International Builders Show: Las Vegas: Jan. 20-23, World of Concrete: Las Vegas: Feb. 2-6
BERKELEY, CA (January 5, 2009) — If concrete is your medium, you’ll want to hear Cheng’s message. Join industry expert Fu-Tung Cheng and leading concrete countertop product supplier Cheng Concrete for presentations, seminars, and live demonstrations of concrete for the home, focusing on concrete countertops, at the International Builders Show and World of Concrete Show this January and February.
International Builders Show: Las Vegas Convention Center, January 20 – 23, 2009
Join the Cheng Concrete team at the Sakrete Booth #C4622 for the “Concrete Countertops Made Simple” series, based on Fu-Tung Cheng’s latest instructional book and DVD set that provides step-by-step instruction for anyone wishing to craft a superior concrete countertop in the spirit and artistry of Fu-Tung Cheng. Each presentation begins with a design-oriented talk by Fu-Tung Cheng followed by a live demonstration that shows how to transform Cheng Concrete Products and Sakrete cement mix into an expressive concrete countertop. Fu-Tung Cheng will also be at the booth for book signing on Tuesday, Jan 20 and Thursday, Jan 22 from 2:30-3:00 p.m. In addition, Fu-Tung Cheng will be debuting his new cabinet line “elements” by TONUSA at Booth #N363.
“Concrete Countertops Made Simple” series: Sakrete Booth #C4622
Part One: “Concrete Countertops Made Simple: Mold-Making & Pouring” with special introduction “Kitchen Transformations” – Tuesday, Jan 20: 10:00-11:00 a.m., Wednesday, Jan 21: 10:00-11:00 a.m., Thursday, Jan 22: 10:00-11:00 a.m., and 3:00-4:00 p.m.
A live 45 minute demonstration that provides Tips for Building a Form, and Mixing & Pouring an Ideal Countertop, presented by Cheng Concrete’s Mike Heidebrink and Clay Lai. This demo will be preceded by “Kitchen Transformations” a 15 minute talk featuring before and after kitchen projects that illustrate how concrete countertops add significant aesthetic and functional value, presented by bestselling author and award-winning designer Fu-Tung Cheng.
Part Two: “Concrete Countertops Made Simple: Polishing and Finishing” with special introduction “Concrete Style: A Universal Fit” – Tuesday, Jan 20: 1:30-2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan 21: 3:00-4:00 p.m, Thursday, Jan 22: 1:30-2:30 p.m.
A live 45 minute demonstration that provides Tips for Polishing, Sealing, Waxing, and Maintaining the Beauty of a Concrete Countertop, presented by Cheng Concrete’s Mike Heidebrink and Clay Lai. This demo will be preceded by “Concrete Style: A Universal Fit” a 15 minute talk featuring a showcase of concrete countertop styles in varied environments, from traditional to contemporary, presented by bestselling author and award-winning designer Fu-Tung Cheng.
About Sakrete
Sakrete, long-time partner of Cheng Concrete, offers the finest, contractor-grade products available. Known as the “pro’s choice,” Sakrete will help you turn any project using concrete mix, mortars, stucco or repair products into a beautiful work of art and keep it that way long after installation. Cheng Concrete highly recommends Sakrete products for countertop applications.
About “elements,” Fu-Tung Cheng’s New Line of Cabinetry by TONUSA
TONUSA, leading manufacturer of contemporary kitchen and bath products, has partnered with Fu-Tung Cheng, world-renowned designer, to create “elements,” a new line of modern cabinetry that offers elevated design at a moderated price. The new cabinetry, as well as concrete countertops by Cheng, can be viewed at TONUSA’S Booth #N363.
About the International Builders’ Show
The International Builders’ Show is the largest annual light construction show in the world—over a million-and-a-half square feet of the latest and most advanced building products and services ever assembled. For more information on the show, visit their website at www.buildersshow.com.
World of Concrete: Las Vegas Convention Center, February 2 – 6, 2009
Join the Cheng Concrete team at the Sakrete Booth S10917c for the “Concrete Countertops Made Simple” series, based on Fu-Tung Cheng’s latest instructional book and DVD set that provides step-by-step instruction for anyone wishing to craft a superior concrete countertop in the spirit and artistry of Fu-Tung Cheng. Each presentation begins with a design-oriented talk by Fu-Tung Cheng followed by a live demonstration that shows how to transform Cheng Concrete Products and Sakrete cement mix into an expressive concrete countertop. Fu-Tung Cheng will also be at the booth for book signing on Tuesday, Jan 20 and Thursday, January 22 from 2:30-3:00 p.m
In addition, Fu-Tung Cheng will be leading the residential concrete seminar “Design Trends and Techniques: Walls, Fireplaces, Water Features and Columns” for registered attendees.
