The Kelly Home | Adding warmth with custom polished concrete
After raising their family in the Nashville area, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly chose to return to Dayton, Tennessee, where it all began, to build their forever home. To bring their vision to life, they partnered with architect Jessica Aubert of Studio 323 Architecture and builder Jeremy Revis Construction.
“Post Modern Hillbilly” is what the Kellys were looking for, and thankfully the team knew what that meant: a blend of modern design and warmth reflecting the character of the surrounding hills.
Shortly after the build was in motion, we were asked to join the project. Once the concrete was placed, we worked closely with the Kellys to design flooring that would complement both the aesthetic vision and the functional needs of their home.
Concrete design & materials
It is commonly misunderstood that polished concrete is confined to the industrial and commercial spaces. This project is a great example of how polished concrete can bring both durability and visual warmth into a residential space.
Walking through the entire process with the Kelly family from in-office consultations to on-site discussions and mockups, we selected a finish that reflected their taste and complemented the natural beauty of the aggregate beneath the surface of the concrete.
The final floor design was installed throughout the entire home, creating a cohesive look with decorative variation across nearly 3,000 square feet.
materials used
Mechanically Polished Concrete
Class B Aggregate Exposure
Level 3 Sheen
Prosoco Lithium Densifier
Prosoco Gemtone Dark Brown Dye
Prosoco Guard Protective Finish
Coverage Area: Whole Home (2,856 Sq Ft)
For select utility spaces, including the laundry room and closets, we installed a polyaspartic flake system to enhance protection and performance. In the garage, a durable resinous flooring system was used to achieve the same result.
Polished concrete often carries a reputation for feeling cold or sterile, but this home challenges that perception. Through thoughtful color selection and finish design, the result feels warm, grounded, and distinctly residential.
Selecting a color for a residential space can feel overwhelming, but our team guides clients through that process to ensure the final result aligns with both the design vision and how the space will be lived in.
Polyaspartic Flake System
Resinous Coatings: Surface Koatings Inc.
Flake: Torginol
Color: Shoreline
Sheen: Gloss
granular details: our polishing process
We began with a series of mechanical grinding steps to refine the surface and expose the natural aggregate. Once the desired Class B exposure was achieved, the floors were treated with a lithium densifier to strengthen the slab and prepare it for polishing. A dark brown dye was then applied to add warmth and depth, before we polished the surface to a Level 3 sheen and sealed with a guard finish for long-term durability.
Before any of this was complete, we performed mock-ups on site so the Kellys could see and feel the finish ahead of time, ensuring the final result matched their expectations perfectly.
project completion and final thoughts
Projects like this rely on close coordination across the entire build team. And thankfully, we had builder Jeremy Revis with us, who carefully coordinated the schedule so the floors could be installed at the ideal stage of construction while still protecting them from ongoing trades.
Once our job was complete, we installed a durable floor protection system that remained in place until the final stages of the build, allowing Jeremy’s team to finish their work without worrying about damaging the finished floors.
This project highlights something many homeowners don’t expect: polished concrete can deliver both warmth and character without sacrificing durability or ease of maintenance. In the Kelly family’s Dayton home, these finished floors provide a timeless foundation that complements the home’s bold architectural vision and the family that will enjoy them for years to come.
