Definitely paint it, otherwise the room will look out of balance and dated. I've painted to hearths and fireplaces and I never regret it. I wish I had done it sooner :-)

My brick fireplace is painted (but it's a fake one, don't ask!). If you like the look/color of a painted fireplace and it goes with the style, I say go for it! I don't know how it would hold up since my fireplace does not have a chimney, but I'm sure others will chime in on that end. I've seen lots of painted working fireplaces in my day.

Here's a picture of my fireplace. Hard to believe that behemouth is just for show! It's a row house and there is no chimney. I just look at it and think "Gee it would be nice to have a fire." I haven't been able to bring myself to install a fake electric one. It has elaborate brickwork, all painted.

I actually love the look of your rustic brick, as is, and don't think it looks dated at all. A lot of the newer homes in our area, including ours, are using brick in the interiors quite a bit. I think it adds a lot of character to a room.

I would not paint the brick. And, brick interiors are definitely not dated. It all depends on what else you've got going in the house and in the room.

I would discuss it with the rest of the family and get their input as well. Men, usually, have strong opinions about brick and wood.

Good luck to you! The room looks very nice!

I just stripped the paint on my fireplace so my vote is NO. I think it looks nice. It looks very warm. There are instances where I think painted brick looks better (if the brick is really ugly ), but this isn't one of them.

Keep it natural. I remember when we painted our brick fireplace and wished I hadn't. While it gave it a fresh look, it just looked wrong. We've since tiled it so I don't have to look at it anymore.

I think coleen said it best with her last sentence.

Thanks everyone!

I don't love painted brick as my original post says... but I thought it would be really out of place the way it is. I think I will hold off on painting it and do the rest of the room... I can always go back and paint it, but as Coleen mentioned, it is a BEAR to srip it off again!

Thanks again for all the comments!

Alexa

Keep it as is! I think it looks really pretty!

I have brick that I wish I could paint but don't because I know that once it's painted, I'm pretty much stuck. Good luck deciding. But, I just wanted to tell you how much I LOVE the new color you've picked for the room. Really fresh and pretty!

Thanks Jessie!

I was watching Fine Living today and happened to catch one of the designers re-doing someones "Garden Room". I almost fainted when the guy said he had chosen Seafoam, Cream and White with a chestnut brown accent as the color scheme! I am old enough to remember a horrifying Seafom bath my parents had when I was a little kid (mid 60's) and I have had a seafoam fear ever since. I really struggled with this one, but I think it is going to be okay.....

Especially with the Tommy Bahama "Seaglass Palm" material I picked as the new upholstery! LOLOLOL!

Alexa

Hi caliloo, personally I would paint the fireplace wall, it would make it recede visually, in a good way. I would also center your large frame under the clock.
Let us see your new paint , with all the wonderful light that room gets,
the color will be gorgeous.