Creating A Beautiful Indoor Environment

Brick homes have a classic look that blends warmth and tradition. You can use some simple design tips to incorporate brick accents inside and outside the home to create a cohesive scheme without it becoming overpowering. Some of these tips a novice can perform, but others are best left up to a mason.

Paver Walkway or Patio

Brick pavers offer an easy way to install a new walkway or patio without a huge investment of time and money. Simply dig a level area into the ground an inch or two deep where you want the walkway or patio to sit.  Pour in a thin, even layer of sand to add extra stability. The paver stones snap together for security so you should first lay out a test pattern with the brick before actually snapping the grid together. Popular patterns include herringbone and basketweave.

Once the pavers are locked together, you can define the edges of the walkway or patio using brick landscaping stones, which are taller than the pavers, or landscaping timbers.

Kitchen Backsplash

Bricks can be used as a kitchen backsplash to provide a rustic look. This works particularly well when part of the home's exterior is visible out the kitchen window. If you don't have tiling experience, you will want to call in a professional. That's because you need to use a heavy duty adhesive grout to affix the bricks to the wall so they don't fall off. And the adhesive requires fast, accurate placement of the bricks.

Pair the brick backsplash with other natural elements such as a butcher board countertop and warm oak flooring. If you want to get a bit more creative with the backsplash, you can apply a bit of whitewash to give it an aged farmhouse look or simply paint the brick white for a look similar to textured subway tiles.

Restore Existing Exterior Brick

Many older brick homes will have existing, matching accents but these might need a bit of cleaning up. For example, a gravel driveway might have sections of original brick road beneath the stones. Or the front porch could have decorative brick supports that would look regal with a bit of touching up. Restoring old brick is harder than it looks and an untrained hand can cause more damage. Contact a local masonry restoration company for a consultation on how you can best bring your home's original brick accents back to life.