Here in Chicago, our distinctive common brick was made with blue-grey clay harvested from the Chicago River and its canals. Variable levels of iron, lime, and glacial debris in the raw material, as well as slightly different firing processes plant to plant, led to the many sunset-hued colors we see today: yellows, pinks. oranges, light browns, and buffs. Today, we love Chicago brick for its array of colors, but for much of our history, this inconsistency was undesirable (which is why you mostly spot the brick on alley-facing elevations).
Milwaukee brickmakers, on the other hand, harvested reddish clay from their city’s three rivers. Rich in lime and sulfur, the Wisconsin material produced a more consistent range of lighter tones: yellows, greys, and soft whites. “Cream City brick” tends to be lighter in weight and more porous, meaning over time, it becomes darker as it absorbs pollutants and dirt. The most popular of the Milwaukee Commons today is a shade known as Silver Fox, a soft range of greys and whites with the signature rustication of all our salvaged and reclaimed bricks. Working with our sister business, The Brickyard, we supplied the brick lovers at Moment Design with this highly desirable color for the gorgeous Hinsdale, Illinois home you can see here! Check out the gallery for some close-ups showing off the visual reminders of this material’s history: bits of graffiti, varying shades of grey, edges that appear tumbled. The overall effect is stunning — giving just the right touch of history to this new construction design.
ARCHITECT: Moment Design
BUILDER: Garber Construction
PRODUCT SUPPLIED: Reclaimed “Silver Fox” Milwaukee Commons
