Craftsmanship & Conversation Episode: One
A Cozy chat with owner of Price Concrete, Caleb Lawson
We’ve been dreaming of starting this series for a while, and we’re finally diving in! There’s nothing we love more than nerding out over craftsmanship. It’s why we’re so passionate about bourbon and old trucks and concrete! Because we just love exploring craftsmanship and the many forms it takes on.
Our new IGTV series Craftsmanship & Conversation features loose interview-style conversations with makers from all over the U.S. If you love handmade, or have always dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur, or just enjoy hearing passionate artisans talk about their trades, you’re going to want to tune in! We decided to kick off the series by keeping it familial. In this first episode, Caleb & Leah (sister and social media coordinator) discuss small business, craftsmanship, concrete, and slowing down!
Watch the recap below and stay tuned for more episodes.
Let us know what you think and be sure to follow us on instagram so you catch the next ones!
3 Valentine's Day Ideas!
I can’t believe it’s Valentine’s Day already! If you were caught just as off guard as I was, have no fear! I’ve got 3 great Valentine’s Days ideas to help you out!
Cook this viral pasta recipe!
image via Pure Wow
If you’re not on TikTok yet, I feel bad for you! You’re missing out on some high-level comedy, interesting niche’s, insane life stories, and also really amazing recipes! (and soooo much more!) This recipe for feta pasta blew up seemingly overnight and had grocery stores all over the world (for real) totally sold out blocks of feta cheese! It’s that good. It’s also easy enough to fit into a 60 second video.
This brings me to idea number one:
Grab these ingredients and make this incredible pasta for your Valentine. They’ll be really impressed with your skills and that you even know what TikTok is!
The video is linked below and it’s pretty much all you need to recreate this but I’ll link a full recipe here just in case.
2. Takeout + 36 questions
You may remember an article floating around a few years ago about the 36 questions that lead to love. Basically, a psychologist did a study and claimed that any two people could fall in love using these questions. This study was based on the idea that vulnerability cultivates closeness, and this method could accelerate that closeness even between strangers. Each question is a little more detailed than the last.
Even if you think you know your partner really well, there’s always more to know, and people change over the years! I’ve heard it said that the key to a long-lasting relationship is to never stop getting to know your partner. So, this Valentines, order your favorite takeout and explore asking each other these questions over a nice dinner. You’ll be spending intentional time together that ill leave you even more in love!
Take a virtual mixology class together
Mixology classes are a fun way to try something new together and enjoy a few great drinks at the same time! If you’ve never taken a mixology class, here’s your nudge! This class is on Valentine’s Day. It’s $19 dollars a device and it’s hosted through Zoom. Once you book the class, they’ll send you recipe links so you can get everything ready for your class. The class is one hour, and you’ll make three delicious bourbon recipes!
After your class, cozy up with a romantic movie and a belly full of delicious bourbon.
Which Valentine’s Day idea is your favorite?
Our Philosophy of Craftsmanship
When I first started in the concrete business, I was new to the whole industry. I ran my business the way I had seen other small business owners model it. That looked a lot like frantically accepting every job, overextending myself, not hiring help, and basically running around like a chicken with his head cut off trying to meet impossible deadlines. I was stuck in a constant loop of stress, hurry, and urgency.
A lot has changed since I first took over Price Concrete Studio, including my philosophy on craftsmanship and how to run my business in a way that truly puts family first and prioritizes rest and mental health. I learned running my business in stress and urgency that more projects don’t always translate to more success, and you can end up burning yourself out while spinning your wheels, not progressing in your business. After doing that dance for a while, I knew something had to change. It was time to slow down and reevaluate how I was running the show. It feels incredibly risky and scary to slow down. It feels at first like you might upset all your clients, or everything will just fall apart. I learned that that couldn’t be further from the truth. After some introspection, I knew our company values needed to be more defined, and we needed to start taking them seriously. We developed the following values for Price Concrete Studio:
Family first
Quality is everything
No compromises
No urgency
I would love to share what they mean to me and all of us in the Price Concrete Studio family.
