16 Tricks To Update Exposed Brick
How to add a modern and decorative twist to any traditional exposed brick walls inside your home
Rebecca Gross
12 September 2016
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design, and I study cultural history through the lens of architecture, design and visual culture. I have a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. My latest book is called "Ornament is not a crime: Contemporary Interiors with a postmodern twist."
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design,... More
While interior brick walls often convey a sense of history, that certainly doesn’t mean they can’t also be elegant and contemporary. Applying a variety of techniques and effects to the walls, choosing complementary colours and materials, or revealing and preserving their character can serve to make them standout features of a room. Here are 16 tricks that can transform masonry from mundane to magical.
Work a mix of textures
A raw and irregular wall of bricks can create a rustic contrast in a modern bathroom that features an assortment of smooth plain and patterned tiles. The black, white and grey colour palette in this room not only keeps it looking elegant, but also ties the ensemble together.
See more ways to bring out the beauty of exposed bricks
A raw and irregular wall of bricks can create a rustic contrast in a modern bathroom that features an assortment of smooth plain and patterned tiles. The black, white and grey colour palette in this room not only keeps it looking elegant, but also ties the ensemble together.
See more ways to bring out the beauty of exposed bricks
Create a colour contrast
This rich red brick wall in a hallway adds depth to a narrow space, and warmth to a cool, monochrome colour palette.
This rich red brick wall in a hallway adds depth to a narrow space, and warmth to a cool, monochrome colour palette.
Soften with limewash
Limewash is a breathable coating that offers a soft, porous finish. The interior brick wall in this home is a continuation of the exterior wall, and the limewash serves to soften the red brick inside. “This result took two coats. Each coat increased the ‘whiteness’ of the brick wall,” explains Tim of Petro Builders.
Limewash is a breathable coating that offers a soft, porous finish. The interior brick wall in this home is a continuation of the exterior wall, and the limewash serves to soften the red brick inside. “This result took two coats. Each coat increased the ‘whiteness’ of the brick wall,” explains Tim of Petro Builders.
Play with size and layout
This dark and rustic brick wall has a course of Roman bricks – which are 50mm high – every fourth course of standard bricks – which are 76mm high – adding subtle detail and further texture to the wall.
“Brick is such a rich material,” says architect Karen Ognibene of Arkhefield. “Brick was a way of bringing the landscape into the house and it gave an enhanced texture without adding another material to the palette.”
This dark and rustic brick wall has a course of Roman bricks – which are 50mm high – every fourth course of standard bricks – which are 76mm high – adding subtle detail and further texture to the wall.
“Brick is such a rich material,” says architect Karen Ognibene of Arkhefield. “Brick was a way of bringing the landscape into the house and it gave an enhanced texture without adding another material to the palette.”
Frame a section
Only a section of the original brickwork is exposed in this house, due to some of it being damaged. The surrounding white wall frames the brick background, which also serves as a great place to hang wooden, geometric-shaped shelves.
Only a section of the original brickwork is exposed in this house, due to some of it being damaged. The surrounding white wall frames the brick background, which also serves as a great place to hang wooden, geometric-shaped shelves.
Offer a sneak peek
The vast majority of the brick walls in this living space have been painted solid white, except for a circle that offers a peek of the recycled clay bricks that form the structure of the home. The brick circle becomes, in a way, a piece of artwork and eliminates the need for wall decoration.
The vast majority of the brick walls in this living space have been painted solid white, except for a circle that offers a peek of the recycled clay bricks that form the structure of the home. The brick circle becomes, in a way, a piece of artwork and eliminates the need for wall decoration.
Build dividing walls
This innovative home pays homage to the iconic Australian ‘wool shed’. Winning the 2011 Building Designers Association of Victoria award for Most Innovative Use of Brick, it features recycled brick walls that divide interior space and offer thermal mass.
See more of this project
This innovative home pays homage to the iconic Australian ‘wool shed’. Winning the 2011 Building Designers Association of Victoria award for Most Innovative Use of Brick, it features recycled brick walls that divide interior space and offer thermal mass.
See more of this project
Whitewash them
More opaque than a limewash, whitewashing or painting an exposed brick wall can certainly serve to change the colour, look and mood of a room. A whitewashed brick wall has a level of coverage that reveals subtle tones of the brick’s original colour.
