I guess the first thing is, is the brick structural or decorative? If it is structural (ie. it holds up the ceiling) then you will need to find a way to work with it. If it is decorative, you may want to remove it (yep...remove it - have it recycled) and start from the fresh studs. If you like the look of painted brick, then paint it! It would make an AMAZING "NYC Loft" look with a painted facade. IF you don't like the look of painted brick then you may want to cover it floating shelving, etc.

A white wash brick with gray "reclaimed" wood flooring "look" and painted ceiling (leave the beams...they are great!) and introduce some chrome with distressed wood accents and you will have a modern design FIX instead of a dilemna!

I guess the real question is, "How much value do you place in the brick itself?" Value/beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

I'd like to see the entire space. But, my first thought is to leave this one "feature" wall to coincide with the outside, but either paint, or sheetrock over the other walls.

All the brick is structural. We want a clean, modern look inside, but the brick tends to darken the spaces. I am thinking to fur out a few inches and rock over it with white walls, but then it's so unique, that I'm afraid to. And if I paint them, there's no going back. I wish there were other contemporary homes that had this. All I see are Spanish homes

Is every wall the brick?

What I see in some of these spaces is very white, possibly concrete, floors. If your light in good and the furnishings are bright and light, the darkness of the walls migh not be an issue.

It's structural so sheet rock is the best bet. That way the brick is preserved for the next owner. You could always leave one wall and build up a counter or shelving halfway (belt buckle height) up and then leave the brick alone for the rest of the wall. This would be your "ode to Brick" that would tie in the outside to the inside. Then have fun everywhere else!

Yes. Paint it. Having the brick walls done in the adobe color makes the home feel small and cave-like which is the exact opposite of what one would like to have in a mid-century modern home. Your furniture seems camouflaged which is sad because I see that it is very unique and interesting.

I have provided several photos for you below which may be helpful to you. Based on the look that you said you would like to have in the home (a "clean, modern space"), I would paint ALL the brick in the ENTIRE house the same neutral, soft white color. This will TRANSFORM your space. If there is a wall which can be strategically left unpainted - such as a fireplace wall - you might ponder that. Otherwise, don't hold back. You might consider having it professionally sprayed as it will make the job easier and faster (though obviously more expensive if budget is a concern).

After the walls are painted, the woodwork becomes very important. Your wooden ceilings and ceiling beams will then become a wonderful feature instead of 'just more brown' as they appear now. Wood floors become even more beautiful. (Be sure to match the ceiling white with the wall white for the most uniform look.)

With the bricks painted, you will now have "textured walls". Study up and become an expert on the best fasteners to use for your type of bricks so that you can install shelves, art work and other items just as you would on any other wall. (Check out the 'hanging rail' in the pictures below.)

Your home is beautiful! Make it yours! Great job with the garage doors as well.

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More ideas:

Great floors: and

@houssaon...all your pics are in my idea book! We must be thinking the same. My inspiration if we leave the brick is the photo with the dining table and fur chairs. LOVE the terrazzo floor with the brick. Now I wonder if there is a budget friendly terrazzo for wood subfloors!? Suppose that's a whole other discussion. As far as painting, so torn. Cheapest route but then no going back.

This post is about reasoning through this question rather than suggesting an aesthetic look for you.

Is there a room in your home with a smaller wall that you would consider using as an "experiment wall"? It could be a solid wall in one of the bedrooms. It could be one of the smaller walls. Perhaps a wall that has the head of the bed on it would be the best choice or a solid wall opposite a window wall.

Start with a paint technique that uses the least amount of paint first then gradually increase the amount of paint until you reach a technique that you do like even if it means going all the way to painting the bricks a solid white. Stop after the first treatment and look at it a few days before proceeding on. Then apply another coat and stop for a few more days. Live with it to see if you like it. You don't even necessarily have to paint the entire wall.

If you don't like the way the painted brick looks at all, then you can move on to covering one wall with the sheetrock treatment and see if that appeals to you more and see if you are willing to put in the amount of work (and money) it will take to apply this treatment to the walls you would like to change. If you like the look of having one wall drywalled, you might consider doing just one wall in other rooms of the house - perhaps the focal point wall. This might "lighten it up" without having to treat all the walls. (I would NOT recommend PAINTING just one wall while leaving the other walls untreated. Only use the 'one wall concept' with drywall.)

Worst case scenario is that you have applied a treatment to ONE wall in your home (and a bedroom at that) and have decided not to do anymore. Would that really be so bad? Best case scenario is that you find a treatment you love and can proceed with confidence in the rest of your home.

You have said that you don't want to paint the walls because a future purchaser of the home may want to have the brick and thus you are considering the sheetrock option. If you sheetrock the entire house, and it is done well, it is unlikely that a future home owner would consider removing it. (I am sure that you realize that sheetrocking/drywalling the house will require some damage to the brick, the mortar or both and possibly the ceiling, which may also make the brick unappealing and require repair, if the drywall treatment was removed.) Bringing some lighter color to the house would bring out its features more and actually make it more appealing to future buyers. The reason for this is that there really is TOO MUCH BROWN in the house. My guess is that you bought the house at least in part for its mid-century modern style not for all the brick. Since adding white walls would only bring out the mid-century style even more, I would argue that you are increasing the appeal of your house. One could argue that it is unlikely a future buyer would remove the sheetrock to expose the brick so why not consider painting it to begin with?

It really comes down to: What do YOU like more and what can YOU afford? And, thus, we are back to the idea of an experiment wall.

Hope this helps.

