Designer Masters Art of Industrial

VALLEY FORGE, PA —

When Larry Palmer was a student studying for his master of fine arts degree at the University of Chicago, he had his first experience with zinc plate etching, experimenting with the metal in one of his classes. But it wasn’t until the designer and owner/president of Hunter Group Construction Company in Valley Forge, PA, was commissioned to do a whole house renovation/addition for a neighbor that the art form took on a much grander scale.

Employing Imagination

The goal of Palmer’s clients was to increase the square footage of their mid-1960s home by about 50%, giving it a New York industrial/contemporary feel in the process. The task required extensive structural changes to the inside, as well as the outside, of the home.

Palmer created a new master bedroom suite, added a garage with poured concrete walls, raised some elevations and roof lines, and increased deck areas – which include a nearly 350-lineal-foot main deck that sits above the garage and a third-floor deck accessed by a spiral staircase. In the kitchen, one lone wall was all that remained from the original footprint.

The industrial theme of the home is accentuated by highlights of custom-etched zinc plating. On the inside, it sheaths the eat-in kitchen counter and its facing as well as ceiling beams used throughout the space. On the outside, zinc panels conceal the deck framing and are intermingled with stucco on several walls to create a look reminiscent of Japanese wall panels.

Palmer acid-etched the 22-gauge sheets of zinc to create the desired color, patina and pattern, then fabricated it on site. The process is actually very flexible, providing the ability to obtain an array of different looks.

“Depending on the color and the patina, the process can take anywhere from a week to three months,” he says. “You can do pretty much anything with patterns, even create portraits. It just depends on where you place the acid and how much you use.”

There are a number of different chemicals that can be used to treat the surfaces to change the color, according to Palmer – “anything from grays to blacks to reds to greens. You’re really only limited by your imagination,” he comments.

Palmer notes that zinc is also very durable, although he indicates that to prevent it from turning a dull gray, he treated the pieces with Permalac, an indoor/outdoor clear-coat lacquer.

Complementary Features

The etched zinc in the kitchen is complemented with several features that continue the industrial theme, including black epoxy resin countertops for work surfaces at the sink and range, sleek cabinetry painted a cool steel gray, stainless GE Profile appliances, a Blanco faucet and a loft with railing made from stainless steel aircraft cables and railroad ties.

The epoxy countertops are reminiscent of those used in school laboratories, notes Palmer. They are joined with a bold line of red epoxy. “My clients knew the seam would be visible, even if they used black epoxy,” he says. “So they decided to make a statement!”

The backsplash behind the sink is the same epoxy resin as the countertops and is accented with recessed red electrical outlets.

Custom cabinetry consists of hardwood frames with birch doors finished with a two-part epoxy paint and conversion varnish to protect the surface and provide for easy cleaning.

Marrying the Inside and Outside

With nearly 21-foot-tall vaulted ceilings, Palmer had enough space to create a sitting area/loft that overlooks the kitchen and dining area. “With the aircraft cable and railroad tie railing, it adds some interesting architectural features to the room,” he says. “And, it continues the industrial theme of the home. Adding a couple of chairs and a table provides a place for the homeowners to hang out and enjoy the spectacular views.”

The railing used in the loft area is made of the same material as the railing used on the deck areas outside. “The idea was to merge the interior and the exterior of the home,” Palmer notes. “There’s quite a bit of repetition between the inside and outside.”