Advertorial The charming look of a brick backdrop I hear from many readers who have moved into a loft or otherwise transformed space and are puzzled by what to do with solid brick interior walls. They can convey an aged, rustic style that can feel dark and gloomy. But it can also make a stunning focal feature in a room with different decorating styles. It's easy to lighten the look by painting the other walls in the room white or a light shade. In the vignette shown here you can see how the white walls pull out the white mortar between the bricks. Your eye follows the symmetry. The wall is richly textured and busy, so think about sofa and chairs in a solid shade. Greys are neutral and present a nice balance. A golden leather arm chair is a cheerful and modern accent. Brick walls contain a wonderful range o f colours from rusty reds and browns to lighter shades o f yellow and gold. They combine in a patchwork that can be drawn upon as you furnish your room. Mixing styles is a favourite method of introducing new designs. Old or antique chests and armoires have an aged character that can connect with a contemporary sofa or pair o f side chairs. Brick is happy with most themes. Exposed beams and wood frames are a natural. Pile wood or wrought iron shelves with a combination of books and tchotchkes that speak to your personal taste. Utilizing different shapes and materials wakes up the setting. And contrast brings out the best in all your furnishings. Choose lighting and distinctive pieces to dramatize your style. In th is Homesense- inspired room, a tropical theme straight from Havana is created with woven wicker baskets and a large woven pendant light. The metal base under the tiled table glows, picking up the golden hues in the chair, sofa cushion and the large letter A on the shelf. A faux potted palm tree brings home the sunny island charm and suits the size of the room. If you yearn for the character o f an interior brick wall but don't have one, you can find faux brick panels at your lumber store. If the colour is too consistent for your taste, the surface is paintable. These panels can be whitewashed the same as natural bricks. Another option is faux brick wallpaper. Although it doesn't have the depth and texture of the real thing, it is an inexpensive method o f transforming your room. Brick walls are far more versatile then you might imagine. It's worth playing a little with their depth and charm. Written by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email decorating questions to house2home@debbietravis.com. Follow Debbie at instagram.com/debbie_travis, facebook. com/thedebbietravis, debbietravis. com. D EBBIE TR A V IS House to Home 47 HWiltMill M ake a sm art investm ent, choose Pollard We specialize in affordable Custom Garden & Lawn Maintenance as well as Garden Design Sercices. O u r c o m p r e h e n s iv e l i s t o f s e r v ic e s in c lu d e : • Spring & Fall Clean-up • Garden and Lawn Maintenance • Landscape Concept Planning & Recommendations • Garden Design, Restoration, Planting & Removal of Materials • Seasonal Urns & Custom Planters • Lawn De-thatching, Seeding, Sodding • Installation of Compost, Mulch, RiverRock, Flagstone Walkways • Rock Gardens, Dry Wells • Disposal Services W e are ce leb ra tin g o u r 16th y ea r in business! 905-333-1276 e a b la ke ly@ s ilve rrive rla n d sca p in g .co m www.silverriverlandscaping.com * www.facebook.com/SilverRiverLandscaping * Pictured is our growing family in our award winning garden in S.E. Burlington* G E T U P T O $ 5 0 0 0 PER H O M E W ITH G R E E N O N REBATES Looking fo r w indows and doors? Pollard offers products of exceptional value with the largest selection of design options. Expert advice, professional installation, and 70 years of Canadian manufacturing - that's why Scott chose Pollard for his own home. I'm known for making smart investments that's why I chose Pollard for my home. SCOTT McGILLIVRAY HGTV HOST & REAL ESTATE EXPERT POLLARD | O akville Beaver | Thursday, M ay 10,2018 insidehalton.com mailto:house2home@debbietravis.com mailto:eablakely@silverriverlandscaping.com http://www.silverriverlandscaping.com http://www.facebook.com/SilverRiverLandscaping