1. Family First.
It’s easy to say, but it can be so tough not to overcommit and end up burning that midnight oil at the expense of quality time with family. Family is my number one priority, and I refuse to miss out on seeing my boys grow up just to push a few more projects out the door. I believe in hard work and will always roll up my sleeves and put in the extra time when the situation really calls for it, but more often than not, the urgency I felt was self-inflicted. Some pieces can and will have to wait. Quality work takes time and focus. I’ve found I do my best work when I have clear boundaries about my time and my “on hours” and stick to them. I do my best work when I feel fulfilled and present. I can only be truly present when I’m able to be fully there for my family and when I’m putting their needs first.
2. Quality is everything.
Concrete is a luxury product. It’s an art. Concrete pieces last for decades, and they are an investment in every way. They require a financial investment, yes, but they also require a time investment. Good work takes time. Think of concrete work like barrel-aged bourbon or slow-cooked brisket! It’s best when it isn’t rushed or forced.
3. No compromises.
We will never compromise quality for expediency. We do our best to get pieces out in a timely manner, but we will not cut corners or let urgency run our lives or our business. Concrete is a material like no other. The pieces you can create from it are unparalleled. I want to serve the craft the best I can by giving every piece everything I’ve got. As a company, we refuse to be bullied by hurry. We refuse to make compromises in our craft.
4. No Urgency.
I recently read this wonderful book called “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” in the book, the author says this “Our time is our life, and our attention is the doorway to our hearts.” I have come to know in my heart that my time is my life and how I spend it matters. If I spend my time stressed, scrambling to satisfy every whim, and endlessly rushing around, I cannot be the person I want to be. And if “attention is the doorway to our hearts,” then I want to give my attention to the right things. I want to give my attention to my family, my wife, and our incredible boys. To my craft, honoring it by slowing down and doing it exceptionally, and to my community by being fully present and attentive.
It’s time for less hustle and more soul. Less hurry, and more family time. Less urgency and more handcrafted pieces that will be treasured for decades to come.
We think of our studio not as a high-volume production house but more like a concrete distillery. Giving every piece the time, attention to detail, and dedication to the craft it needs to be exceptional.
Sincerely,
Caleb Lawson & the Price Concrete Studio Family
In The Studio
What we’ve been cooking up in the shop lately!
We recently took on a project that involved about 15 concrete sinks, 4 fire features and 2 lounge chairs! This project is massive and we wanted to share some behind the scenes! We’ve got many of the pieces installed now but will have more updates and photos soon.
We can’t wait to share more of this project with you!!
We’ve been working steadily on projects and pieces, and we’ve been getting excited for the upcoming Ultimate Class we’re hosting in the studio next month! We would likely not be in business if it weren’t for the incredible foundational training we got at the concrete countertop institute, so we’re incredibly passionate about their mission and the work they do! We are honored to get to be a part of the class by hosting and co-teaching. We can’t wait to watch the next wave of concrete artisans create their dream businesses!
Time for another hint about our next big announcement!
We’ve been hinting at our next big announcement for quite some time and believe us when we say the anticipation is killing us!! We really can’t help it, we just have to share another hint. Here it is….
Any guesses?? Leave them in the comments!
5 Fire Features We Want Right Now
5 Fire Features We Love
A good fire feature instantly transforms a room into a cozy paradise! We love fire features (even thought we’re based in Florida!!) and we’ve been seeing some really inspiring ones lately we wanted to share. Here are five fire features we’re obsessing over.
Photo by thelocalproject
We’ve been seeing this Scandinavian style wood burning fireplace gain traction here in the U.S and we love it! If you’re not able to just install a fireplace (totally fair) they sell faux versions at west elm that even have a (fake) exhaust pipe so that it looks real!
Photo source unknown
We love a good fire feature wall! We’ve been privileged enough to create a few similar pieces for clients and are always so excited about how they turn out!
photo by cocolapinedesign.com
Another take on the Scandinavian style wood burning stove.
Photo by Derek Swalwell
This outdoor entertaining space is maybe one of the most stunning ones we’ve seen. Who wouldn’t want to have a space like this right in their backyard?!
Photo by Attic Fire
This style of fireplace with a built space for wood has really taken off in the last few years. It solves a storage problem and the design is absolutely beautiful.
Need a custom fire feature for your home? Let’s talk!
2021 Trend Watch!
OUt with the old, in with the older!
