20 Dynamic Kitchens With Exposed Brick Backsplashes

Turns out, there are countless ways to rock exposed brick in the kitchen.

In addition to protecting your walls from splashes and oil sprays, your kitchen backsplash is a major design decision that can help the entire palette cohere. Whether you already have exposed brick in the kitchen or would like to install a brick veneer, a brick backsplash brings a heavy dose of character into the home. Ranging from loft-like to rustic, the kitchens below show how versatile a brick backsplash can be.

Painting exposed brick white can help modernize the material while preserving its texture and character.

Painting exposed brick white can help modernize the material while preserving its texture and character.

A brick backsplash, painted white, pairs perfectly with this Australian kitchen's understated material choices, which includes wood cabinets and a streamlined Caesarstone counter in Raw Concrete. 

A brick backsplash, painted white, pairs perfectly with this Australian kitchen's understated material choices, which includes wood cabinets and a streamlined Caesarstone counter in Raw Concrete. 

Set in a heritage brick building in Montreal, this apartment maintained the brick wall in the kitchen to evoke the building's industrial heritage. The brick was painted white to brighten the space. 

Set in a heritage brick building in Montreal, this apartment maintained the brick wall in the kitchen to evoke the building's industrial heritage. The brick was painted white to brighten the space. 

The exposed brick backsplash in this Las Vegas home adds some rustic charm to more streamlined material choices. 

The exposed brick backsplash in this Las Vegas home adds some rustic charm to more streamlined material choices. 

The kitchen of this Brooklyn brownstone features a brick backsplash with a metal panel connecting the Bluestar range to the Viking chimney wall hood. The mashup of materials preserves the personality of brick with the ease of cleaning stainless steel. The island and cabinets are fashioned from remilled Douglas fir beams salvaged from Upstate New York.

The kitchen of this Brooklyn brownstone features a brick backsplash with a metal panel connecting the Bluestar range to the Viking chimney wall hood. The mashup of materials preserves the personality of brick with the ease of cleaning stainless steel. The island and cabinets are fashioned from remilled Douglas fir beams salvaged from Upstate New York.

Brick is used throughout this Indonesian home, giving it a warm, earthy quality. A low, translucent layer offers additional protection while cooking. The extensive use of brick echoes the vernacular architecture of Central Java, sparking happy childhood memories for the homeowner. 

Brick is used throughout this Indonesian home, giving it a warm, earthy quality. A low, translucent layer offers additional protection while cooking. The extensive use of brick echoes the vernacular architecture of Central Java, sparking happy childhood memories for the homeowner. 

Brick, paired with concrete and wood, creates an organic warmth throughout this Spanish home. 

Brick, paired with concrete and wood, creates an organic warmth throughout this Spanish home. 

Leaving portions of the original brick wall visible adds character and a sense of history to the updated kitchen of this Beacon Hill apartment. 

Leaving portions of the original brick wall visible adds character and a sense of history to the updated kitchen of this Beacon Hill apartment. 

Vibrant blue cabinets brighten up this kitchen and serve as a bold contrast to the exposed brick. The stainless-steel countertop wraps slightly up the wall, and creates a trough for storing items.

Vibrant blue cabinets brighten up this kitchen and serve as a bold contrast to the exposed brick. The stainless-steel countertop wraps slightly up the wall, and creates a trough for storing items.

Located in the addition of this Toronto home, a new kitchen flanks the residence’s original brick wall which has been painted white and paired with whitewashed maple cabinets to create a clean, simple cooking space.

Located in the addition of this Toronto home, a new kitchen flanks the residence’s original brick wall which has been painted white and paired with whitewashed maple cabinets to create a clean, simple cooking space.

Here, an industrial material palette—with a concrete brick backsplash and counter foundation, and zinc-plated pan-decking ceilings—complement the development’s edgy facade.

Here, an industrial material palette—with a concrete brick backsplash and counter foundation, and zinc-plated pan-decking ceilings—complement the development’s edgy facade.

An illuminated brick wall makes a lovely backdrop when juxtaposed against this kitchen's glossy black cabinets. 

An illuminated brick wall makes a lovely backdrop when juxtaposed against this kitchen's glossy black cabinets. 

Gray, full-height, seamless cabinetry matches the gray-painted original brick wall. The contrast with the white kitchen island is striking.

Gray, full-height, seamless cabinetry matches the gray-painted original brick wall. The contrast with the white kitchen island is striking.

With a brick backsplash, it is important to make sure that it is carefully cleaned and sealed with a sealant designed for its specific location. If you aren't painting over the brick, you also want to make sure that the brick is in good enough condition to be exposed.

With a brick backsplash, it is important to make sure that it is carefully cleaned and sealed with a sealant designed for its specific location. If you aren't painting over the brick, you also want to make sure that the brick is in good enough condition to be exposed.

Keeping the original mottled, worn-brick walls and outfitting the kitchen with their own custom cabinetry were among this couple’s cost-saving measures.

Keeping the original mottled, worn-brick walls and outfitting the kitchen with their own custom cabinetry were among this couple’s cost-saving measures.

In this Australian kitchen, keeping the original exposed brick wall as a backsplash helps tie the kitchen to the rest of the home. 

In this Australian kitchen, keeping the original exposed brick wall as a backsplash helps tie the kitchen to the rest of the home. 

In this compact Barcelona apartment, the original brick wall remains, but a slim oak panel backsplash has been inserted.

In this compact Barcelona apartment, the original brick wall remains, but a slim oak panel backsplash has been inserted.

The kitchen area is full of charm, starting with the original painted brick wall and continuing with cabinets made from reclaimed Iroko wood. The uneven application of paint mimics the aged wood.

The kitchen area is full of charm, starting with the original painted brick wall and continuing with cabinets made from reclaimed Iroko wood. The uneven application of paint mimics the aged wood.

Here, a brick backsplash makes this black kitchen pop. 

Here, a brick backsplash makes this black kitchen pop. 

White paint brightens the modest kitchen of this Denver home. 

White paint brightens the modest kitchen of this Denver home. 

Jennifer Baum Lagdameo
Dwell Contributor
Jennifer Baum Lagdameo is a freelance design writer who has lived in Washington DC, Brooklyn, Tokyo, Manila, and is currently exploring the Pacific Northwest from her home base in Portland, Oregon.

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