite materials as well as traditional concrete mix designs and their characteristics used as surfacing material. Also scheduled are the following:
Presented by: Jeff Kudrick, Product Manager, pushing the limits of concrete and metal for nearly twenty years, J&M Lifestyles, LLC.
Class will be available other dates by appointment only.
Dec 5th and 6th at
Meadowlands Convention Center
355 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, New Jersey
You can visit our website at www.jmlifestyles.com
The course is called "Everything Concrete: Functional to Decorative" It is 2 credits and you can register free. The course will be taught December 5th and 6th from 9am to 11am. This seminar is a comprehensive look at using concrete in interior design for commercial and residential environments. You will learn about composite materials as well as traditional concrete mix designs and their characteristics used as surfacing material. Also scheduled are the following:
- Types of concrete mixes and their attributes.
- Reinforcement and objective engineering.
- Composite design and applications.
- Discuss surface types such as: ground, trowel, textured, and acid stains
- Costs and additional pricing analysis.
- Sealers
Presented by: Jeff Kudrick, Product Manager, pushing the limits of concrete and metal for nearly twenty years, J&M Lifestyles, LLC.
Class will be available other dates by appointment only.
Dec 5th and 6th at
Meadowlands Convention Center
355 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, New Jersey
You can visit our website at www.jmlifestyles.com
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Concrete in the Bathroom
Concrete bathrooms are ideal for both commercial or residential settings. Our diversity and fluency in material design and fabrication enables you to create your perfect bathroom in unmatched uniqueness and detail. Whether you choose custom vanities, shower surrounds, tubs, architectural details, or any surface; concrete is a durable, versatile material that can achieve any look you envision. We are also fluent in metal work, so we almost always create steel brackets for seamless installation.
Concrete can be used for the vanity, the sink itself, shower surround, shower pan, floor tiles, backsplashes, tubs, knee wall caps, shelving and pencil details, and of course, the possibilities expand every day. For those looking for new and unique sink shapes, with concrete you can create anything you want. We come across a lot of difficult spaces, but it's no problem: concrete can take any form. Large spans are also not a problem.
For commercial uses, restaurants, lounges or hotels who are also looking for the newest trends, concrete is a functional here to stay type trend that can have embeds, steel logos, optics, translucent lighting patters, and much more. Take a look at one of our commercial designs: we embedded a wine bottle in a bathroom vanity for a local restaurant, The Montville Inn.
Kitchens and Bathrooms are the two most common places in the house for redesign. A new trend in Bathrooms is color: they aren't afraid of it. More fixtures are available in color so it is more readily accessible. There is also a lot of texture and mixing mediums, such as glass, water, wood, lighting, and, for us, concrete. Concrete is the perfect medium 'hub' to conjoin these different elements.
Keep posted as we are working on the bathrooms for a new restaurant in Basking Ridge. This new restaurant will be one of four, and when you see the bathrooms you will have never seen anything like this before.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Concrete can be used for the vanity, the sink itself, shower surround, shower pan, floor tiles, backsplashes, tubs, knee wall caps, shelving and pencil details, and of course, the possibilities expand every day. For those looking for new and unique sink shapes, with concrete you can create anything you want. We come across a lot of difficult spaces, but it's no problem: concrete can take any form. Large spans are also not a problem.
For commercial uses, restaurants, lounges or hotels who are also looking for the newest trends, concrete is a functional here to stay type trend that can have embeds, steel logos, optics, translucent lighting patters, and much more. Take a look at one of our commercial designs: we embedded a wine bottle in a bathroom vanity for a local restaurant, The Montville Inn.
Kitchens and Bathrooms are the two most common places in the house for redesign. A new trend in Bathrooms is color: they aren't afraid of it. More fixtures are available in color so it is more readily accessible. There is also a lot of texture and mixing mediums, such as glass, water, wood, lighting, and, for us, concrete. Concrete is the perfect medium 'hub' to conjoin these different elements.
Keep posted as we are working on the bathrooms for a new restaurant in Basking Ridge. This new restaurant will be one of four, and when you see the bathrooms you will have never seen anything like this before.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Concrete in the Kitchen
Concrete can take any form. You can have illusions of mass, a modern or rustic look, as well as anything in between. There are unlimited textures and colors from which to choose. Don't let creating your kitchen turn into picking one out of a book: your space does not have to be mundane, pre-made commodity. Let your spaces match your imagination.
According to the latest Census Bureau, home improvements account for almost 75 percent of the $198.6 billion American homeowners spend. More than ever, the kitchen is a social gathering place. It needs to be functional yet comfortable, as a lot of time is focused and spent in the kitchen. It is no surprise that the kitchen is an area that is highly updated and remodeled. J&M Lifestyles brings you to the forefront of your own remodeling process, to make your home truly yours.
