A lot of design trends will come and go, but the desire for brick walls has stuck around for years. Why haven’t we ever gotten sick of them?! Because they add a touch of warmth and character to a space that few other materials can achieve—whether left natural or painted a fresh, modern colour. Scroll through these homes from the WL archives to see what we mean.

Speak Up

Homeowner Shana Lum immediately fell in love with this Beatty Street condo’s exposed beams and brick walls—so when designer Sophie Burke was brought in to renovate, she left them as is. “We wanted the existing architectural elements to have a chance to speak for themselves,” she explains. Step inside this Vancouver loft.

Open-Shelf Policy

The open shelving in this kitchen designed by Falken Reynolds Interiors does two things. First, it gives the homeowners a space to display their Alessi collection, including an Il Conico kettle. Second, and perhaps more importantly, it shows off the exposed brick that lines the back wall. Check out the rest of this Yaletown condo.

Photo: Ema Peter

White Space

When designer Ben Leavitt moved into this Gastown apartment, he decided he wanted it to emulate the character of the neighbourhood—and also his and his partner’s distinct tastes. In the bedroom, that meant using colour in moderation and covering the drywall in white-painted tumbled salvaged brick. See how else this condo combines minimalism and maximalism.

Photo: Tracey Ayton

Better Half

The 11-foot-long island takes centre stage in this North Vancouver laneway home, but the partial brick wall certainly doesn’t go unnoticed. It perfectly complements the faux-leather banquette and the pale green colour of the cabinetry. (It’s Benjamin Moore’s Nature Lover, btw—we know you want to know!). Get more tips from this Rebecca-Foster designed kitchen.

Brick by Brick

Architect Howard Airey and designer Alanna Johnston were asked to create a home inspired by London row houses and New York brownstones—and they delivered. They even sourced weathered bricks from a decommissioned chocolate factory in Pennsylvania to pull it off. Explore the rest of this bespoke Vancouver home.

Rough and Ready

There are a lot of girly elements in this bathroom, including an ornate mirror and matte gold chandelier—but it’s also got some edge. “The brick is the rough contrast that grounds the space and keeps it from looking too feminine,” says designer Kerri Watson. Find out how to get this look at home.