Inspiration – Exposed brick

Exposed masonry designs define one of the latest trends in modern homes, adding character by creating stunning accents that enrich the design whatever its inspiration.

In the 90’s, brick finishes were used to bring construction and long term maintenance costs down. While faux concrete bricks were cheapest, natural clay facebrick has always been popular for luxury suburban homes.

One of the popular new interior design trends is exposed brick painted white. It can add atmosphere and a tactile dimension to an otherwise plain wall, while still reflecting light. If you are working with a small space, in which coloured or patterned wallpaper would make the room feel cramped, white painted brick can open up the space.

Three-dimensional, symmetrical lines of masonry offer a constantly changing display of sculptural light and shadow, even when painted. People can’t help but run their fingers over it.

But designers have realized that leaving an old brick wall exposed adds a lot more value to the living room or bedroom than covering it up paint. In an age of smooth veneers and brushed aluminium, it brings both visual and textural contrast to a room instantly.  It is effortlessly decorative and sometimes says more than a modern work of art.

Whether it’s playing centre stage throughout a space or acting as an eclectic accent amongst other colours and textures, exposed brick is here to stay.