I made a kitchen top

I had this really really long To Do list for our summer house but almost all I ended up doing was this kitchen top. And I’m so happy with it.
It’s a technique originally from Maroc. A form of clay that with the right finish, or the one I used looks like concrete.
It’s called Béton Ciré/Tadelac and I found it here at Decomaterial.

We’ve been having this temporary kitchen for over 9 months so I just had to finish it.
I’m not sure about the white fabric and the cabinets are going to be turquoise, like the chair below.
All white is not my thing. Beautiful but not me.

The surface is really hard. And easy. I like the feel to it.

I started out with a 300mm MDF and I cut out the parts I didn’t need and fitted the stove and such.
Then the white is a primer.


After the primer I did two coatings with the clay/filler. It was a bit hard getting the right texture. But compare with making a form and have enough space to make it in concrete – I’m really satisfied.
Also the weight. Our concrete top at home weights about 600kg – this one is pretty much the same size but about 70kg.

At the end you coat it with Osmo Hard wax oil. Then it all got darker. I wanted it dark so it was no problem. You can choose the tint you like.
I think I will use it on my concrete kitchen top here in the city as well.

24 Comments

Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.

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Valerie
August 26, 2011 at 17:27

Isabelle, where can I find that perfect turquoise colour???
Thanks

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mette / ungt blod
August 26, 2011 at 18:25

it looks so good! love the idea of having concrete without concret!

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Maria
August 26, 2011 at 18:48

Bänken är snygg, men extra snyggt är det med lådor som hyllor. Det ska jag satsa på om jag hittar en stuga någongång.

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Angelica
August 26, 2011 at 19:04

Du är helt fantastisk, shit vilket härligt kök!!
jag saknar dig massor. Jag kommer med stor sannolikhet till Sthlm en sväng i höst på jobb. Skype nån dag?! angie

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Rebecka Åhlund
August 26, 2011 at 19:50

Mycket fint, sådan vill vi också ha i törpa!

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Herma
August 27, 2011 at 01:08

Ow, it’s turned out really wonderfull! I know this technique by the name of ‘tadelakt’. We really wanted it in our new bathroom last year, but eventually chose tiles because the applying of the tadelakt was going to be too much work for us. But I still love it!

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Erica
August 27, 2011 at 06:39

Vilken grym skapelse! Och vilken otroligt söt unge!

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sofia
August 27, 2011 at 14:23

varifrån kommer mattorna? hur fina som helst.

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Jenn
August 27, 2011 at 19:58

This looks incredible! I wonder if I could find something like this in the States? Both of my bathrooms are in need of new counter-tops, and I’d eventually like to replace my kitchen counter-tops, as well.

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maaria
August 27, 2011 at 21:04

Looove that look of concrete. That’s exactly what I would love to have for my kitchen – just need a little more convincing work with my hubby ;-)

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milda
August 28, 2011 at 13:47

An impressive DIY project. Looks just as good as the real thing.

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Sanna
August 28, 2011 at 16:47

Hej! Vi är precis färdiga med vårt köksprojekt, använde också “stone”.
Blev skitbra, vi hade i lite mer svart pigment, och så fortsatte vi upp på väggen, hela vägen upp till tak. Lite bökigt, men slutresultatet blir riktigt schysst! Tack för en inspirerande blogg! Mvh Sanna

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Ellinor
August 28, 2011 at 19:34

Fullkomligt underbart, så otroligt fint!! Du är grym.

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Jessica
August 29, 2011 at 13:56

I love that black surface. Not too matte, not too shiny! It’s amazing that you can make things like that at home- it looks so professional!

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ANNA
August 29, 2011 at 21:00

Oj, oj, oj vad snyggt! För att inte tala om smålådorna på väggen, precis så vill jag ha det.

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Brötis
August 31, 2011 at 09:28

Oj, hade tänkt gjuta, men har tvekat lite inför ett så stort projekt. Det här verkar ju mycket bättre, men hur slitstarkt och vattentåligt blir det?

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Isabelle
September 2, 2011 at 21:25

I don’t know what got into me. I love all your comments. reading them all the time but I am lousy at getting back to you. I will get better.

Brötis- det sägs att man kan lägga det på ett golv och köra lastbil över det.

Sanna- ja det är kul att man kan dra det upp på väggen!

Jenn – I don’t know maybe if you send Deco material a mail – they can help? Problably you can find it.

xxx
Isabelle

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Li
September 3, 2011 at 16:50

Snygga mattor var e de köpta?
Isabelle: loppisfynd! I got lucky

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Bänkskiva « Emelie
February 12, 2012 at 11:04

[…] Innan den är klar ska det kapas hål för diskho och spis, den ska få ett varv primer och ett (kanske två) varv lerputs och till sist ska den lackas med en hårdvaxolja. Tanken är att det ska se ut som en betongskiva när den är klar. Idéen fick jag från Dosfamily. […]

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christine
February 15, 2012 at 21:54

We have been wondering how to get a concrete-look countertop for our kitchen that does not have the weight but really looks like concrete – this is it! Thanx!

My suggestion for the curtain under your sink would be some fifties to sixties fabric, these kitchen curtains like f.e. something like this http://de.dawanda.com/product/3532822-25-x-25-Obst-Stoff-50er-Jahre.

and by the way: you and Jenny are doing great work, I love your blog!

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Kristina
October 9, 2012 at 21:37

well done, I love it. we also thought about using beton cire. we bought and tried the material on a ikea lack counter shelf. it did not work out. we really had difficulties, because the material was drying very fast and we did not manage to get a flat surface…so what is your secret?

Isabelle: It’s hard to say what you did “wrong”. But you use a kind of primer first that does the trick of the adhesive. and the n you have to do different layers and not too thick and the fluid has to be like yoghurt actually a little bit smoother. Can’t you ask them who you bought the beton cire from? And also a lot happens when you polish it in the end- then you can take all the unsmoooth edges away! Good luck.

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Katarina
April 3, 2014 at 09:39

Hej! Decomaterial har två produkter: Tadelakt Pro och Tadelakt Original som de säljer “bara till erfarna hantverkare”(?!). Vilken använde du?

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Isabelle McAllister
April 7, 2014 at 11:15
– In reply to: Katarina

Ingen aning faktiskt -ring och fråga dem vad de rekommenderar! Lycka till

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Janice Giarracco
March 14, 2016 at 16:40

How does it hold up to use in a kitchen? Does it crack over time? Does wine stain it? Would lemon or acid foods do damage to the surface? If something heavy falls on it does it crack and can you repair it?

Janice