“Design Trends and Techniques: Walls, Fireplaces, Water Features and Columns” Seminar for pre-registered attendees – Monday, Feb 2, 2009: 8:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Cheng’s seminar will excite your imagination with everything from concrete countertops, finish floors, fireplace surrounds, water features, partition walls and columns in a comprehensive show of real projects. This seminar is based upon the idea that art, craftsmanship, building and design can fuse with architecture in the home using concrete as the material of choice. Attendees will be exposed to a myriad of design ideas to parlay their decorative concrete skills and experience. This seminar will provide inspiration for residential interior concrete, project case studies, proprietary techniques and how to work with designers to specify concrete for the home.
- Explore the evolution of the residential “decorative” concrete industry
- Discover design, building ideas and construction techniques for walls, fireplaces, countertops, columns and water features
- Recognize the benefits and techniques of concrete as a sculptural design medium
- Analyze building form work, working drawings and the limitations of the material
Attendees will receive 3 continuing education hours submitted for AIA/CES and PDH.
Interested individuals must register for the seminar by visiting the Attendee Registration page atwww.worldofconcrete.com
“Concrete Countertops Made Simple” series: Sakrete Booth # S10917c
Part One: “Concrete Countertops Made Simple: Mold-Making & Pouring” with special introduction “Kitchen Transformations” – Tuesday, Jan 20: 10:00-11:00 a.m., Wednesday, Jan 21: 10:00-11:00 a.m., Thursday, Jan 22: 10:00-11:00 a.m., and 3:00-4:00 p.m.
A live 45 minute demonstration that provides Tips for Building a Form, and Mixing & Pouring an Ideal Countertop, presented by Cheng Concrete’s Mike Heidebrink and Clay Lai. This demo will be preceded by “Kitchen Transformations” a 15 minute talk featuring before and after kitchen projects that illustrate how concrete countertops add significant aesthetic and functional value, presented by bestselling author and award-winning designer Fu-Tung Cheng.
Part Two: “Concrete Countertops Made Simple: Polishing and Finishing” with special introduction “Concrete Style: A Universal Fit” – Tuesday, Jan 20: 1:30-2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan 21: 3:00-4:00 p.m, Thursday, Jan 22: 1:30-2:30 p.m.
A live 45 minute demonstration that provides Tips for Polishing, Sealing, Waxing, and Maintaining the Beauty of a Concrete Countertop, presented by Cheng Concrete’s Mike Heidebrink and Clay Lai. This demo will be preceded by “Concrete Style: A Universal Fit” a 15 minute talk featuring a showcase of concrete countertop styles in varied environments, from traditional to contemporary, presented by bestselling author and award-winning designer Fu-Tung Cheng.
About World of Concrete
WOC is the industry’s only annual international event dedicated to the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries with 1,700+ leading industry suppliers in more than 900,000 net square feet of exhibits featuring innovative products, technologies, tools and equipment to give you new ways to sustain and grow your business. For more information on the show, visit their website atwww.worldofconcrete.com.
About CHENG Concrete
Fu-Tung Cheng’s deep appreciation and passion for concrete is the impetus behind Cheng Concrete – a specialized division and online channel dedicated to all topics, products and information related to concrete as a finish material and based on more than 20 years of research and inspiration. Cheng Concrete is the single, leading resource for concrete countertop design. Geared for the professional architect, designer and contractor or the typical DIY-er, Cheng Concrete offers a bevy of knowledge, instruction and information for individuals to craft their own concrete furnishings, including Cheng’s own NeoMix™ system that includes a proprietary mix, tools, accessories and instructional products. Through Concrete Exchange, an education program that offers hands-on workshops and programs across the country, Cheng Concrete shares the techniques and design principles in Cheng’s concrete work. Workshops ranging from introductory courses in concrete countertops to advanced training in glass fiber-reinforced concrete, fireplaces, counters and walls. Cheng Concrete’s “Concrete Exchange” of hundreds of concrete contractors across the country offers homeowners a resource for Cheng-trained local contractors.
Cheng Concrete educational tools include a series Cheng-authored bestselling books published by The Taunton Press. His first books, Concrete Countertops and Concrete at Home have sold more than 200,000 copies. His newest book and DVD set, Concrete Countertops Made Simple (December 2008), is based on his introductory workshops for hundreds of contractors and homeowners and shares his vision for the broad, creative appeal of hands-on design and the “green” low-carbon footprint benefits of having local craftspeople and homeowners use locally quarried materials to create low-cost products for their homes. The book and DVD provide step-by-step instruction for anyone wishing to craft a superior concrete countertop in the spirit and artistry of Fu-Tung Cheng.
