I took a trip to IKEA recently and noticed the badly patched seam in this brick wall on one of their displays and thought, “oh, that’s not brick then. duh.”
Looks like they could have filled the gaps a little better? But I did like the effect of the texture from the “bricks.”
Later I did some digging around the web and I discovered these faux brick hardboard sheets at Lowes. I wonder why I’ve never noticed these before in the lumber aisle? About $26 for a 4×8′ sheet is so affordable! And the reviews are all really positive.
I think with a little effort and some plaster you could make the walls of your bathroom or laundry room look crusty and old like this:
Or if you’re on a super-tight budget, I bet you could use the sheets in your kitchen even (painted flat black or white like the IKEA room above, but seamed better, of course!). Have you ever tried the faux brick hardboards? I’m dying to use them somewhere now!
(WHOA, FLOORS! ^^^)
My mom uses them painted and unpainted in her photograhpy studio. She has never seemed them, but they paint up wonderfully. She usually uses chalk paint for a super matte look and has even distressed it a bit to bring some spots back down to the "brick" color. They look fantastic. Wonder if you were to cut the edge so they would interlock on grout lines instead of straight butting them if it would look better….hmmm. Might have to grab some cast offs and give it a go!
I love this look. But I think it is important to not, that if your house is made of siding or stucco–this will, in no way, be believable. Right? Hahaha.
No, no, no, no, no. Bad idea.
If anyone could pull this off, Jenny, it's YOU!
I saw Thrifty Chic Decor use these in her kitchen? I think?
Ohhhh nice find! I want to use it now too. Great alternative to bead boarding. I would like to hear if anyone used it on the floor.
Thanks Jenny!
Kelly
http://www.mysoulfulhome.com
Hi Kelly,
The panels are made out of an MDF like material…so the floor would be a no go. But check out The Tile Shop….they have some mesh backed thin brick you could lay like tile on the floor.
I'm sceptical but interested. I adore exposed brick, so it might be worth trying this one. I would definitely paint it though.., I think it would look too fake without. Interesting idea for a kitchen!
{lamourcheznous.wordpress.com
I have seen these in several interiors and they're alright from afar, but when you get closer, they look cheesy. I don't know if it's the dark grout or the repeat you get when using the sheets, but something about them just isn't right!
I don't get it, isn't it just pencil trace? Doesn't look like a seaming in the pic.
Anyhow, I agree that painted faux brick looks much better. I'm planning on getting some for my studio to use as backdrop. But as an actual wall decor? Only ironically, or in a dim lit space :)
Painted they may work but left untreated they are cheesy in my opinion. If you wanted the look of brick, without the pain of the install check out http://polyurestone.com which has a much better product in my opinion. It goes up easy, the edges are staggered to avoid seams and you use real mortar to fill the lines giving it a true authentic look at minimal cost.
But if you want brick then I would go with Brick-IT which is thin cut brick — real brick but cut super thin. It's definitely more of an investment but it gives you the look of real brick without the issues that come with structural integrity.
You guys must be too young to remember the '70s. This stuff was the worst of what '70s decor had to offer. It was behind every fake fireplace, above every formica countertop and in every cheesy Italian restaurant.
I dunno …
I mean, faux anything can be faked well for photos, but it's not something you want in your house…
My 1970s kitchen has a wall of dark red and putty brick wall board. My biggest dislike of the stuff is that the bricks are stacked vertically instead of subway style. I have been semi-seriously considering painting it since it darkens the room so much. The white stuff looks good in the pictures but I have been considering a gray.
Cool product! I love the look of exposed brick… and since we live in a relatively new house, there's no brick to expose… so this could be something fun to try! Thanks!
I had them in my kitchen in the midcentury house I rented in San Diego…maybe mine weren't as authentic looking as the ones you found, but i couldn't walk in my kitchen without dreaming of ripping the paneling off with my bare hands. they look ok from far away, but close-up…just looks cheesy and cheap. But, I would be interested to see a photo of someone who painted them a color, other than white.
I love your blog and read it every day. You're so talented!! I have also been so curious about installing and painting these panels. Especially in NYC, where you might find a great apartment without any character. I live in a 70's high rise in Tribeca and am dying to put these in my living room. Keep up the great work on your new place…I love it!
Seriously at the spam!!! Anyway, my friends had these in their 70's kitchen as a backsplash and they looked fake and straight out of the 70's. However, they painted them and they look really, really good now.
I have never seen a post get so many spam comments! So sorry Jenny, that must be a pain in the butt for you.
Hi Jenny, I had this fake brick in a kitchen in my last house, which was done in the 70s by the way. It was awful and looked cheap. Interesting idea, bad execution.
I'm always amazed at your eye to pick up on things, I was just at Ikea yesterday and didn't even realize I took a photo of a kitchen display that had this paneling. I'm not sure about the paneling, maybe I'd do it if I had a cute summer cottage. I think in the right element it would look good. I just remember my mom had fake brick wallpaper that was dimensional in the kitchen I used to always poke the middle of the fake bricks because they would pop in and out, they were really really bad!
BRILLIANT
Thanks for a fantastic idea! I love this for getting a loft effect! And you are right! A little plaster and you have got it!
Perfect!
Thanks!
Xx
Jamie
Great…
I liked your views..you should go through it
kiddicare
Maybe painted it looks a little bit better, but I don't know…I had similar stuff on the walls in my kitchen as a backsplash and I tore it out when I redid the kitchen.
