Concrete at Home: Innovative Forms and Finishes

Fu-Tung Cheng's surprise bestseller Concrete Countertops paved the way for a fresh look at a familiar surface. His new book moves beyond the kitchen and transforms this commonplace material into an elegant medium that can be used throughout the house. Combining cutting-edge design with helpful how-to information, Concrete at Home offers ingenious ideas for planning and building walls, fireplaces, mantels, hearths, and exterior and interior floors, as well as tips on incorporating architectural elements such as counters, sinks, columns, and water pieces into the project. The construction of forms, footings, and ties is detailed in clear, easy-to-follow instructions, and special attention is given to finishing techniques, including adding color, texture, and inlays.

Eric Olsen is a journalist. He has published hundreds of magazine articles, a few short stories, and six nonfiction books. Olsen directed the International Institute of Modern Letters, a literary think-tank that helped writers who were victims of censorship, and created the first American City of Asylum, in Las Vegas. He was also the executive editor at Time Inc. Health, a Time Warner company. He is a graduate of the Iowa Writer's Workshop. He lives in Las Vegas.

Fu-Tung Cheng is the founder of Cheng Design and Cheng Design Products. From design to construction, Fu-Tung's custom home projects have earned him numerous awards. These full-scale design and architectural projects have given him complete creative license to experiement with his signature medium—concrete—as well as an outlet to further extend his artistic expression in other areas of the home, such as hardscape and landscape design. His work has become internationally known for its sophisticated, understated design and innovative use of concrete throughout the home.