It’s a new year and it’s time for some new interior design trends! We’re making some predictions and sharing some from the experts. Here are 5 things we think you’ll see a lot more of in 2021:
Grandmillennial Style
image via the glam pad
Time to learn a new vocab word because “Grandmillenial style” is a thing now, and it’s everywhere! Grandmillenial style is all about nostalgia. Think patterns, wallpaper, and retro colors. This style mixes current trends with lots of vintage finds and quirky touches. Want to try it for yourself? There don’t seem to any rules! Are you pairing a pattern with another one? Go for it! Are you mixing decades? Go for it. Time to beg your grandma for her old stuff and get those creative juices flowing.
closed floor plans
image via this old house
It was all about open concepts for a while, but we’re starting to see the open concept fade away in favor of cozier, sectioned off spaces. Maybe it’s because open concept homes are so hard to decorate. Perhaps it’s that all the scary stuff in the world has made us want to create little safe pockets in our houses. Whatever the reason, the open concept is out, and the close floor plan is coming back!
brick backsplashes
image via two hawk designs
You really can’t go wrong with brick! We’re starting to see brick kitchen backsplashes show up all over the place, and we love it! Now imagine that the countertop above is concrete and you’ve got a perfect kitchen...
calming blues
via Italian bark
Even though the color of the year is Ultimate Gray, blues seem to be taking over! We haven’t seem this much baby blue in a while, but it’s a nice choice for a calm work from home environment!
decked out entertaining areas
Staying home all the time is frustrating but also addicting?? Once you've gotten a taste for the sweatpants life, it's hard to go back to tight jeans and complicated makeup routines. I think that's why lots of folks are bringing the bars home in 2021. Whether it's a backyard bar, a basement bar, or a whole new addition to your house, we are here for this trend!
We've Got News!
Congratulations are in order
We have some really exciting things in store for the future of Price Concrete Studio, and we’ve been keeping most of them under wraps. While we’re still keeping a lot of our surprises close to the chest, It’s time we let you in on one of our big announcements!
Anyone in business knows it’s nearly impossible to do it all on your own. It truly takes a village to build up and support a small business! Having the right people by your side is a make or break situation. From the moment Sean Happ first joined the Price Concrete Family, he proved he would be a valuable asset and an irreplaceable member of our team. From his incredible work ethic to the high-quality product he produces, we are genuinely so proud to work alongside him. As a bonus, not only is Sean a part of the Price Concrete family but of our actual family as well!
Sean began his journey with us by training and dedicating himself to the further refinement of his craft as a concrete artisan. He attended the CCI Ultimate Class, and his brilliance continued to impress. Now we are over the moon to officially announce that Sean is the new Vice President of Price Concrete Studio. He is a natural leader, a hard worker, and inspires everyone who works with him to bring their A-game. We can’t wait to watch him thrive in this new position. Congratulations, Sean Happ!
Now for a clue!
We can’t officially announce our next big surprise yet, but since we love you so much, we’d like to give you a chance to guess! So without further ado, here is your clue:
Think you’ve got a good guess? Leave a comment!
Easy Mini Home Makeovers For 2021
The new year always gets us thinking about upgrades and updates! Sometimes the spirit is willing, but the wallet it weak. If that’a the case, we’re here to help with a few mini home makeovers you can do for cheap!
paint your cabinets
Photo via Kayla Payne
Painting your cabinets can totally transform your space without a ton of time or money. This is seriously one of the best things you can do for your kitchen or bathroom on a budget. The 2021 color of the year was announced as ‘Ultimate Gray’ and could make for some pretty chic cabinets!
2. Change up the hardware on dressers, cabinets, and drawers.
A quick hardware change can make a world of difference. Its one of those changes you don’t realize you need to make until you do and then you can’t understand why you waited so long! Here is a hardware look we love.
3. Get a real mirror!
image via West Elm
I have been living like a college kid with an over the door mirror hanger for so long. I didn’t really give the mirror any thought because in my mind this was a purely functional necessity. But recently i’ve noticed how a good floor mirror can tie an entire room together! Get an awesome vintage floor mirror and watch how it transforms you space.
4. Change out light fixtures
It’s so easy to overlook light fixtures! Many of us just move into a place and accept whatever light fixtures were there on our arrival. A new light fixture can make a big difference! Don’t believe us? check out this side by side.
