I have removed brick outright, masons washed (Whitewashed) and tiled over with a natural stone tile. I plan to paint some brick on the exterior in the spring. I would think that each approach has its merits based on budget concerns, overall fit with the rest of the room, with only one pic, who knows what is behind the photographer? Regardless, if renovating the wall isn't in the cards right now, paint it, work on an overall plan and then pull it down a couple years from now once you really know how you would like to move forward.

it is a small room but i think it is a very pretty room. just needs a few changes. If there is room put a narrow dresser, (not a chest) on the wall with the tv. Then u can put the tv on the far end of the dresser or hang it on the wall at the end of the new dresser. Either way it will free up dresser space. Hang a simple mirror vertically above the dresser. On the opposite wall remove the chair and center the chest. Get rid of the small knick-knacks & pictures on the wall. put a simple picture over the chest. Straighten up the covers on your bed and maybe add a couple decorative pillows and a pretty folded blanket at the foot of the bed in a color to compliment the pics in your room. Make sure to lower the picture over the bed and make sure it isn't too small for the wall. if it is maybe you can use that pic over the chest. Keep window blinds as is unless they are old, dirty etc. if you buy a dresser keep it sleek, nothing ornate. Lamps beside your bed are too small get some tall sleek lamps - Home Goods carries some really pretty lamps. With a small room you need very few decorative items or pictures....don't clutter your room.. Hope this gives you one or two ideas!

We don't get in each other's way because he won't let me in the kitchen when it's his turn to cook. I'm not even allowed in the same state. Now that we're empty nesters, we take turns cooking. And whoever cooks, the other one cleans. I don't like the way he cleans but because I get a break from cooking the next day I've learned to refrain from commentary. And I try not to watch what he's doing with the sponge cleaners etc... I keep telling myself I can clean it all over myself when it's his turn to cook the next day. I'm sure he's thinking the same thing when I cook..... We also eat out a few times a week which gives us both a chance not to have a heart attack over the other's cooking/cleaning. I will hand it to my hubby on this one: when kids were at home and due to nature of our jobs I did almost all of the cooking and clean up, he never once sat down and rested until the clean up was done and I sat down. In those days our kitchen was too small for two so he bussed what he could then stood on the other side of the peninsula out of the way, keeping me company until I was done drying the last dish. He could have sat down on the nearby kitchen table but he did not. He could have traipsed off to relax with a beer to unwind from the day. He did not. He stood instead, until I was done. His mom raised him right.

@tc hudson, I LOVE my refrigerator and it was my big splurge along with the Vermont Danby counters. The space is so small and the refrigerator was going to be near the dining table so I thought it really needed to be hidden.