Talk to me about exposed brick walls inside

[WishIWasACavewoman]

Having an extension to open across the back of a 30s semi, creating a room which will have the kitchen, dining table, and a sofa/coffee table area overlooking the garden. Big picture windows and lantern skylight so it shouldn't be too dark. I like the idea of having one or both side walls with exposed bricks. In my head this will be fabulous industrial chic. But will it actually be dark and grotty? Has anyone got this? Do you love it or regret it? Help me decide!

Love that, @peachgreen

Thanks @WishIWasACavewoman and @Johnnysgirl ! It’s small but I love it.

This is the information I came here looking for!!!

I want to do this in my living room and came a gross brick slips yesterday and wanted to see if they were actually good

@peachgreen

absolutely stunning room 🤩

Ahh thanks so much @merryoldgoat! I am really pleased with it.

@peachgreen

It’s beautiful. So cohesive without being matchy matchy - I have no ability to do that. My house is a mess but it will get there one day!!

I always find indoor exposed brickwork smells. It's not exactly unpleasant, but I wouldn't want to be smelling bricks all day, every day.

Smells of what? 😂

It was all a bit mad as I bought and chose all the decor before the place was finished so I just had to hope it all came together and thankfully mostly it did! My daughter and I moved in here after my husband died – it’s an annexe attached to our friends’ property – and it gave me such a wonderful focus so I’m very grateful for having had it as a project. Here it is today – small but nicely-formed!

@peachgreen

the whole space is beautiful - I’m glad you found comfort in the project at such a hard time ❤️

Really, really lovely @peachgreen You have quite a knack.

Well, bricks and mortar, obviously!

Whatever you do re brick slips please do not varnish/seal them with shiny glossy varnish I we did - a whole chimney breast 🙄

I had a new brick wall put up in the kitchen when extending OP. I love it, adds so much warmth and no two bricks are the same.

ill post more pics of said wall when home as it’s quite big, need to start dressing it soon as looks really naked compared to @peachgreen’s

This is ours before and after....I really disliked the whole mass of brick as it felt too industrial/agricultural for my tastes. Unlike the experience of some previous posters, I felt it made our kitchen appear cold

For me it works better with just a small amount of brick behind the wood burner and I'm really happy it's gone. However, should a future owner want to reinstate the brick, the wall is battened so no plaster or plasterboard adhesive on the brickwork.

To my eyes, it works best with crisp plaster or whatever along side it.

Unless the property is 400+ years old.

Ooh, more replies, thank you! Really useful to see the photos. I agree with PP that it seems to be most successful when it's not a huge expanse, and set up to contrast with a smooth, clear wall. This thread has convinced me to go for it, with:

A sealed but not super-shiny finish
A part of the new extension only, not the whole lot, and contrasted with adjacent plain clear wall
Brick slips, with a relatively pale, tumbled appearance (not all uniform dark red)

Very exciting, will be back with photos

Unsealed brick slips. No dust. Both sides of extension and top part of rear, which is now a wall of crittal style glass. This is open plan to the kitchen, and has two skylights above. It is my favourite room in the house.

I’m definitely doing this OP. Thanks for starting the thread.

That's lovely monday!

I have one like Peach's and I don't get dust, or, if I do it is masked by the cat fur and I don't notice it.

Room deco / furnishings still very sparse as I’ve still got a few other rooms to kit out. I also don’t have a more than usual dust issue. The rest of the room is clean plaster / oak panelled. I’ve left bricks unsealed.

this is lovely. Any chance of seeing your oak panelling. I’m considering for our entrance hallway but it’s a dim lit space

Yes sure, please excuse the messy concealed office. The other door hides the guest toilet / wardrobe.