Concrete Designs

If you have ever been to one of the Bass Pro Shops there are a lot of things you will probably notice.  First of all, every Bass Pro Shop I have ever been to is huge.  Secondly, from the moment you walk in, you are in another world – the world of outdoors – and you feel like you could settle in and explore for a couple of weeks without seeing everything they have to offer.

When I say huge, we are talking 150,000 square feet!  Imagine an area that large with only concrete floors and steel beams that, when completed, has turned into an outdoor wonderland.  In that scenario, there are over 4,500 yards of concrete alone.

Once the walls are up, they provide the backdrop for the atmosphere in the store.  Murals are hand painted throughout, and the other artifacts and effects are put in as complements to one another.  Tony Hujik, Project Engineer for a new store being built in Toledo says, “The way they look at it is that it’s not just a store, it’s a museum.”  This becomes evident upon entering the finished store.  Sixty foot pine logs, a waterfall, fresh water aquarium and cliffs with deer, elk, wolves, moose and cougar set the stunning outdoor tone.

All of that being said, the look and feel of the store is carried through from top to bottom.  The idea is that every inch of the store represents part of the outdoor experience.  The Toledo Free Press comments, “Even the store’s concrete floors contain some kind of artwork throughout the structure.  The surface uses etchings made using a hand grinder, metal inlays in the shape of wildlife or animal tracks stamped into it.  Such features make Bass Pro unlike any other project or store because of the detail that goes into it.” 

Bass Pro Shops have been using the idea of decorative concrete for years.  It’s an art form that people notice, yet is subtle enough to help create the atmosphere without overpowering it. 

There are many types of decorative concrete that will enhance the look and feel of retail space, such as a store, boutique or restaurant.  Of course, there are also designs that will work well in homes.  New, easy to clean and maintain styles are available from simple changes in color and texture to hand stamping and etching.

When designing or remodeling a retail space, it is important to think from bottom to top.  Create a total atmosphere.  Let the floors be part of the art that enhances everything else throughout.   Decorative and artistic concrete is an idea whose time has come again.  Don’t forget to include it in your plans.

When you walk into a restaurant one of the first things you see is the floor.  You may not notice it at first because of the decorations, booths and tables, and lighting, but eventually you will notice how the flooring in a nice restaurant enhances everything else and helps to create the atmosphere and ambience.

There are some older restaurants that you might dine at where the food is incredible, but the atmosphere isn’t as warm and inviting as it could be.  Sometimes, you only need look at the floor to see why.
It may be older, dull, needing an upgrade or just plain needing another look.

This is where the trend in decorative concrete comes in.  It can be a huge expense to tear out flooring and put in new flooring.  If you have ever seen a restaurant just after the frame has gone up, you usually see steel beams, maybe some wood as part of the frame, and cement where the floor will go.  There are a lot of ways that the cement can be used becoming a stunning and artistic part of the décor.

Stained concrete, for instance, can take the bare concrete you have and change the look and color of it to blend with your design.  There are numerous types of treatments that can change the texture and color, make the concrete look new, make the concrete look hand carved or overlaid.  There are ways to stencil the concrete and processes that will also make the concrete look like various types of rock.

The great thing about these treatments is that they can be sealed, they wear and clean well – especially important in a restaurant – and, as we’ve discussed, they will enhance any décor.

If you own a restaurant or manage one and are considering remodeling or upgrading, don’t forget the floors.  Just as a woman buying a gown would purchase matching shoes and purse to enhance the outfit, if you are re-decorating anything from a restaurant to a room, the flooring is like the shoes – the ensemble is not complete without attention to those details.