One of the most daunting aspects of building a new home is selecting the materials, not only on a functional level but also an aesthetic one. A house speaks volumes about its owner so getting the design right, especially the facade, is crucial.
That’s why PGH Bricks & Pavers has collaborated with Nexus Designs to curate eight distinct ‘styles’ for home owners, to help inspire them and make the selection process considerably easier. The style guides come with mood boards and schemes to help home owners visualise each look and have been created using brick. Since bricks have the ability to be both stylish and enduring, they are a versatile and lasting choice for exterior home design.
“We all want a house we love and that feels right for us. As designers, we know how many decisions need to be made when building or renovating a home, and the overwhelming number of products and colours there are to choose from. That’s where these PGH Bricks mood boards can help, making it even easier, with expert guidance, to make the right decision when creating your new home,” says Nexus Designs creative director Sonia Simpfendorfer.
1: Sophisticated Neutrals
Mixing refined shades of crisp white, stone grey and cool concrete, this sophisticated yet understated palette is suitable for a wide range of homes and lifestyles. The calm, fresh hues are great for infusing homes with a sense of space and light and the overall look is classic, timeless and quietly confident, offering wide appeal.
2: Grey All The Way
This look is all about layering different shades of grey for a home with long-lasting elegance and sophistication. As well as providing the perfect complement to crisp white accents and fresh garden greenery, its natural tones ensure that striking architectural features remain a focal point.
“Grey is our new versatile neutral; it can be calm and serene, gritty and industrial or stunningly dramatic depending on its application,” says Sonia.
3: Dark and Stormy
For those looking to make a statement that is bold and fearless, as well as chic and elegant, this dramatic palette will ensure your home stands out. Incorporating charcoal greys, bitter chocolate, deep ocean shades and gleaming metallics, Dark and Stormy is highly adaptable, equally at home in rural or urban areas. It’s also ideal for showcasing clean lines and beautiful architectural detail.
4: Back to Nature
This look draws inspiration from nature, botanical elements, wood, stone and earth. It combines rustic shades of bronze grey-greens and soft browns with sand and ochre to create a feeling of tranquillity, simplicity and warmth.
“The key to knowing your style is about having confidence in what you like, what makes you happy and what you enjoy. Look for colours textures and designs you connect with; choose finishes and building materials that you like and feel comfortable with and then incorporate them into your home,” says The Block architect Julian Brenchley.
5: Red Revival
From earthy terracotta and dusky pinks to classic, pure red, Red Revival sees a familiar colour reimagined into the exciting and new. It lends a timeless but high-impact look that works with all homes – from tiny cottages to grand, sprawling mansions. No longer considered the safe, suburban choice, red bricks are now celebrated for their natural beauty, classic colour and honesty. Red Revival is particularly impactful when juxtaposed with a green landscape.
“The striking contrast of a strong red brick exterior and green lawn is hard to beat for impact,” says Sonia.
6: Perfect Imperfection
More and more, home owners are looking for that imperfect, rustic, handmade look. From furniture to entire house facades, they are eschewing glossy, perfect finishes in favour of materials with nicks, knots and scratches for a look that’s full of character, warm and tells a story.
7: A Touch of Texture
From rough against smooth, cool with warm, or matte juxtaposed with glossy, this look is all about using different textures to bring depth and interest to the home. Texture is just as effective as colour when it comes to adding character to exteriors and interiors and also provides a feeling of craftsmanship, especially when using brick. A popular choice with style-savvy home owners, A Touch of Texture offers endless combinations and will add a rich, artisanal beauty to a home.
8: Industrial Chic
Originally inspired by urban loft and warehouse living, the Industrial Chic look is created by combining raw, aged and utilitarian materials such as brick, timber and steel. This look is all about clean, simple, contemporary living but without compromising on warmth. Industrial style bricks are ideal for blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living and can either be the hero of a home or a striking feature within a variety of finishes.
"Be brave and experiment with blends,” says PGH Bricks & Pavers general manager of marketing Jai Sanderson.
“A little of one brick mixed with another type — or two — can offer a satisfyingly bespoke and custom design for your home, knowing you have created your own look."
To further assist consumers in identifying their style, PGH has also developed a handy ‘Which Style are You’ quiz online. For a quick, fun and simple way to start the design journey, simply visit www.pghbricks.com.au/stylequiz.
