Cheng Honors Best in Concrete Design Competition

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February 2, 2007 — Cheng Concrete Exchange announced the winners of its third annual Members' Circle of Distinction Design Challenge at the World of Concrete 2007 (WOC) in Las Vegas, NV. The industry's only concrete countertop design competition received 77 submissions resulting in a total of seven "Best" category winners and seven Honorable Mention recipients. The contest was open exclusively to Members of Cheng Concrete Exchange, an online resource and directory providing building professionals, designers, homeowners and do-it-yourselfers with training, design ideas, business opportunities and the only complete line of concrete countertop products.

Currently, Cheng Concrete Exchange's membership includes approximately 275 concrete professionals. The majority have completed the Advanced Countertop Design Training from the concrete countertop industry's most notable expert, Fu-Tung Cheng. Cheng is founder of Cheng Concrete Exchange and author of best-selling books, Concrete Countertops and Concrete at Home.

"Fu-Tung's work is, and always has been, a great inspiration to our design firm. Concrete Countertops taught us how to talk about the material, how to sell it, how to design with it and, most importantly, how to craft it. It is truly an honor of a lifetime to be recognized by what has been our consistent and main source of inspiration," said Eric Boyd of Reaching Quiet Design, a Member and Circle of Distinction award recipient for Best of Show.

"This year's competition raised the bar again to another level, without a doubt. The Concrete Exchange Members who submitted their work are pushing themselves, their peers, and the industry to innovate and deliver outstanding design solutions and craftsmanship. They are redefining what is possible in concrete," said Cheng. "I am proud of the winners, and all who entered, and I relish the exchange as pupils inspire the teacher."

The reception for the Design Awards, held at Cheng Concrete Exchange's WOC booth, was standing-room-only as attendees crowded in to see the submitted work and honored winning entries. Members from all over North America were in attendance and nearly all Circle of Distinction award winners were on-hand to personally receive their award from Cheng. The Circle of Distinction announcement drew a large, curious crowd of WOC attendees interested in observing the media presentation of the award-winning concrete countertop projects, another sign of the growing interest in the craft of countertops and the decorative concrete industry.

Entries are evaluated on exceptional design, technical skill and overall aesthetic appeal. The design challenge did not require a fee, but did require membership in Cheng Concrete Exchange.

Award winners are as follows:

Best of Show:
Eric Boyd, Reaching Quiet Design, Charlotte, NC

Best Kitchen Countertop:
Chris Stollery, Cast in Concrete Design, B.C., Canada

Best Bathroom Countertop:
Chris Becker, Becker Architectural Concrete, South St. Paul, MN

Best Integral Sink:
Chris Frazer, DC Custom Concrete, San Diego, CA

Best Decorative Finishes:
Gregory Mata, Cutting Edge Decorative Concrete, Richfield, OH

Best Functional Feature:
Sean Dunston, Concrete Jungle, Colorado Springs, CO

Best 3-Dimensional Application:
Keelin Kennedy, Barefoot Design, Chicago, IL

Honorable Mention:
Jack Cooper, Cooper's Custom Surfaces, Cardiff by the Sea, CA (2)
Mike Moncrieff, New Edge Design, Lynden, WA
Sean Dunston, Concrete Jungle, Colorado Springs, CO
Michael Power, Power Design, Waco, TX
Ian Wyndlow, Liquid Stone Studios, B.C., Canada
Justin Hawkins, Livingstone Studios, Lincoln, RI

TRAINING, PRODUCTS, & DESIGN IDEAS: For instructional products, Essential Workshops, Advanced Training and Seminars, design ideas or to become a Concrete Exchange Member, visit: www.concreteexchange.com or contact: John Geluso, ext.207, jgeluso@chengdesign.com.