The treelined Starmount neighborhood in Greensboro has a new home with old world charm. Custom builder Tammy Roberts, owner of Homes Built By Design, worked with her client to achieve a modern Tudor home using primarily Tufts House, one of our artisanal style bricks, accented with darker Ashton Court. The results are excellent.The brick choice was collaborative. Roberts has been designing homes for nearly 30 years and building for 15 and her approach is to work closely with clients to select all materials.
Tufts House artisanal brick gives homes a historic feel.
Two-car garage with arched entries.
“With being a custom home builder, I design our homes with our customer’s style in mind,” said Roberts. “Our clients’ style and taste vary greatly from contemporary, traditional, farmhouse and timeless such as this European style English Tudor house we designed and built.”
For selecting brick, you want to take some time. The wide ranger of colors, styles and combinations that are possible make color testing advisable, sort of like testing different paint colors. Roberts says it’s a good idea to try out a few different brick and even mortar colors.
“I would suggest to them that we make a small brick walls sample for them with the different bricks and mortar colors they are thinking about using,” said Roberts. “Then give the sample walls a few days to dry so the sample will be closer to the finished look, prior to making their final decision.”
Keep in mind the mortar is nearly 20% of any brick wall. Don’t underestimate the effect of its color. You can order mortar in any color you choose.
Roberts: “We were going for an aged look and one that would fit a English Tudor. My client and I thought the darker Ashton Court bricks would make a nice accent against the Tufts House brick.”
Roberts designed a partially enclosed back porch with modern features–skylights, recessed lighting and a ceiling fan in a beaded board ceiling.
Tufts House is from the Pine Hall Brick Old Brick House line, a tribute to early American brick making—created in our plant. Ashton Court, a bold mix of browns and dark brick along with white sprinkle accents, is one of our Modern Antique products.
“The homeowners wanted some variation in the brown tones and these two different bricks blend well together,” said Roberts. “Then we went with the white mortar to make the brick stand out more.”
Roberts’ design draws on classic Tudor features, like the arches on the entrance portico.
“The arches gave this home a nice touch and uniqueness too,” said Roberts. “We are really happy with how the arches turned out. This home does have some more modern touches on the inside but for the exterior the goal was to try to stay close to the English Tudor look.”
Tufts House
Ashton Court
When you build in an established neighborhood, brick’s a good choice because you can achieve so many different styles with the one of the most durable siding products you can buy. Your new neighbors will thank you!
“We have people coming by to take pictures and incorporate some of our ideas, said Roberts. “All the neighbors we have spoken with seem very pleased with the new addition to their 70 year old Starmount neighborhood. We tried to keep in mind what style of home would fit in well.”
