Concrete & Cocktails: Royal Peach
Concrete & Cocktails: The Royal Peach
We’re back with another edition of Concrete & Cocktails! This time we’re bringing you a delicious gin drink that will give you that love at first sip feeling!
ingredients
To make the Royal Peach you need:
2 oz Empress Gin
3/4 oz fresh squeezed lemon
3/4 oz Peach Syrup (We recommend Waynesville Soda Jerks)
3/4 oz pasteurized egg white
Instructions
After separating out your yolk dry shake the egg white then add the rest of the ingredients, dry shake them, add ice, shake again. Then strain the ingredients into a coupe glass and garnish with your garnish of choice! We decided to use edible flowers for our garnish.
Royal Peach taste test
This was genuinely one of our favorite cocktails we’ve made! The egg white created a rich creamy texture and the flavor with the peach syrup playing off the acid from the lemon created a perfect balance. We cannot say enough wonderful things about this drink!
The royal peach was decadent, delicious, and easy to make! Try it out and let us know what you think.
Color Match With Us!
We’re currently working on an exciting project for the Downtown Orlando Library! They are renovating their basement and the color for their existing bathroom vanities was no longer available. They brought us on to work some magic and get as close to that old color as possible for the new vanities we’re making for them.
The color we needed to match is a rich cobalt blue (shown on the left below) it was proving to be tricky at first but then inspiration struck and we cracked the code!
Our first color match attempt (on the right) wasn’t getting as vibrant as we needed it to be. We remembered some grout we did on a project a while back that was the color we were looking for and suddenly we knew just what to do!
We started by selecting the right combination of pigments and weighing out the exact amounts we’d need to recreate the color.
Quick break for Boone to show off his modeling skills!
Time to mix up the color and see how we did!
moment of truth time…
It worked!! Now it’s time to pour the new vanities and get the library all ready for more guests.
What's Trending In Interior Design
Newest trends and predictions
Keeping up with trends can be exhausting because they’re, well, trends! Trends change constantly and sometimes seem to come out of nowhere. We figured we’d save you some time and effort, so we’ve been tracking a few new design trends.
Textured Furniture
Textures are still very much on the rise! Textured furniture as well as textured walls are showing up a lot in today’s design. As people move away from minimalism, they’re seeking to add in warmth and depth to spaces and texture plays a huge role in that!
image by HGTV Canada
Natural Materials
We’re seeing an uptick of natural materials like stone, quality woods, and woven designs. A lot of designers seem to be drawing inspiration from nature and bringing the outside in with more natural materials and eco conscious choices.
photo by home guide
photo by us!
Maximilism
While minimalism will always be popular with sum, it seems like our collective obsession with it is starting to decline. Maximalism is taking it’s place and showing no signs of going out of style anytime soon. Maximalism is essentially more of everything. Mixed patterns, lush fabrics, lot’s of art, plenty of plants, and plenty of colors.
photo by the spruce
photo by the spruce
marbling
Marbling is back in a big way and we love creating that marbling effect with concrete! From countertops to floors to accent walls, it’s all about marble!
image by wallsauce.com
Statement wallpaper
Wallpaper has been making a comeback for a few years now but with the maximalism trend taking over, wallpaper has plenty of room to shine!
image by photowall.com
what do you think? let us know which design trend is your favorite in the comments!
Custom Marbled Concrete Countertops
Check out one of our favorite pieces to date!
We made something for ourselves and we love it!
We have been in the process of renovating the basement apartment of Lauren’s parent’s house so that we could stay more comfortably while we search for land in the area. This project provided us with a unique opportunity to create some pieces for ourselves which meant we could explore a little more and really let loose creatively.
We are typically a lot more reserved when it comes to using pigments in our marbled concrete, but this time we had a vision for something a little more out there. For these countertops we used four different pigments and two different concrete colors. We even threw in some hints of glitter. It was really fun to go for it with this piece and be bold with the choices we made to create the marbled effect!
Having a little more freedom to do personal projects really helps us hone our craft and try out new techniques. We can’t wait to make some more pieces like this!
In case you missed last week’s blog, we christened the new countertops with a fancy cocktail creation session. All our countertops are designed to be used and cherished so if you aren’t spilling a little whiskey on them, you’re not doing it right!
Concrete & Cocktails: The Whiskey Jam
Concrete & Cocktails: The Whiskey Jam (recipe inside)
Our vision for the future of Lawson Design includes a lot more than just concrete. We are working hard to get our studio ready for the public to have a space for events, community, and more! In that spirit, we plan on sharing a little more of the lifestyle aspect of Lawson Design.
