This month on Apartment Therapy we're looking at some of the biggest projects we take on when designing our homes, kitchen and bath renovations. Deciding on all the new features can be daunting, but sometimes the choice of a single element literally makes the project click, instantly transforming the space and practically guaranteeing the success of the makeover. That was the case with Rebecca's kitchen…
… when she decided to install a "thin brick" wall. The addition of this wall treatment was the perfect touch to give the space a very in-vogue industrial chic look, especially in combination with the stainless steel appliances, rubber flooring, darker wood cabinetry and open shelving.
Here is the scoop on the project in general and the thin brick specifically, in Rebecca's own words:
My home was a hot mess when I purchased it two years ago. It didn't have great "bones" and needed something to take it from 70s drab to 2K fab. We put in rubber flooring in the kitchen and warehouse flooring (with radiant heat) in the rest of the house, used thin brick for a couple of walls and furnished it with as many found and repurposed items as I could get my hands on. Just wanted to suggest 'Thin Brick' as an alternative to tile, paint and wallpaper. I used this on a couple of walls in my 1970's walk out and I absolutely love it!
The company that I used is called McNear and the color I used is called 'Balmoral', I also like Vintage Brick Veneer, but there are many thin brick manufacturers to choose from. It's real brick sliced very thin, so it's light enough to install on any wall, internal or external. The cost for the brick I received from McNear was about $.83 per brick. It's easy to install directly onto your wall with mortar, grout and trowel. Here's a video showing how's it's done. They don't use spacers in this video, but if you want to be more precise, use spacers.
Thanks, Rebecca!
Images: Rebecca/Scout Design Consulting
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that's just fab -- and the thin brick is a great idea!
This is awesome, what a difference. I want to know about the sliding barn door. Where did you source the hardware?
Yes - I would like to know about barn door hardware as well!
amazing! what's the function of that sliding door? (it's beautiful btw)
Wow. I have to take back the negative comment I made in a previous post about using brick in new construction -- this looks great, like it was there all along. Perhaps it is because you also used other materials and finishes in the space that seamlessly complete the industrial, loft look. Bravo!
I looked on the designers site and saw that the slider had also been replaced by a very nice folding glass patio door. Does anyone know the source for this? I've tried to track these down online and suppliers never want to get back to me.
Correction: Brava!
I'm having problems reconciling the layout - can we see a before / after floor plan? pretty please?
I love the new kitchen. 70's houses just remind me of how bad *some* things were back then. I equate them to the mustaches of the time.
This is fantastic - one of the most beautiful projects I have seen on AT... BRAVA indeed
More pictures, please! Love it!!
I too usually hate using brick as a wall treatment on non-masonry buildings but this is lovely! (for instance- the floor below me in my office building has a brick-walled elevator lobby. Really? This is the 26th floor of a steel high-rise--you're not fooling anyone) You chose a really nice looking brick. I also love the color of the wood cabinets and that the doors are turquoise. I'm curious about the rubber floors- any more photos/info?
Ooh, love it! Fantastic job. Want to see more photos!
omg, this thin brick idea just changed my life. i have always wanted a brick wall but hadn't a clue how to go about it. thank you! thank you!
Love all of it!
Wow! Thin brick! Who knew? I love it! I love all of the repurposed material! Great job!!
i laughed out loud reading the "hot mess" comment! but seriously this is amazing and the repurposed materials are incredible.
We're about to do our kitchen and I love the rubber floors. I would love to know more about what company makes them and who installs them and how you chose them. It all looks really great!
I think it really helps the comparison and the "wow" factor when the pics are taken from the exact same angle.
Looks like we need a deeper look at this kitchen! Many of us want more information about the materials used & their suppliers, floor plans, further before & after... whaddya say AT?
Call me crazy, but I love most of the first kitchen, minus the bad ceiling and the awkward cubby shelf. A few minor touches and the first one could've been great. oh well.
Where did you get the open shelving?
I echo all the great job comments and all the more picture/floor plan comments. If you're only going to have two photos they should be from the same vantage point. It would be one thing if they had just repainted and re-tiled, but with such a huge transformation these photos could be from any two kitchens.
agree with the layout/more pictures...this looks like two completely different, unrelated spaces not before and after.
though the 2nd is dreamy.
