Written by: Belden Design Studio

Published: July 3, 2024

In the 25 years I’ve been in the industry, the most common place I have seen masonry used inside the home has been a fireplace surround. However lately, things are changing, and interest, for many reasons, is taking these elements into new areas throughout the home. Natural elements, such as brick, stone and slate elevate a space and offer some beautiful colors, textures and emotions as we’ll touch on below. 

Unified Greeting.
A growing design trend is adding more detail to the foyer of a home. This area is a welcome introduction and a great way to wow visitors. For example, carrying the product from the outside façade into the interior unifies the design, creating a seamless flow between the spaces. Aside from what’s on the outside, this is a great area to introduce new elements and a lovely preview of the home’s interior, really setting the tone for the unique design that is throughout the home.

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Craving Spaces.
You’ve heard of brick-fired pizza, right? Now let’s think about backsplashes, range and accents walls in kitchens and adding natural materials to bring in texture, warmth and charm. It adds so much to the space and with the variety of colors, shapes and sizes that can be done without being overpowering. These natural materials also tie in well with solid surfaces, tile and metals, creating design harmony in the space that everyone naturally congregates to. 

Going Up (Or Down).
If your home has more than one story, the staircase becomes an opportunity to add some grand attention. Staircases are a major impact wall, where you can connect floors of your home, helping your design aesthetic move from one floor to another. It can also be considered a large form of art. Masonry is a very old and treasured art that oftentimes gets forgotten. Regardless of color choice or personal style, there are many creative options that can be used, including custom, one-of-a-kind blends. 

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Follow the Yellow Brick Road.
Or any color brick you can think of. There are many thin brick options that can be used on floors, creating interest with each step, and offering a texture and color introduction. Brick is an extremely durable product that is resistant to scratches and naturally anti-slip with its texture. This natural material is also relatively low maintenance while adding a charming look to a space.

Biophilic Design.
Did you know that in addition to being natural products, brick, stone and slate are all 100% recyclable? So not only does adding these elements to your home support biophilic design, bringing organic materials inside, it also means you’re being a good steward to the planet. Biophilic design has been shown to improve focus, reduce stress and enhance creativity so it is a great addition to so many areas of your home. In addition to the areas mentioned above, we have seen brick, stone and slate used as accent walls in bedrooms, home offices, bathrooms, bars, wine rooms and golf simulators.

Our showrooms have many of these products on display, we’d love to have you visit us to see what unique design ideas we can dream up for your home!