5. Add an accent wall
image via Etsy
Use peel an stick wallpaper to add an awesome accent wall in your office or bedroom. This instantly updates the look of any room and won’t break the bank at all!
2020 Project Highlights!
2020 was unexpected and of course there were a lot of things we didn’t love, but we are so grateful we could continue to book projects and work on some of our favorite pieces yet! Take a trip down memory lane with us as we look through some of our favorite pieces from 2020!
Farm & Haus Terrazzo Countertop
What we loved about it:
This piece provided us with a unique opportunity to explore some more terrazzo designs! It had been a while since we’d done a terrazzo piece! We placed each glass piece individually to make sure it would be absolutely perfect for Melissa Grace Designs and the fine folks at Farm & Haus!
Unique Island piece for Brianna Michelle design
What we loved about it:
This project for Brianna Michelle Design was one for the books! It offered a lot of opportunity for creative freedom and a few design surprises. We gold plated the drawer interior, and worked with McGuckin’s custom metal to add the steel shelf that really brought the piece together!
Caspian Soaking tub for tubbrand
What we loved about it:
We’ve loved getting to develop a unique line of luxury bathtubs for TUBBRAND this year. The Caspian soaking tub was a a new design for us, and we were thrilled with how it turned out!
16ft conference table for peak cm construction
What we loved about it:
This piece did not come without it’s challenges. We used three different colors to make the table and So. Much. Concrete. It was a relief when it was finished, and ready to be delivered. Of course, concrete is as unpredictable as anything else in life, and when this huge project fell off the forklift and cracked all over, we pretty much felt like crawling into a hole and never coming out. After many an expletive, and a few “Why God’s,” we did the only thing you can do when a piece falls and breaks: We started over. We re-cast the table for our client, and luckily the second time delivering was the charm. It went into their office, and our client was happy, and so were we, but what to do with the first piece?
Our client said they’s still love to have the first piece if we could repair it. With the pressure off, we had the freedom to create something beautiful out of the original piece.
Sculpture Bench for Alfresco Living
What we loved about it:
When we saw the plans for this bench, we knew this was going to be a fun project! We absolutely loved bringing this vision to life, and we’re pretty much obsessed with how this sculpture bench turned out!
Solar Sculpture for Exploria Stadium
What we loved about it:
If you’ve been hanging around us for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard about this project. This was one of our biggest projects of the year and we are still so humbled that we got to be a part of this incredible project! We created the base in 5 different pieces that fit together at the install like a puzzle. They were huge pieces and it took a lot of concrete and team work to pull it off, but seeing the final piece made everything so worth it!
Custom Display Plinth commissioned through our Black Label Lawson design
What we loved about it:
Total creative freedom! We will share more about our black label in the coming months. It is for clients who want something totally custom and are excited to let us dream up the piece of their dream! Our client came to us wanting a display case for their fossilized tortoise shell. We had an incredible time with this project. There is nothing that makes us happier in our work then the freedom to create something truly unique for our clients. This piece was a dream come true!
We are so thankful for all the great projects we were able to work on this year. We know it’s been a tough year, and we know that things could have looked a lot different for our business this year without a supportive community. Thank you for being a part of the Price Concrete Family!
Need Weekend Plans?
4 fun things to watch, read, sip, and do!
4 things to watch, read, do, and sip this weekend!
Every winter when the days begin to grow shorter and colder, there always seems to be less and less to do. shows take a break, work slows down, and with it getting dark around 430 or 5pm, it gets harder and harder to motivate yourself to do things. If you’re feeling that winter slump too, here are a few things you can do that are already detailed out for you!
Watch: The Undoing
If you haven’t watched this yet, you are in for the ride of your life! This show has it all. Suspense, mystery, romance, and a good old fashioned who done it! Run, don’t walk to your tv. You won’t be able to think about anything else until you get to the end!
Read: Homegoing
I just finished this book and it was incredible! This story follows two half sisters who are born into different villages, but do not know about each other. “One will marry an Englishman and lead a life of comfort in the palatial rooms of the Cape Coast Castle. The other will be captured in a raid on her village, imprisoned in the very same castle, and sold into slavery.” This one is a must read!
