Construction guru Andrew Gray builds his own forever home, cleverly using brick to create a stunning, minimalist space with design longevity.
Internationally renowned construction company Graya has been building other people's homes for a decade including celebrity clients like Channel 9 News presenter Alison Ariotti, former Brisbane Broncos' skipper Darius Boyd, former Queensland Reds' player Quade Cooper and former Wallabies' captain Stephen Moore. But recently Co-owner Andrew Gray decided to build his own forever home. He and his wife Larissa, worked with award-winning architect Tim Stewart to design their modern take on a traditional Queenslander home in the Brisbane suburb of Paddington.
Designing a forever home
Seeing a residential building project from the point of view of the client opened Andrew's eyes to the many decisions involved in building a dream home. For Andrew and Larissa, their key focus was designing a home that would stand the test of time both in function and style.
"We knew we wanted a simple and minimalist home that also had a sense of timelessness," Gray explained. "Being in the construction business, I'm hyper-aware of potential resale value, which means you have to make sure that it's not only on trend, but also be aware of how it could date."
As an expert in his field, Andrew knew the importance of selecting building materials that would perfectly balance aesthetic and practicality. With a future-proof style and their Brisbane lifestyle in mind, the couple chose brick as the core material for their build. Bricks were chosen for their flexibility in design and their unique ability to regulate their home's temperature against the Queensland climate.
Upper Cairns House Gallery
Brick selection
The Gray's found that the variety of brick styles available from PGH Bricks & Pavers would make it easy to create unique and contemporary features within their home that would never feel dated.
Andrew and Larissa selected Pebble Creek* from PGH Bricks and Pavers Pure Linens range*. This warm, neutral brick offers a beautiful, smooth, modern finish that enabled Andrew and Larissa to create the eternally stylish home they wanted.
"When a lot of people think about brick, they imagine the traditional red, old style," said Andrew. "But with so many design options available now for brick, we really felt that if we can use it in the right way, it will be completely timeless."
The hero feature of Andrew and Larissa's home is a three-storey brick chimney that can be seen from streets away, while the entryway impresses with its one-of-a-kind slice brick facing. The interior mimics the exterior, with all walls, floors, and the outdoor pool area all built with brick. When viewed together, these features demonstrate the versatility and design potential of brick to soften the boundaries between indoor and outdoor.
Using the same style of bricks throughout the home, the couple were able to achieve cohesion and minimalism in design without compromising on quality or sturdiness. In every sense of the word, Andrew and Larissa have opened a new door together and are excited to see how this new chapter in their life will unfold in their forever home.
"This is our family home where we are going to create some of our most special memories," said Andrew. "So, we wanted to make sure we were 100 percent happy with all of our choices. If you think outside the box, there's some really cool design elements that you can create with such a simple and reliable material as brick. It's the best of both worlds for us."
Photographer:Cathy Schusler
Explore your brick options with PGH Bricks & Pavers
Are you feeling inspired to discover more about the beauty and versatility of brick for your next project? Why not take our online Style Quiz to learn more about the style and colour of brick that matches your taste? Try our 3D Visualiser tool to see what your new home could look like with your choice of PGH bricks. You can also book a colour consultation at one of our selection centres for more design support.
Whether you are building your first home or your forever home, PGH Bricks & Pavers can help.
*This brick and range are no longer available, check out our current range of bricks here.
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