Please visit www.concreteexchange.com for additional information.
About Fu-Tung Cheng
Fu-Tung Cheng, designer, best-selling author, and speaker is internationally known for his sophisticated design and innovative use of materials in the home. He is one of today’s top experts on residential, commercial and product design and speaks to trade and consumer audiences on the importance of timeless design, balancing luxury and conscience, and how craftsmanship informs design. Cheng heads three companies in Berkeley, Calif.: Cheng Design, Cheng Products and Cheng Concrete. He designs exclusive branded product lines for manufacturers such as Zephyr, Elkay, and Tonusa as well as his own kitchen hoods and Geocrete™ brand of concrete products, including countertops, kitchen islands, fireplaces, water features and commissioned concrete pieces. His architectural design work ranges from full-scale homes and kitchen and bath renovations to hospitality, commercial and retail store design. He brings to audiences a practitioner’s view to creating green, timeless design. His first renovation in 1975 was his home in Albany, Calif., just north of Berkeley, where he created his first-ever concrete countertop (a 14-foot single cast piece), and experimented with applying Japanese joinery with recycled timbers, recycled gymnasium flooring, solar panels and salvaged steel-frame windows.
Cheng speaks regularly at national and local events across the country such as American Institute of Architects, International Builders Show, American Institute of Building Design, National Kitchen and Bath Association, and the World of Concrete.
He is the author of three books by the Taunton Press: Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms, and Finishes (2002) and Concrete at Home (2005), which combined have sold more than 200,000 copies. His third book Concrete Countertops Made Simple (Dec. 2008) brings countertop design to people renovating on a shoestring budget.
Cheng has been inducted into the National Kitchen and Bath Association Hall of Fame (2006), named one of the top 50 most influential figures in the industry in 50 years by Kitchen & Bath Business, and honored as the designer of Architectural Record’s “Record Houses.” He has won numerous awards for his work, including 2008 AIA East Bay Exceptional Residential Award, 2007 International Interior Designers Association Northern California Chapter Honorable Mention for Commercial Design, 2006 California Home + Design Achievement Award for Commercial Architecture, 2005 Builder’s Choice Design and Planning Award for Kitchen, 2004 Kitchen + Bath Designer Design Award, and First Place in the NKBA Design Competition.
Cheng was born and raised in Los Angeles among a family of artists. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where in 1968 he won a junior-year abroad scholarship to Japan. After a year of studying Buddhism, Japanese culture, and the martial art of Shorinji Kenpo (in which he later earned a second-degree black belt), he transferred to the University of California, Berkeley and graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts in 1971. Soon afterward, he began his lifelong practice of T’ai Chi, and currently teaches at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery.
He and his work have been featured in more than 15 books and in media that include Architectural Digest, The New York Times, Sunset, House Beautiful, Consumer Reports, Interior Design, Kitchen & Bath Business, Robb Report, Designer, Kitchen Trends, Women’s Day Kitchens & Baths, Designer UK, Trends, Innovative Home, Western Interiors, Custom Home, California Home & Design, Fine Homebuilding, Builder, The Los Angeles Times, Better Homes & Gardens, Kitchen & Bath Design News, San Francisco Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, Metropolitan Home, Chicago Tribune, Architecture, Elle Décor and Architectural Record.
Books by Fu-Tung Cheng
Concrete Countertops Made Simple (Taunton Press, December 2008)
Concrete at Home, (Taunton Press, 2005)
Concrete Countertops (Taunton Press, 2002)
Other Publications Featuring Cheng Design Work
The House to Ourselves, Todd Lawson and Tom Connor, Taunton Press, 2004
It’s Your Kitchen, Joan Kohn, Bulfinch Press, 2003
Tropical Modernism, James Grayson Trulove, HBI, 2002
Modern Kitchen Workbook, Wanda Jankowski, Foreword by Fu-Tung Cheng, Rockport Publishers, 2001
The American House Today, Arian Mostaedi, Carles Broto i Comerma, 2000
The New Family Home, Jim Tolpin, Taunton Press, 2000
The Kitchen Idea Book, Joanne Keller Bouknight, Taunton Press 1999
The Not So Big House, Sarah Susanka, Taunton Press 1998
Kitchens, Diane Dorrans Saeks, Chronicle Books 1997
Expressive Details, Duo Dickinson, McGraw-Hill, 1997
House Beautiful Great Style, Christine Pittel, Hearst Books 1996
House Beautiful Kitchens, House Beautiful Editorial Staff, Hearst Books, 1993