How to Feature Handmade Bricks Inside and Outside Your Home
In the world of architecture and design, few materials possess the enduring charm and character than that of handmade artisan bricks. At Krause Bricks, we understand the allure of a beautifully made brick and their ability to infuse warmth and heritage into a space. At first glance, it can be easy to assume a sturdy material of this kind is bound to an outdoor application only. However, we love seeing projects which blur the lines between indoor and outdoor through the use of a continued materiality. Read on to discover how to apply this in your next project.
Exterior: Set the tone from the get-go
The outside of your home serves as your first impression, so it’s important to curate the tone for what lies within. Here are some ways you can utilise handmade artisan bricks outside the home:
Feature Walls: Dedicate a section or the entirety of the exterior facade to serve as a feature wall. It’s infinitely more interesting than a plastered or rendered wall, plus any imperfections gained in time will be easily disguised. The Fitzroy Home uses bricks in an unexpected pixelated type pattern, which instantly adds a new layer of street appeal.
Pathway Paving: Our handmade Brick Paving Tiles are the perfect option for creating a bespoke pathway. Whether it’s a snaking garden path or a formal entranceway, brick paving adds a touch of sophistication to outdoor spaces.
Outdoor Fireplaces and Fire Pits: The ultimate entertaining investment deserves to stand out! The rustic charm of handmade bricks makes for the perfect counterpart to an outdoor fireplace and fire pit. Bonus points if you extend this to an outdoor oven too!
Garden Retaining Walls: Incorporate tiers and curves in your landscape gardening with artisan bricks. Think outside the box, they don’t have to be purely functional - incorporating them into your garden design instantly adds visual interest to the space.
Architectural Details: Enhance the external aesthetic appeal of your home by incorporating handmade brick features such as cornices, corbels, quoins or decorative friezes. These elements add a sense of scale, proportion and character that will only be enhanced over time.. The brick trim on the Ivanhoe home perfectly demonstrates this concept.
Interior: Infusing Spaces with Warmth and Character
The appeal of handmade bricks extends beyond the exterior facade, offering endless possibilities for interior design that are as functional as they are aesthetic. Whether used as structural elements or decorative accents, handmade bricks bring a sense of warmth and authenticity to indoor spaces, too.
Feature Walls: Upgrade the usual go-to plaster dry-wall with a stand-out feature wall crafted from handmade artisan bricks. Amp up the texture with options like our clinker bricks, which are non-uniform in size as the result of a unique firing practice. For the minimalists amongst us, feature brick walls often alleviate the need for art, which can result in a cleaner, streamlined look. The Blairgowrie house leans on the brickwork to add visual interest in the interior space in a new and refreshing way.
Rustic Fireplaces: Nothing exudes cosiness and warmth quite like a fireplace laden in handmade bricks. Consider it an extra layer of old-world charm, which will work to warm up any space. The stunning Hampton Home incorporates a feature wall of Krause Emperor Bricks in a warm mid-blend to frame the fireplace in the cosy living space.
Architectural Elements: Consider incorporating exposed brick columns, arches or accent walls to enhance the architectural aesthetic of your space. They are timeless reminders of the fine art of masonry, and create a unique and inviting living atmosphere.
Materiality Cohesiveness: Perhaps the most important point to consider is to create a sense of ‘flow’ from the outside in, through the continuity of material. Inviting the outside in and vice versa, is a seamless way to integrate polarising sections of our homes, leading the viewer to feel at home no matter where they are inside the space. The Iririki House masters this concept perfectly, with Autumn Emperor Bricks continuously used throughout the home, becoming a beautiful focal point.
Incorporating handmade bricks into both the interior and exterior of your home is a timeless investment that pays homage to tradition while embracing the future of design. From charming facade details to inviting interior accents, the versatility and beauty of handmade bricks know no bounds.