So, If you’re a lover of all things design, concrete, craft cocktails, good bourbon, community, and rarities, keep following along! If you’re not, well, we don’t know what to make of you! (just kidding, you can come along too!)
Without further ado, we’d love to share a craft cocktail with you that we’re fully ready to rave about.
the whiskey jam
We needed a cocktail that would be perfect for summer porch sipping that featured good seasonal ingredients. We decided to try a version of a whiskey drink we found on Pinterest, but we added our own spin to it!
The Ingredients
The Whiskey Jam
-2 ounces of rye whiskey (we chose to use Hochstadter’s Straight Rye Whiskey)
-1/2 ounce of Grand Marnier
-1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
-3/4 tsb jam (we used homemade strawberry “freezer jam” )
-1/2 tsb maple syrup
The Instructions
Simply combine all of the ingredients into a shaker with a good amount of ice and shake until all the jam has been broken up. Pour, garnish, and serve!
Almost time for the big taste test!
The finished drink was almost too pretty to try!
Time to try
The verdict? The Whiskey Jam is Lawson Design approved and delicious!
Try out the Whiskey jam and let us know what you think!
4 Concrete Sofas For Your Perfect Patio!
Summer is here, and it's time to make your outdoor space as dreamy as possible so you can sip and hang with friends all summer long! We are loving seeing so many awesome outdoor sofas pop up. We would say we love this trend, but we don't think it is a trend! The look is classic, and with the proper craftsman, your outdoor sofa could be loved and enjoyed for decades to come! Without further ado, here are four stunning concrete sofas to inspire your next outdoor design overhaul.
Moroccan Nights
This sofa is perfect for any outdoor area. It has a higher-end feel to it and could easily be altered to fit any style by simply changing out the cushions! We love the idea of something simple enough to feel classic with some design wiggle room to update it with changing trends or design preferences easily!
Photo by: Room For Tuesday
70’s Chic
This person decided to try out the concrete sofa inside in their California home! It’s giving 70’s vibes in the best way. This piece also offers a lot of versatility as the pillows could be swapped out easily. We love this look by sfgirlbybay.com
Modern Community Hangout
The shape of this concrete sofa makes it perfect for an intimate evening with your closest friends swapping stories around the fire. We love the style of this piece. This sofa paired with a nice fire-pit makes for an entertainment area that is always ready for guests. You could have a last minute gathering without with hardly any prep time! It’s a laidback look that still feel stylish and timeless.
A Night To Remember
This South Beach rooftop project was our first concrete sofa, but we know it won’t be our last! This piece is large and offers tons of seating space. We built in a drainage feature so that this piece would stay fresh and welcoming for years to come. We loved contributing to a space we know will be enjoyed by many!
Thinking of sprucing up your outdoor space? Let’s talk! We can take inspiration from something in this blog or dream up something totally new and unique together!
Bespoke Concrete Tortoise Shell
Special delivery for Ridgecrest!
We've been working on creating a concrete tortoise shell for Camp Ridgecrest over the past few weeks. Over the years, we've designed a few pieces for Ridgecrest, and every time we do, it feels incredibly special to leave our mark on a place that means so much to our family and us. We’ve never attempted anything like a tortoise shell before, and it was exciting having a new challenge to work on. We got to work planning it out and luckily, everything went smoothly (concrete can be unpredictable so that’s not always the case).
WE got to work creating the mold for our shell
We started with foam and them used fiberglass to finish off the mold
After the mold was finished, it was time to cast!
Once the piece was cast, we needed to acid stain it, seal it, polish the inside, and deliver!
The delivery was a bit unconventional, to say the least! Our truck was in the shop, so we loaded up the shell into the jeep and headed to camp.
We got the shell safely installed and we’re loving how it turned out!
Thank you Ridgecrest! We love making pieces for you!
Concrete Coffee Table Inspo
Four Concrete Coffee Tables we’re loving
Nesting concrete coffee table
We love this unique concrete nesting table. It’s modern, easy to style, and would fit in a wide range of styles.
Photo by stylemeghd.com
Keppler Square Coffee Table
This table by Highfashionhome.com features one of our favorite combinations, concrete and metal!
Simple Concrete Tray Table
This tray coffee table by shadesoflight.com is perfect for that farmhouse chic look!
hmm, how did this get in here?
