Andrew Gray, the co-owner of internationally renowned construction and development company Graya, chose to embrace the growing trend for bricks to bring a minimalistic and modern aesthetic to his forever home.
Located in Paddington, Brisbane, the three-storey forever home has been designed to stand the test of time. Working with award-winning architect Tim Stewart and PGH Bricks & Pavers, Andrew and his wife, Larissa designed and built their home, which is a modern take on a traditional Queenslander home.
Graya, the company that Andrew runs with his brother Rob, has been transforming homes for celebrity clients including Channel 9 news presenter Alison Ariotti, Broncos’ skipper Darius Boyd, Queensland Reds player Quade Cooper and former Wallabies captain Stephen Moore.
However, being on the other side opened Andrew’s eyes to the myriad of decisions in building a dream home. The key focus for the Grays was to design a home that could stand the test of time both in function and style.
Based on his building expertise, Andrew sought to select a versatile material with a perfect balance of aesthetic and practicality. With a future-proof style and their Brisbane lifestyle in mind, the couple chose brick as the core material for its flexibility in design and ability to regulate their home’s temperature in the Queensland climate.
Working with PGH Bricks, Gray transformed a small cottage into a modern contemporary home. With a variety of brick styles available, PGH made it easy for Andrew and Larissa to create unique and trendy features within their home that would never date aesthetically over time.
“We knew we wanted a simple and minimalist home that also had a sense of timelessness. Being in the construction business, I’m also 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,” he continues.
Andrew and Larissa were presented with a range of options including Gris and Nero from the new Morada range by PGH Bricks for a streamlined look as well as Crevole in the Velour range, which comes with a soft sheen and Van Gogh Roman Splits for classical textured style. After evaluating several options, they ultimately chose Pebble Creek from PGH Bricks’ Pure Linens range, a warm and neutral colour with a beautiful, smooth, modern finish that met their expectations.
“I think when a lot of people think about brick, they imagine the traditional red, old style, 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,” explains Andrew.
The highlight of the home is the three-storey brick chimney that is visible several streets away. The entryway features a one-of-a-kind slice brick facing. The brick exterior flows into the interior with all-brick walls and floors and the outdoor pool area is also built from brick, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor.
By using the same style of bricks throughout the home, the couple was able to achieve cohesion and minimalism in design without compromising on quality or sturdiness.
“This is our family home where we are going to create some of our most special memories, so we wanted to make sure we were 100% happy with all of our choices. If you think outside the box, there’re some really cool design elements that you can create with such a simple and reliable material. It’s the best of both worlds for us,” Andrew concludes.
Photographer: Cathy Schusler