What is the source for the kitchen photo? That is a beautiful kitchen.
What is the source for the kitchen photo? That is a beautiful kitchen.
You can use other color to paint it…It will look outstanding..actually this is also amazing but it will also give great look
Android Developer
Hello its not a good idea
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I have a white painted brick fireplace and I spend every moment in that room envisioning how I will cover it up…..the grass is always greener! It feels a lot more chic now that you posted about how to get the look, so thank you Jenny! And my husband thanks you. And my wallet thanks you :)
Love! you should totally try it!
I never knew!! This would be a cool accent wall in a bedroom too!
Hey I was just thinking that you could paint by hand over the black mortar on the Lowe's stuff with a grey/white paint to give it a more realistic look and to leave the brick looking like brick.
Like in this picture, also from Lowe's – http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=88973-12445-TB-27001CS&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3597924&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1
So I'm wondering what this stuff could do in a rental…how does it install, if it's relatively light and can tac up with finishing nails in places and then do a nice job painting and filling…
Could be a nice "can't paint the walls" solution.
I have always dreamed of owning a house with brick work. What an easy and affordable way to achieve that look! Thanks for sharing :) Have a wondrful weekend. X, Allison
What a fantastic idea! I'd never heard of brick hardboard before, but I'm definitely intrigued enough to try it out!
We (unfortunately) have hardboard in our half bath. It looks like it might be from the early 90's (?) with peachy pink flowers and a terrible fake tile look. It came with the house. It's not holding up on the walls good at all. It's very warped and gross (again…it's old). We can't wait to rip it out. Maybe this new stuff is a little better now that its 2013 but I would never recommend it.
Ahhhh…Why have I not noticed these either!?! These are fabulous! Thanks so much for enlightening us, Jenny! Now you've got me scheming where I can use them in my house…or someone else's house. Mwah ha ha! :)
Have a great weekend.
xx, Brittany
ThriftyHabit.com
I once saw someone cut textured wallpaper into rectangles and paste it on a wall in a brick pattern, then paint the whole thing. From the picture online, it looked fabulous. Oh, I found the link: http://timberandlace.blogspot.com/2011/11/faux-brick-wall-tutorial.html
I think it would look great in a basement.
It might be interesting as a kitchen backsplash. Painted white. I'm also digging the turquoise wall clock.
not a fan of faux brick…..
I actually used the faux brick in my sons' room when I redid it last year. However, I didn't put up full sheets to make an entire wall of brick. What I did do was to break them up into smaller and uneven pieces, nail them to the wall in random places and then plastered the rest of the walls to give it the look like the interior or a warehouse that had brick walls covered in plaster, which had since starting chipping away. It sounds atrocious, but after the faux painting that I did and the rest of the (industrial) accessorizing, it turned out fabulous. Both of the boys love it and I get so many compliments on their room. That being said, I don't think I'd ever use it as a backsplash in my kitchen because, even painted, I can't imagine that it would stand up to the wear and tear (scrubbing included) that kitchen basksplashes need to endure.
Oh man! What a great idea. Now I am dying to use these somewhere. I wonder if they could be used outside? What a shame it would not look real in my house, since we have an old heart of pine construction with no brick. You could totally use it though in your brownstone! Uh! I am so jealous!
I have to agree with the comment above about it being an ugly 70's throwback. This stuff was all over the place. It looks a little better painted. And I like the idea of cutting out the brick so it doesn't butt directly into each other but fits like a puzzle piece to stagger the seams. Maybe if it was used in a building that could possibly have brick walls (not a siding or stucco house) it would feel more authentic.
In the 80's my parents built a huge fireplace, surround, hearth and shelf unit with the thin brick pieces. From what I remembered it went up easily but grouting was difficult.
Ok Jenny totally unrelated to this (great) post, but- ever since Kate Middleton's wedding dress I've been thinking lace is coming back. I really want to put lace curtains in my living room. Have you done anything recently with lace curtains? I saw an article in Elle Decor that lace is on the runways and stuff now, I'm wondering what the new take on it will be for its revival before I purchase something that looks really grandma.
ps- you got a lot of haters on this comments thread, yikes! Sounds mostly like jealousy looking for a quick dig. Shake it off, girl. You're the best!
Such a great idea! Thanks for sharing:)
http://www.chelseyelizabethdesign.com
Ok, so I am actually thinking about using this exact product for the area under our kitchen bar opposite the living room. I have done a lot of research online & as long as you're painting it I think it'll look great. One major tip I will pass on is to cut around the bricks where the seam would be on both pieces and put them together like two large puzzles so that you avoid that obvious seam. I also say ignore all the haters because everything you touch (aside from tetanus table) turns to gold :). I'm excited to see what you do & then I'll do my faux brick wall!! xoxo
I have some friends who are planning to pay someone good money to remove the (70s) faux brick panels from their kitchen! Having said that, you have opened my eyes to its different uses. Certainly painting them, and with the right decor, would probably look pretty fabulous. See? This is why I read your blog.
Maybe its an arizona thing but I have never seen this before. I love the brick idea though.
Hi! Today I find this blog is nice and welcome to our online local artist business. To provide affordable unique art to the public.
Echoing the "If anyone can do it, Jenny could." But it's like asking if Superman could earn a gold medal in weight lifting at the Olympics. Yes, he could but I'd rather see him capturing bad guys or flying backwards around the earth to turn back time.
Use your powers for the best good, Jenny!
Full disclosure: I tore out two wall fake bricks iin my former home.