A Classic House with a Twist

This project is several years old, but I still come back to it in my mind from time to time.

So what makes it so compelling? Which techniques made it memorable?

If all the walls were covered uniformly in brickwork, it would make your eyes glaze over, and the projecting section with the garages would steal the attention.

So I decided to set off the central part of the house with lighter plaster, and to keep it from looking like a random patch, I laid a decorative mosaic panel over it to tie it back to the mottled brick.

Notice the decorative surrounds — they don't go all the way around the windows, so as not to overload the house, but sit only at the top and bottom to emphasize the openings.

The window frames are graphite, matching the tone of the roof; you have to admit, it just wouldn't be the same with white plastic.

The result is a striking example of an understated classic — but with a twist.