Not every home renovation needs a major demolition to make a dramatic difference. Sometimes, changing the finish of an existing wall is enough to give an entire room a new look.
For this recent project in Grovedale, the team at Geelong Plaster was asked to modernise a lounge room with exposed brick walls that were making the space feel dark and dated.
The homeowners wanted a brighter, more contemporary interior without losing the original archway connecting the lounge to the adjoining room.
By installing plasterboard directly over the existing brickwork, we were able to completely change the appearance of the room while retaining one of its distinctive architectural features.
And the best part? The plastering work was completed in just one day.
The challenge with dark brick walls
Exposed brick can add character to a home, but it doesn’t always suit the way homeowners want their living spaces to look and feel.
In this Grovedale property, the lounge featured reddish-brown brick walls, darker accent bricks and substantial exposed timber ceiling beams.
Together, these elements created a traditional interior with a strong, dark colour scheme.
While the timber beams provided an interesting architectural feature, the surrounding brickwork made the room feel considerably darker than the homeowners wanted.
Rather than removing the brick walls, the owners decided to cover them with plasterboard, creating a smooth surface that could eventually be painted in a lighter colour.
The intention was to refresh the lounge without changing its fundamental layout or removing the existing archway.
Plastering over existing brickwork
One of the advantages of plasterboard is that it can be installed over suitable existing masonry walls, avoiding the need to demolish sound brickwork simply to achieve a different interior finish.
For this project, we installed new plasterboard directly over the existing brick walls.
This approach allowed us to create a fresh wall surface while retaining the room’s original layout.
The new plasterboard also provided an opportunity to replace the visual busyness of the brickwork and mortar joints with a clean, continuous finish.
The sheets were installed across the lounge room walls, with the joints and fixing areas finished to prepare the surfaces for painting.
The result was an immediate change in the room’s appearance, even before the homeowners had applied their chosen paint colour.
Keeping the original archway
One of the most important details of this renovation was the existing brick archway.
The homeowners wanted to keep it, so our plastering work needed to incorporate the arch into the new wall finish rather than simply covering it up or replacing it with a conventional square doorway.
This required careful attention to the transition between the flat wall surfaces and the curved opening.
The arch was retained and incorporated into the new plaster finish, creating a smooth curve that blends into the surrounding walls.
Rather than being a dated brick feature, the archway now becomes part of the room’s refreshed design.
It also introduces a softer architectural detail that contrasts with the strong, straight lines of the exposed timber ceiling beams.
The finished effect preserves some of the home’s original character while giving the lounge a much more contemporary appearance.
A brighter lounge room in just one day
The difference between the before and after photographs is immediately noticeable.
Previously, the exposed brick dominated the room, creating a dark backdrop around the television, furniture and adjoining doorway.
With the new plasterboard installed, those same walls have become light, smooth surfaces that make the space feel more open.
The timber ceiling beams remain in place, providing contrast against the newly plastered walls and retaining some of the home’s original character.
The plastering work was completed in one day, demonstrating how much of a difference can be achieved without undertaking a complete room renovation.
The walls are now ready for painting, which will further enhance the transformation.
Once finished in a light colour, the new surfaces will provide a fresh backdrop for the homeowners’ furniture and décor.
Thinking about covering your brick walls?
If your home has exposed brick walls that no longer suit your style, you may not need to remove them to achieve a modern interior.
Installing plasterboard over suitable existing brickwork can be an effective way to create a smooth wall surface ready for painting.
Whether you’re updating a lounge room, refreshing an older home or planning a larger renovation, Geelong Plaster can help you explore the options for your existing walls.
We undertake residential plastering, renovations and repairs throughout Grovedale, Geelong and surrounding areas.
Contact us to discuss your next plastering project.