Cheng Design Exchange Chooses 2006 Winners

Cheng Design Exchange announced the winners of its second annual Members Circle of Distinction Design Challenge at the World of Concrete 2006 in Las Vegas. The concrete countertop design competition received 93 submissions, resulting in a total of seven “Best” category winners, two Merit Awards, and 11 Honorable Mentions.

The contest was open exclusively to members of Cheng Concrete Exchange, an online resource and directory providing business professionals, designers, homeowners and do-it-yourselfers with training, design ideas, business opportunities, and a full line of concrete countertop products.

Currently, Cheng Concrete Exchange includes about 250 concrete professionals. Most have taken at least the Concrete Countertop Essentials workshop or Advanced Countertop Design Training from industry expert Fu-Tung Cheng, founder of Cheng Concrete Exchange and author of Concrete Countertops and Concrete at Home.

“I am so proud of the Concrete Exchange members who submitted their entries in the competition,” said Cheng. “They collectively raised the standard of sophistication and craftsmanship on what is being produced in this growing industry. Our members’ innovations will create a movement — not a trend — toward increasing the appreciation of good design and craftsmanship. Kudos to the winners and all those who entered. The decisions were especially difficult to make this year!”

Members from all over North America attended the Design Awards reception, and many Circle of Distinction award winners were on hand to personally receive their award from Cheng. The announcement also drew a large, curious crowd of WOC attendees interested in observing the presentation of the award-winning concrete countertop projects, more evidence of the growing interest in the craft of countertops and the decorative concrete industry as a whole.

Entries are valued 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: Mack Perry, PerryWorks, Chicago, Ill.

Best Kitchen Countertop: Christian Lincoln, Counter Culture Concrete, Willow, N.Y.

Best Bathroom Countertop: Chris Becker, South St. Paul, Minn.

Best Integral Sink: Andrew Simon and James McGuire, Lokahi Stone, Honolulu, Hawaii

Best Decorative Finish: Ian Wyndlow, Liquid Stone Studios, Ladysmith BC, Canada

Best Functional Feature: Carol Miller, Sonoita Concrete Design, Sonoita, Ariz.

Best 3-Dimensional Application: Betsy Vork-Howell, Wabi Sabi Concrete, Excelsior, Minn.

Merit Award:
Gregg McCallum, Impressive Concrete Surfaces, Charlevoix, Minn.
Guy Chomistek, Rafter C Precast Concrete, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

Honorable Mention:
Mike Moncrieff, New Edge Design, Lynden, Wash, (3)
Jeff Grzywinski, Form Concrete Design, Vail Colo. (2)
Jack Cooper, Cooper’s Custom Surfaces, Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.
Preston Addison, Karma Dog Construction, Cloverdale, Calif.
Tyler Oosterhouse, Bay House Design, Traverse City, Mich.
Karen Smith, Countercast Designs, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Dale Blayone, Concrete Cuisine, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Brian Brown, Soul Focus Stone, Mendocino, Calif.