I enjoy using brick to enhance a home’s footprint. Brick walkways and patios are durable, permeable, and easy to repair. And pattern in brickwork gives a lot of visual energy to a space. Choosing patterns and placement is a challenging, yet fun aspect of creating a great looking design. On this project, my client wanted a herringbone pattern for the front walkway and the back terrace.
The zigzag pattern of herringbone creates a formal, sleek, and timeless style. The pattern is laid in a horizontal plane that can be subtle or eye-catching. Prefer a subtle look? Choose a single color for all the brick. Want to make a stronger statement? Use bricks of different colors.
A word of caution in working with a herringbone pattern. To my eye, herringbone can be jarring if there are too many contrasts involved — such as a very broad range of color or a contrasting mortar color. However, if done right, adding borders in a slightly different color from the herringboned portion of patio or walkway can give a more upscale and complete appearance. Getting the size of the border exactly right is another challenge. A border can make the space overly busy – too many lines in too many directions. The best balance between border and main space plays on the interest of the pattern, yet provides a calm, cohesive setting.
Below are line drawings of the front walkway and back terrace floor.