Do: Diy Hairpin Coffee Table
I recently saw a post on Instagram where a girl recreated a $900 hairpin leg coffee table for just $50! Her table looked even cuter than the original design for a fraction of the cost. We found a similar tutorial we’re itching to try out! You could also choose a different piece of wood to create a bigger table. Want to try it out?
Sip: Mulled Wine
photo by forkinthekitchen.com
There’s nothing like mulled wine at Christmas time! Here’s an easy recipe to make a batch. It’s time to pick out a cheesy holiday movie, settle in with some mulled wine and relax for a night!
Shop Small Holiday Gift Guide! 15 amazing gifts from small business
Shop small holiday gift guide!
Gifts for everyone on your list! Shop small this year so you can get your loved ones unique gifts you can all feel good about!
It’s Rooper unique handbags
These bags are made sustainably using dead stock fabric! This would make a great gift for the fashion obsessed in your circle.
Raniban prints & tees
You can support an amazing independent artist and small business owner and get a truly special gift at the same time! Raniban makes lovely prints, t shirts and more.
Prism fun mom hat
For the fun mom in your life! This hat is $30 and sold at a very cute small business local to the Seattle area. They have tons of ethically made sustainable goods, so if the hat doesn’t fit the bill (sorry had to) check out all the other wonderful gifts they have.
Withco batched cocktail mix & gift boxes
“is a batched cocktail mix, using only fresh, flavorful ingredients, designed to help you be the better host.” -Withco
They have tons of options for gifts, but personally I love this ELLIS OLD FASHIONED - RANGER STATION KIT because it comes with a ranger station candle which is the most heavenly smelling candle on earth. This gift box includes:
Ellis Old Fashioned
Ranger Station Old Fashioned Candle
Ice Mold
Jigger
Bar Spoon
Garnish Kit
This would make for an amazing gift for the craft cocktail connoisseur on your list.
Dope coffee gift box
Something for the coffee lover in your family! Dope coffee has lot’s of gift box options and at $35 it’s great for that budget too!
Truff Hot Sauce
This hot sauce is a personal favorite of mine!! It’s truffle infused, with the perfect amount of spice. Believe me when I say, you’ve never had a hot sauce like this before! This box set would make for a great foodie friendly gift.
Stylish cat shelf from Cosy and Dosy
Get the cat lover in your family something they’ll actually love like this sleep looking cat shelf!
Custom painted pet jacket by Emily Elizabeth Miller
Get a custom made-to-order jacket with your loved one’s fur best friend painted on! These jackets are incredible and are hand-painted by an independent artists from Nashville. Since they’re made to order, this might not arrive for Christmas, but you can always print a picture and get them excited about what’s coming in the mail for them!
Handmade Macrame Necklace From Mi Esperanza
Mi Esperanza is a wonderful organization that empowers women in Honduras to break the cycle of poverty. By providing free education, and high quality jobs with living wages, Mi Esperanza is changing the world one woman at a time!
Kombucha brewing kit
Kombucha may not be your jam but chances are you have someone on your list who can’t get enough of the stuff! This brewing kit would make a great gift!
Set of coupe glasses from Estelle
Have someone on your list who loves to entertain? I bet they would enjoy these lovely coup glasses from Estelle
Pink Moon Co: over the moon duo
Skin care and self-care is a way of life so many people! The internet may have convinced us that lathering oil and rubbing a smooth stone over our faces will result in inner peace, but listen, I’ve tried it and the internet was onto something there! This duo is a great gift for anyone on your list who has ever said, tweeted, or instagrammed using the words “self-care Saturday!”
Personalized throw pillow from mafeeyigifltland
This personalized pillow would be awesome for Grandparents, or parents!
Haley Sheldon Ceramic Peace Ornament
I originally found Haley Sheldon through her wall art installations. They are absolutely stunning and I personally would love to have a whole set, but once I saw the price it seemed like a little too much to include in this gift guide. I still wanted to share her work because it’s so lovely.
When I went to look up the prices of her wall hangings I did find these wonderful handmade “peace ornaments” and I think they’d make for beautiful gifts!
Unique Dried Bouquet By Oat Cinnamon
It may be a tough season to keep fresh flowers stocked in your home. Oat Cinnamon creates these beautiful dried bouquets that last and last! Get the interior enthusiast in your life a bouquet that won’t wilt or stink!