In the Béton Johnstone workshop in Granby, a team of young artisans work to the exalted rhythm of the group Earth, Wind and Fire and other successes from the 1970s: another day molding, casting, polishing architectural objects that will find their place in exceptional settings.
“I need to work manually and be creative,” says Cynthia Laplante, while pressing portions of wet concrete into a mold, as you would modeling clay. This meticulous “do-it-yourself” will be used to make countertop samples with an antique finish, the signature of Béton Johnstone.
From molding to assembly, including casting, polishing and finishing, every piece signed by the company is shaped by these artisan hands. “Each time we unmold it, we still get excited about the result. There is no creation like the other,” underlines Sarinah Bédard, co-founder of this company which she runs with her partner, Jason Johnston.
The Johnstone Concrete workshop
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PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
The concrete is pressed by hand to create a veined finish.
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PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Each creation is polished to eliminate any roughness, while retaining the patina that makes the material unique. Here, a sink molded into the counter.
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PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
The products are washed before being varnished.
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11 years ago, the couple from the Eastern Townships built their first house on their land in Lac-Brome. To save money, out of enthusiasm and for the pleasure of creating, he began making his own concrete counters. The result was convincing, enough to give rise to a business. After training in pouring concrete countertops at the Concrete Countertop Institute (CCI) in North Carolina, Jason tackled the material. First in the evening, at home, before renting a first place, then a bigger one, and convincing his sweetheart to join the adventure.
With the pandemic creating an unexpected boom in the construction and renovation sector, the company has seen commensurate growth. From three employees, it grew to 12 and expanded its product range. Three finishes – antique, polished, terrazzo –, 12 colors and several models of countertops, furniture and sinks later, Béton Johnstone has managed to capture the attention of architects and designers.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Sarinah Bédard and her partner Jason Johnston, co-founders of Béton Johnstone
Imperfection makes the product rich and gives a unique character to our creations. Each piece has its own little story.
Sarinah Bédard, co-founder of Béton Johnstone
Since concrete has the advantage of being malleable and adapting to the shape of its mold, of finding its comfort indoors and outdoors, where it resists the elements, of having durability and uniqueness stone, because it patinates nicely to display its experience, there is no shortage of ideas to extend the collection of creations signed Johnstone. Slowly. Certainly.
The entrepreneurial couple has just changed the counter which is at the origin of this foray into the world of design and which has become, over time, a witness to the progress made since the birth of the company. Another chapter opens with a new countertop, the finish of which will soon be added to the collection. And who would have said that concrete could have wings!