REACHING QUIET DESIGN, LLC
COURTSIDE ISLAND
Project Location: Charlotte, NC
Total Retail Price: $15,000
Weight: 650 lbs
Concrete Mix: CHENG Platinum Pro-Formula
Other Materials: Maple, MDF, aluminum, LEDs, Avonite
Turnaround Time: 2 months
INCOMPARABLE ISLAND
This kitchen island, designed and fabricated by Reaching Quiet Design’s Eric Boyd, embodies a homeowner’s dream—clean lines, modern look, and a functional kitchen centerpiece at which guests can gather, talk, and enjoy a drink. It’s fun, too; with a simple touch, its LED lighting system sets the island aglow. Boyd needed to integrate a light sensor into the counter and concrete was the ideal material that allowed him to inlay the sensor without compromising the beauty of the surface.
Project Objective + Client Feedback
The client wanted a piece that combined tasteful form with functionality. According to Boyd, “the client wanted a modern and sleek island that housed his wine fridge and allowed the city to be viewed while seated.”
Boyd says the client “loves it,” and that it’s always a topic of conversation with guests, a homerun by most homeowners’ standards.
Design + Expertise
Initially, the client had wanted to use Avonite, a plastic, translucent material considered to be a poor choice as a countertop material. Instead, Reaching Quiet Design made a band that separated the counter from the cabinetry which illuminated when the inlaid aluminum strip in the concrete counter was touched. “All components change in elevation and fit together as a puzzle,” explained Boyd.
Despite having a multi-faceted design, the island indeed “fits together” both as a stand-alone piece and with the rest of the kitchen. Boyd chose to use black cabinetry for the island to complement the client’s surrounding granite counters. The island’s maple butcher block also ties in with the maple cabinetry in the kitchen.
A slight challenge with this particular island was installing the LED lighting, due to the amount of lights needed and transformer load. Overall, however, the project went smoothly and only took two months to complete. Boyd enjoys working on islands because going from CAD (computer-aided drawings) to fabrication makes it a much quicker process. With 8 years of experience designing with concrete, Reaching Quiet Design based in Charlotte, NC, adds yet another award-winning project to its portfolio.
BEST INTERIOR KITCHEN: Eric Boyd, Reaching Quiet Design
CHENG Concrete’s 6th Annual Members’ Circle of Distinction Design Challenge
Recognized in the industry as the pinnacle of exceptional design and craftsmanship, the 2010 CHENG Concrete Circle of Distinction Design Challenge showcases talent and technical skill of the very best in creative concrete. With over 100 entries, each were judged and then awarded in 11 categories on elements and principles of design, design planning, innovative concept/creativity, use of color, presentation, innovative forming techniques, problem solving, and creatively meeting the demands of the client.
Reaching Quiet Design’s Courtside Island was awarded Best Interior Kitchen for this year’s design challenge. Fu-Tung Cheng, head juror, calls it “An integration of architecture and design... The work speaks for itself.”
ABOUT REACHING QUIET DESIGN
Driven to make meaningful things, a group of friends and creative collaborators formed Reaching Quiet Design in 2002 after graduating from the University of North Carolina. The firm has grown on its own, from the home garage to what it is now.
They started by designing and producing a series of furniture to be made on a very limited run. This series became available through our studio in 2004 and laid the foundation for a thoughtful aesthetic—something warm, invigorating, transforming and contemporary.
Reaching Quiet Studios has four divisions: design studio, wood shop, metals shop, and formed products shop (concrete and resin). Specializing in custom furniture, kitchen and bath design, cabinet making, concrete countertops, bars and hearths, Reaching Quiet Design emphasizes personal service and superior quality projects.
CONTACT
Reaching Quiet Design, LLC
Eric Boyd
826 Hawthorne Lane.
Charlotte, NC 28204
(704) 377-6304
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www.reachingquiet.com