But why use concrete in your home?
Granite used to be the high end, prestigious material to use, and featured in every new home. The popularity of granite has made it a commodity, and widely manufactured. Recently, granite costs as little as $35 dollars a square foot. The cost, however, may not be coming directly from your pocket.
Granite is mined all over the world; there are mines in the US, India, South America, Africa and Europe, to name a few. Most of the manufacturing of granite (after it is mined), dressing, cutting/sawing, surface grinding, polishing and edge cutting is done overseas using cheaper labor. Concrete is higher in price because all of the finish work (as well as the beginning, forming and the base material of the concrete) comes from local resources. Both are labor intensive processes, but the carbon footprint is significantly less. Some granite is even mined here in the US, shipped overseas and then shipped back as final product because it is cheaper to outsource the labor overseas than it is to do it here and keep the granite local.
We believe that in the green movement, people are becoming more aware and concerned with where their products are originating/traveling to and make a point to fuel their local economies not just because it is beneficial to the locals, but to be environmentally, ecologically and socially responsible. Concrete is local, custom and handmade by local artisans, which makes it a sustainable product in itself, not to mention that our concrete mix uses post consumer waste and recycled aggregates.
Inevitably, the shipping of products back and forth for the purposes of cheap labor will no longer be cost effective in a fuel driven economy. The, "expect more pay less" messages of mass imported items will no longer make sense, and quality and having custom items will supersede the need for disposable type furniture and belongings.
Concrete gives you complete design freedom as well as the knowledge that you are using a green product. Your everyday living can be extraordinary with beautifully designed custom surfaces in your kitchen. Our pioneering use of this material creates thoughtful, useful spaces to fit your lifestyle.
According to the latest Census Bureau, home improvements account for almost 75 percent of the $198.6 billion American homeowners spend. More than ever, the kitchen is a social gathering place. It needs to be functional yet comfortable, as a lot of time is focused and spent in the kitchen. It is no surprise that the kitchen is an area that is highly updated and remodeled. J&M Lifestyles brings you to the forefront of your own remodeling process, to make your home truly yours.
But why use concrete in your home?
Granite used to be the high end, prestigious material to use, and featured in every new home. The popularity of granite has made it a commodity, and widely manufactured. Recently, granite costs as little as $35 dollars a square foot. The cost, however, may not be coming directly from your pocket.
Granite is mined all over the world; there are mines in the US, India, South America, Africa and Europe, to name a few. Most of the manufacturing of granite (after it is mined), dressing, cutting/sawing, surface grinding, polishing and edge cutting is done overseas using cheaper labor. Concrete is higher in price because all of the finish work (as well as the beginning, forming and the base material of the concrete) comes from local resources. Both are labor intensive processes, but the carbon footprint is significantly less. Some granite is even mined here in the US, shipped overseas and then shipped back as final product because it is cheaper to outsource the labor overseas than it is to do it here and keep the granite local.
We believe that in the green movement, people are becoming more aware and concerned with where their products are originating/traveling to and make a point to fuel their local economies not just because it is beneficial to the locals, but to be environmentally, ecologically and socially responsible. Concrete is local, custom and handmade by local artisans, which makes it a sustainable product in itself, not to mention that our concrete mix uses post consumer waste and recycled aggregates.
Inevitably, the shipping of products back and forth for the purposes of cheap labor will no longer be cost effective in a fuel driven economy. The, "expect more pay less" messages of mass imported items will no longer make sense, and quality and having custom items will supersede the need for disposable type furniture and belongings.
Concrete gives you complete design freedom as well as the knowledge that you are using a green product. Your everyday living can be extraordinary with beautifully designed custom surfaces in your kitchen. Our pioneering use of this material creates thoughtful, useful spaces to fit your lifestyle.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Concrete Furniture
Typically, concrete furniture has consisted of planters, table tops with steel legs, some simple shaped tables containing glass or wood, front desk surfaces, conference tables, and shelving. Commonly, they take on either ultra modern or very rustic looks.
We at J&M Lifestyles do things just a little bit differently. Since concrete is so versatile and design specific, each piece can encompass different elements and shapes. Our engineering capabilities allow us to explore beyond the original scope of what has been done, and we have been recognized for our work: We have one of our furniture pieces featuring at the World Of Concrete 08 . Also, our concrete desk was just written up on the Concrete Network.
We incorporate original designs and mixed mediums. Many of our pieces incorporate metal and optics, but we also work with wood, glass and water. We recently fabricated a kitchen countertop that incorporated concrete metal and wood. I will post the pictures when the kitchen is finished.