I would also like to know about the barn door hardware (and any 'watch outs' with installation) - - - please!!
This is a beautiful make over, but i think everyone is over looking the most important thing...Who Is Tarah...and where do you get the hardware for the door!!
Ooh, stylish. A total transformation.
Freaking unbelievable. The re-do bears zero resemblance to the original. Congratulations on that!
Was there also a layout change? Did they close up a an opening? I can't find two walls that match... doesn't seem like the same house.
A-Ha! I see the door. Very cleverly disguised as a blackboard.
With "before and after photos" I think the first "after" photo should be taken from the same vantage point that was used for the "before" photo. More pictures could follow. In my opinion, a total of two photos with disparate views don't work.
Just amazing. Please can you post some more photos somewhere Rebecca, I really want to see more. About to embark on a kitchen re-do and love what you have done!
I like the brick and the look. I'd also like more pictures with direct compares. Also, where is the fridge? Is it behind the rolling door?
beware rubber floors in kitchen are hard to keep clean.
It always drives me nuts when the before and after pictures are taken from two different angles – especially when there are only two pictures to compare.
I like what I see, but would like to see a couple more pictures of other angles.
The brick looks beautiful.
What a transformation and I love the warmth of the brick!!
Great! I've been waiting for a post about "thin brick"... something I've been wondering about, but didn't know what it was called. I was searching for "brick veneer", "brick facing", and "fake brick" without much luck! Looks good :)
What a lovely looking kitchen. I had never heard of thin brick. The barn door chalk board is a great touch. Sliding doors can be such a great space saver.
What are the countertops?
"Bravo !"
I'm impressed. This redo is excellent. I pretty enjoy bricks effects inside homes and plan to put some into my future appartment.
I second the question about the countertops. I've been seeing those matte white things a lot, but don't know where they come from.
Beautiful, this is unique from most "new" kitchens that we sell. Love the barn door, brick is not usually my thing but it looks just perfect here with your open shelving, ceramics and industrial look.
Regarding the comments here (& on other posts) that the pics are from different vantage points. Well, that totally makes sense to me, when you redo a kitchen and you want to show its best (or worst features), a picture from the exact same vantage point may not highlight those features in both the before and after. Because, things have changed and moved around.
It'd be nice to have a picture from the same angle. The "after" picture looks like it is from a different room in a DIFFERENT building.
A second picture from the "before" and "after" of the wall where the fridge was would be nice too.
Wow! That's just great. It looks amazing.
"I've been waiting for a post about "thin brick"... something I've been wondering about, but didn't know what it was called."
In the 1970's, "Z-Brick" was everywhere...
...I guess it's coming back again.
http://www.z-brick.com/
I must admit I'm surprised -- the muted, low contrast vintage look of that brick veneer looks excellent. Great job all around.
Weird, I had absolutely no problem comparing the two photos, despite the different angles...
I love the re-do, as well. As for vantage point, I'm almost positive the sink is a static reference point -- you can see the daylight cast over it from the window; the stove is against the far wall. But I *am* wondering where that sliding door goes to; the passage opening has changed considerably.
So Much Better!
I'm drooling---great job!
I adore the rubber flooring. This is going to sound negative, but it's not. I remember since I was a little kid (DECADES ago) that they had the exact same flooring in the Frankfurt, Germany airport, and I thought it was so unique. It's very soft underfoot, and I'm guessing it's a good sound insulator as well. And it must be so easy to scrub and keep clean!
Great, great, great,
Just great.
Congratulations
Magnificent transformation! Congratulations. Judging by the Wolf range, Rebecca's budget was pretty generous. What did this remodel cost? It's only amazing if it's affordable. Anyone can work miracles with a $20,000 budget.
I have yet to see a before and after kitchen article where someone didn't comment:
(1) Its such a shame they didn't keep the old cabinets
(2) I wish they took the before and after shot from the same angle
What a transformation! I love the open shelving, the brick work and the fabulous door. Agree with above posts though, it's hard to appreciate the full transformation with such different angled before & after shots.
This has got to be one of the all time best transformations! The difference just blows me away. Great job!
