Concrete has been used for construction for at least 100 years. In most constructions, concrete is the material that lies beneath the finishes to hold bricks together and to form the slabs and columns, which make the structures of architects and engineers come to life. In recent years, the developers in large cities have popularized the allure of lofts. Recycled and retrofitted buildings have grown up, and concrete has become a material with an aesthetic of its own.

Years ago, if you entered into someone's home or place of business and you saw raw exposed concrete flooring, you would wonder what happened. Are they in the middle of a renovation? There must have been some catastrophic happening and they removed the floor. Have they hit hard times and these poor souls don't have enough means to put a tile, wood floors or carpeting? Well, times have changed and concrete finishes have been used in commercial applications for the last few years, but now with many new urban residential projects appealing to city dwellers, concrete seems to have turned a new corner.

It is not uncommon to enter a new condo or loft and look at gleaming polished concrete. Concrete is quite popular in its original battleship gray, but also in mesmerizing colors, some that are solid and some that achieve an organic almost stone-like quality. The solid tones are achieved by staining the concrete and applying a coating of polyurethane or waxing them, which although very time-consuming, gives the floor an incomparable sheen. The stone-like finishes are done by spraying different chemicals that interact with the aggregates in the concrete and offering irregularities just like a piece of stone. These are imperfect finishes that can show a variation in color, show off hairline cracks in the slab, or highlight the gravel in different tones.

Another location where concrete has made an impact is on countertops for both kitchen and bathrooms. The look is quite nice, however, there are maintenance issues when dealing with concrete. In the kitchen, any acidic food, such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, and vinegars and wines, can easily cause a blemish on the surface. The tops require constant waxing to make the surface somewhat non-porous. In bathrooms, where hygienic products often contain alcohol, or other chemicals the same applies. However, if you are one of those that doesn't mind the indelible marks of everyday use, then this is a perfect surface.

In certain parts of the world, like Mexico or rural Spain and Italy, kitchen and bathroom furniture are also made from poured in place concrete. These are much less expensive than finished wooden cabinetry. Unlike counters, they are usually painted, and left open with shelves or outfitted with fabric coverings or wooden doors as needed. This trend had not caught everywhere, as its look is much more rustic.

Concrete as a finish has come a long way. Today you can find the world's fascination with the material, in wallpapers, laminate finishes and even as paint colors. See Benjamin Moore's Wet Concrete 2114-40

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Fla. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.