Concrete is the only medium that allows for true individuality and expression, whether it be in a counter top or a custom furniture piece. We can take concepts, ideas, patterns, shapes and colors and transform them into personalized functional art that will last a lifetime.
J&M Lifestyles is a combination of wisdom, experience and talent, expanding upon the material and techniques of previous artisans to create the Ultimate Concrete Applications.
We at J&M Lifestyles do things just a little bit differently. Since concrete is so versatile and design specific, each piece can encompass different elements and shapes. Our engineering capabilities allow us to explore beyond the original scope of what has been done, and we have been recognized for our work: We have one of our furniture pieces featuring at the World Of Concrete 08 . Also, our concrete desk was just written up on the Concrete Network.
We incorporate original designs and mixed mediums. Many of our pieces incorporate metal and optics, but we also work with wood, glass and water. We recently fabricated a kitchen countertop that incorporated concrete metal and wood. I will post the pictures when the kitchen is finished.
Concrete is the only medium that allows for true individuality and expression, whether it be in a counter top or a custom furniture piece. We can take concepts, ideas, patterns, shapes and colors and transform them into personalized functional art that will last a lifetime.
J&M Lifestyles is a combination of wisdom, experience and talent, expanding upon the material and techniques of previous artisans to create the Ultimate Concrete Applications.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
UPDATES AND NEWS!
We've been busy!
Recently the Concrete Network (www.concretenetwork.com) had one of our countertops featured as Picture of the Week.
The same picture that they featured is going to be in one of their ads in Dwell in the upcoming months. This top shows just how unique our capabilities are. The design is ultra modern, one of a kind and shows that we can have multiple patterns and colors in any surface. This advertiser of ours (CN) sees fabricators from across the country and chose us! Concrete as an artistic/functional medium is in its early stages of becoming popular on the East Coast, but we are really standing out from the rest with our over the top and outrageous projects. We have to really thank our clients for not only being able to see the end result, but for trusting our artistic capabilities and not just looking for the common or ordinary.
FIBER OPTICS
Anyone who has visited our showroom or looked at our website has witnessed first hand what we can do with lighting. We incorporate lighting into many of our projects. We also have a proprietary translucent concrete that can make any surface glow. We have received a lot of interest world wide for using translucent concrete and optics in different surfaces. This attention has gained us an interview for an article coming out in Concrete Decor Magazine about lights in surfaces in concrete.
AIA
We recently finished putting together an accredited class for AIA (American Institute of Architecture) titled, "Everything Concrete, Functional to Decorative." It highlights all the possibilities of using concrete in design. The limitations of concrete are only in its fabricator; if the fabricator doesn't have an engineering capability, how could they possibly know how it can be pushed and what can be achieved? This course is debuting at the Construction Expo at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, December 5th and 6th. You can register now, the class is open to GENERAL CONTRACTORS - ARCHITECTS - ENGINEERS- DESIGNERS
Recently the Concrete Network (www.concretenetwork.com) had one of our countertops featured as Picture of the Week.
The same picture that they featured is going to be in one of their ads in Dwell in the upcoming months. This top shows just how unique our capabilities are. The design is ultra modern, one of a kind and shows that we can have multiple patterns and colors in any surface. This advertiser of ours (CN) sees fabricators from across the country and chose us! Concrete as an artistic/functional medium is in its early stages of becoming popular on the East Coast, but we are really standing out from the rest with our over the top and outrageous projects. We have to really thank our clients for not only being able to see the end result, but for trusting our artistic capabilities and not just looking for the common or ordinary.
FIBER OPTICS
Anyone who has visited our showroom or looked at our website has witnessed first hand what we can do with lighting. We incorporate lighting into many of our projects. We also have a proprietary translucent concrete that can make any surface glow. We have received a lot of interest world wide for using translucent concrete and optics in different surfaces. This attention has gained us an interview for an article coming out in Concrete Decor Magazine about lights in surfaces in concrete.
AIA
We recently finished putting together an accredited class for AIA (American Institute of Architecture) titled, "Everything Concrete, Functional to Decorative." It highlights all the possibilities of using concrete in design. The limitations of concrete are only in its fabricator; if the fabricator doesn't have an engineering capability, how could they possibly know how it can be pushed and what can be achieved? This course is debuting at the Construction Expo at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, December 5th and 6th. You can register now, the class is open to GENERAL CONTRACTORS - ARCHITECTS - ENGINEERS- DESIGNERS
SUBCONTRACTORS - COMMERCIAL BUILDERS - DEVELOPERS
Tons more to come! WOC 08 and more featured articles and news.
Thanks for reading,
J&M Lifestyles
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