Well since it is, we might as well tell you about our Lauren Coffee Table! The Lauren is warm, classic, easy to clean, and aesthetically versatile!
If you’re thinking of investing in a new coffee table and want something totally unique, let’s talk! Whether you know exactly what you want or want someone to do the designing for you, we can make some concrete magic that you’ll treasure for years to come!
In The Studio: June
Here’s whats going on in the shop this week
If you’ve been around for a while, you probably know about our connection to Camp Ridgecrest! Going to Ridgecrest as a camper and then a counselor is somewhat of a family tradition. My Dad went to Ridgecrest for many summers and worked there as a camper. My aunt went to Crestridge and still spends summers there playing piano for the choir. I went as a camper and a counselor, and I hope my boys will go one day. We love Ridgecrest, so whenever they ask us to help them with a piece, we’re always thrilled to do it! This time around, we’re working with Ridgecrest to create a custom concrete tortoise shell for them. This was, of course, our first time creating a tortoise shell, and it’s been fun to figure out the logistics of building a mold for a faux tortoise. We will have more updates as it progresses, but I wanted to share with you the beginning stages.
A new dust collection system!
I know this is an unusual thing to nerd out over, but I made it a goal to keep this shop as clean as possible, especially because we will soon have a showroom open for people to drop by! The dust collection system will play a major role in keeping the shop tidy and dust-free for visitors. I can’t wait for you to stop in.
That’s all for now! We will be back next week with more exciting projects and a tortoise shell progress report!
An Unusual Request
When we were contacted in February of 2019 by the Fiocchi Group, a high-end project management and contracting company out of Miami, to create what was essentially a day bed for their client, we were very surprised! As concrete makers, it isn’t often someone calls on us to make a couch. But, the surprises wouldn’t stop there! We can’t share who the piece was for or too many specifics about the location as we were asked to sign an NDA to protect their client’s privacy. All the secrecy was exciting! We didn’t work with the owner directly, and it was interesting to coordinate the project with a third party. We can share that the south beach penthouse has a stunning 360-degree view of Biscayne Bay and was one of the most incredible spaces we’ve seen.
Since the project was for the 17th floor, we originally planned to use a crane to lift the piece into place. The Fiocchi Group advised against this because it can be challenging to work with South Beach to get a crane and the proper permits. We then decided to make the day bed in pieces that would be small enough to fit on an elevator.
Here’s a little behind the scenes of us creating all those pieces!
now for the fun part
The location was wonderful!
Of course we had to have some fun with it!
Here’s the piece before the cushions were installed
The end result
The finer details
Drew McGuckin created metal supports for the cushions
those lines you see in the gallery photos were designed water drainage to keep the piece fresh and long-lasting
The final piece featured downlighting that was integrated into the client’s smart home system. It had to be specifically facing in so as not to disturb any sea turtles!
We absolutely loved this project from start to finish! What do you think of our first venture into daybeds?
Historic Elliot Place Install
This past week we had the pleasure of installing new countertops for a historic house that is 144 years old! Artist Marty Whaley Adams Cornwell has owned this piece of history for several decades. She and her mother decided long ago that their Flat Rock house’s purpose would be creativity- so when we were asked to design new countertops for the kitchen, we felt honored to be a part of the history and the future of this beautiful home.
“Elliott Place, often call the prettiest house in the village, was built c1877 by Col. William Elliott, near the site of his father’s former summer house. He was a US Senator from Beaufort, SC. In 1978, then owner William Hartman donated a Preservation Agreement to Historic Flat Rock, Inc, with a life estate in place for his wife, Virginia. When Mrs. Hartman died, the Agreement went into effect on the house, guest house and beautiful property, which reaches to Highland Lake. It is now the summer home of sisters, Emily Whipple and noted artist, Martha Whaley Adams Cornwell. Their mother, Emily Whaley, well-known Charleston horticulturalist and author, spent her summers here. The property sits high on a hill off Greenville Highway with a commanding view of the lake at the end of a long, sloping lawn, and includes a guesthouse, tennis court and gardens.” -Historic Flat Rock Inc
Kitchen before:
Like many older homes, Elliot Place had formica countertops. The old formica counters weren’t living up to all the rich beauty of the rest of the home. We created ivory concrete countertops that would grow with the home and highlight the timeless elegance that was built into this house so many years ago.
After
It was amazing to contribute to this historic creative home in a tangible way!