More opaque than a limewash, whitewashing or painting an exposed brick wall can certainly serve to change the colour, look and mood of a room. A whitewashed brick wall has a level of coverage that reveals subtle tones of the brick’s original colour.
Be bold with black
A solid black painted wall adds depth and luxury to a living space, and covers up a wall that might have been built with an ugly choice of brick from a bygone era. By teaming it with light-toned upholstery and blond wood furniture, the effect can not only be quite striking, but also serve to elevate the atmosphere in the room, especially if there’s not a lot of light.
A solid black painted wall adds depth and luxury to a living space, and covers up a wall that might have been built with an ugly choice of brick from a bygone era. By teaming it with light-toned upholstery and blond wood furniture, the effect can not only be quite striking, but also serve to elevate the atmosphere in the room, especially if there’s not a lot of light.
Layer for contrast
An exposed brick wall serves as a splashback in this industrial-style kitchen. Additionally, the bricks have been layered to protrude and recede, creating contrast, texture and shadow.
Discover ways to introduce raw texture in the right way
An exposed brick wall serves as a splashback in this industrial-style kitchen. Additionally, the bricks have been layered to protrude and recede, creating contrast, texture and shadow.
Discover ways to introduce raw texture in the right way
Highlight history
This contemporary house was once a bootmaker’s shop (built in 1962) and the evidence still exists today. The remnants of a painted sign features on one of the original brick walls alongside the staircase.
This contemporary house was once a bootmaker’s shop (built in 1962) and the evidence still exists today. The remnants of a painted sign features on one of the original brick walls alongside the staircase.
Preserve the wear and tear
The 9m-high brick party wall in this Edwardian terrace has been preserved behind the central staircase – it still bears the marks of the former fireplace.
The 9m-high brick party wall in this Edwardian terrace has been preserved behind the central staircase – it still bears the marks of the former fireplace.
Mimic their shape
These 1970s bricks have an elongated, horizontal profile and so, too, do the bathroom fixtures attached to the wall, including the vanity unit, recessed shelf and mirror. Black and white frames and surfaces stand out against the warm orange brick.
These 1970s bricks have an elongated, horizontal profile and so, too, do the bathroom fixtures attached to the wall, including the vanity unit, recessed shelf and mirror. Black and white frames and surfaces stand out against the warm orange brick.
Mix them up
The interior walls of this midcentury brick house feature a distinctive mixture of salvaged bricks and coloured, glazed ones. The salvaged bricks were roughly cleaned, leaving many of the pre-existing marks for effect. “The kids had drawn on some of them over time, so it was lovely to see some of that as part of the wall,” says project designer Anja Michelzahn.
The interior walls of this midcentury brick house feature a distinctive mixture of salvaged bricks and coloured, glazed ones. The salvaged bricks were roughly cleaned, leaving many of the pre-existing marks for effect. “The kids had drawn on some of them over time, so it was lovely to see some of that as part of the wall,” says project designer Anja Michelzahn.
Create the torn-down effect
Brick walls went out of fashion in the 1980s and 1990s and many were plastered over. Now they’re back in style, the torn-off-plaster look can create an interesting decorative effect, as it does in this dining doom.
Brick walls went out of fashion in the 1980s and 1990s and many were plastered over. Now they’re back in style, the torn-off-plaster look can create an interesting decorative effect, as it does in this dining doom.
Use colour-contrasting mortar
A brick wall can look more contemporary with mortar that’s contrasting (yet complementary) to the brick. Here, a light-colour mortar ties in with the white wall and contrasts with the deep red, brown and grey bricks.
Do you have an exposed brick wall in your house? How have you treated it? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
A brick wall can look more contemporary with mortar that’s contrasting (yet complementary) to the brick. Here, a light-colour mortar ties in with the white wall and contrasts with the deep red, brown and grey bricks.
Do you have an exposed brick wall in your house? How have you treated it? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
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Each to his own :)
Beautiful collection of exposed brick features, which all prove context is key. Like picture number 11, the combination of brick and glass, creating an intriguing effect on the wall.
Thanks