When I lived in Germany as a kid we had rubber floors in our kitchen and I loved them. I wish I had them in my house now. They were easy to clean and since the climate where I live now is similar they'd definitely make my life easier.
love, love, love!!!
What a great way to get the exposed brick look.
wow. this is one of the best "before" and "after" transformations I've seen on AT. chiming in with request for more pix!
Fab, more pictures please!
I also agree that I liked the first kitchen. You could have worked with that but if you have the money, what the heck, the new one is grand.
Heh, if your before picture is your idea of a 70's hot mess, you should see our house. ;) Two words: harvest gold.
Kitchen looks great. :)
the chalkboard barn door slider hides the larder (pantry). The refrigerator is in there.
I liked the white cupboards more than the new ones (specially the light blue doors); and I guess you won't cook a lot, because to clean the new kitchen will be a pain! Have you thought how will you take the grease off the bricks behind the stove? In the first one, there is a more straight access to the pantry, and I bet was a lot easier to mop! Probably the photo makes it look better than what it is in real, but judging from the first picture I would have changed just the floor and the worktop (and get rid of the hanging cube)
I would LOVE to cook in that kitchen! It is the Bee's Knees. I love it all, the cabinets, the brick wall, the pantry behind the barn door. And the rubber floor must be so comfy.
If grease did become a problem above the stove, a simple clear glass splashback would do the trick. Or maybe this kitchen will just get better and better as it develops a 'lived in, cooked in' look. I think it will.
Who could seriously prefer the original? Seriously?
This is amazing! I want to see more!
Look closely around the chalkboard: to the left of it one can see the what appears to be the profile of an outside corner of the brick. And just above the chalkboard the brick pattern changes from end to end to side by side bricks suggesting an entryway, to the walkout that was in the before pic. So it would appear that a soffet was installed over the existing passage if for no other reason than to make space for more brick. And why not it's amazing! Also, often old schoolhouses that are used for different purposes or have been remodeled have stored in their basements stacks and stacks of old slate chalkboard partitions just like the one on the handsome barn door effect in the after pic. Mine is extremely heavy but I would give this a try if I could find the right hardware. Thanks for the inspiration!
Where's the fridge? Unless it's under the counter this kitchen doesn't look very functional to me.
Gosh this brings back memories of the hours I spent removing a "brick" veneer wall out of my kitchen..
The transformation is amazing! Went from "bland suburban hell" to amazing. Great look.
But open shelving next to the stove top? All those plates on it are going to get covered in cooking grease no matter what you do. That's going to be a constant battle...
@contessab: pepper place design said the fridge is in the pantry behind the sliding chalkboard...to answer the where's the fridge question. And it does seem kind of far from the sink and stove to make it super functional. But I do think it looks awesome.
Love those cabinets - where are they from?! While I can understand the relationship between the two images, I too am curious where the fridge is?
i want to see this whole house! This is great.
"In the 1970's, "Z-Brick" was everywhere...
...I guess it's coming back again."
We had it in our kitchen when I was growing up in the 70s.
Just for anyone wanting to do this, the product is actually called "face brick". As in, you put it on the face of a wall or support beam, etc. Someone mentioned difficulty getting contractors and/or suppliers to call you back. Using the correct terms and learning a little about the products you want to use will go a long way to getting subs and reps to work with you.
mmm so very very nice. i want.
Excellent! This transformed kitchen really cooks!
Nice! I love it!
Regarding the comments asking about the layout, I think the sink is still in the same place. After shot is as though the person taking the shot turned about 45 degrees to the right.
I absolutely love that cabinetry. The wood is just perfect.
Rasteau, I researched thin brick years ago for a fireplace facing and at the time it was called thin brick, face brick, and brick veneer. Probably depends on the manufacturer.
My mother had a friend who had a very similar looking kitchen, excluding the blackboard door, and it was built in 1961. I love how young people are returning to an era of my childhood! Wonder what will happen to this kitchen in about 2030.
Love it!
This is a good one!!!
I am in love...
WOW!! Love the brick wall:)
AT, is there any way you can review the different kinds of thin brick out there for "green-ness" and ease of use? That would be soooo useful!
This is beautiful. I would love to see the rest of the house.
ok-a m a z i n g !