The brick walls are a nice feature of the house. Painting them would mean that you lose this characteristic aspect. However you have other walls you can treat, including the ceiling and floor. If you focus on (contrasting) textures, your brick walls can complement the other surfaces. Consider wood, plaster work, metal, wallcovering paper or vinyl in a fine texture, high gloss or very matt paint, and use of color. Stick to about three different textures and collect a large sample of each from suppliers to study for a while. You will soon come to the right choice when the combination is right.

Painting the brick is time-consuming and takes a lot of paint and you can never go back. I'd use that wall as my texture in the room. Since it's the same brick as the outside, I'd make it an outdoorsy-type room with plants, nature themes and furniture which looks like it could also be outdoors. I've even seen rooms like this with window boxes inside, like a french bakery's outdoor seating. I'd look at beautiful outdoor rooms you see so much of today. It's better than outdoors since you can use it year-round. Maybe even add a table with an umbrella.

I would paint that brick in a heartbeat. The texture itself gives it a nice character, but the color is just way too dark. It would be gorgeous with shiny white tile flooring.

I would not paint it personally....lighten up the floor as much as possible, and furnishings, and add some great lighting maybe spotlighting on the brick wall itself. Once you hang some art on the walls, that should change your light as well. It won't be solid brick then. Good luck! Love the house! Very cool.

I agree with houssaon, I love mid-century modern and if you want to stay true to the house you will leave it. If not Fir it out and drywall it, bit do no harm. At some point someone will want it back to the original look.

I think you should paint over the brick white. This will give anice contrast from the interior to exterior of the house, giving a more contemporary style. You could consider doing this and partly plastering some walls to also give a change from smooth to rough brick textures. I've attached a few images to give an idea. But definitely would give that Spanish style that reminds me of some refurbishments Ive seen in Barcelona that look great. Hope this helps.

Good God do not listen to ervinedesign. If you paint the brick it is permanent and when you go to sell someone like me who loves Mid-Century Modern would be devastated and try to find a different house that had not bee desecrated.

I agree that you should leave it unpainted. Use lots of white accents.

Huge art work and textured fabric with an amazing chandelier will make your home special.

Mr international as stated they are looking a modern exciting contemporary style and to move on from dull mid-century. Yes red brick is nice is some aspects but not for a complete interior. White paint is permanent but it gives the style their looking at low cost and immediately reflecting more light and brightening up the rooms. I do not agree to do it completely in white paint but only certain areas with the alternative of plastering other areas giving a contrast. And if at a later date they want to sell, I do not see why modern age buyers would not like white brick and plaster contrast. Only a personal suggestion.

I guess this is always a conflict, change something to meet your tastes or work with what you have. Before my divorce, I wanted to appreciate the house for what it was and my ex wanted to change it to his tastes. I feel the answer is to change houses. If you do not love the permanent, expensive, quality parts of your house, then move. Styles changed and if you add something permanent that is stylish then you will constantly have to change this element.
It's like they say with clothing: buy classic pieces and update with belts, scarves, etc. So with a house, keep the classic elements and update the paint and whatever else is temporary and cheap to change. Try to love your house and in doing so, you will see the solution.

Here is my take on the subject. You now have a very unique home. The walls are the signature of the home. I think you can brighten up the interior without painting the walls. If you add large pieces of art with a lot of white and bright colors, they will look fantastic against the brick walls. I think the brick is so organic and is a perfect foil for metal, wood and color.

I love the floors in the O'Neil design and the guazy drapes. I think terrazzo floors are expensive and I don't know the technical requirements, but white honed floors thoughout would look so good. Here is one link to Terrazzo Tile: http://www.wausautile.com/terrazzo/terrazzoApplications.cfm They have one line EcoPremier of green products, that provides LEED credits because it uses Kohler porcelain seconds as the aggregate. Here is a Houzz article on Terrazzo: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/terrazzo-makes-a-comeback-for-floors-and-more-stsetivw-vs~5868202

One more thought: the brick seems to be a focal point now because there is nothing more graphic, bigger print, than it. Just add things that completely take your focus away from the background, like houssaon above has mentioned with large white framed art. The larger and more contrasty your added elements, the less you have to worry about the sublety of the brick. Floor, if you want it changed, add a rug.

I disagree. In this case the essence of architecture is the purity of material with colour, pattern and texture. Photo frames, artwork, mirrors, etc. are all elements used to hide the wall subconsciously. Therefore if the wall alone does not give human comfort it is not satisfactory. A wall with minimal add on elements is more successful architecture.

Painting brick is really time consuming. Much better to leave it alone and cover is with sheetrock. That way you get the look you want and if you sell in the future the new homeowners have a choice.

I love the brick. You might consider a lighter color sofa and chairs. Adding different textures in your rugs, fabrics, afghans and pillows would add interest. The larger artwork suggested above is a great idea. The wood tones you have seem to dissappear, maybe consider some furniture that is painted a lighter color, distressed and glazed.
I tell my friends to make their eyes happy when they enter their room. When you get the right combination of color and texture ..your room will be a knockout!!!! I want to see it when you finish.

LOVELY BRICK. I am so envious.[houzz=][houzz=][houzz=][houzz=][houzz=][houzz=][houzz=][houzz=][houzz=]
Flooring: if brick is not painted/whitewashed go with a pale wood such as maple, or with a ceramic tile made to look like wood. or stark white
if you paint/whitewash the brick, you can do anything.
Whitewash leaves the brick character just makes it a bit more light reflective.

Oh it's beautiful and please don't cover it:) have you considered painting it a light color and then faux finishing the brick to Look like limestone. I did my fireplace myself after someone painted it white. I'm trying to upload a pic but my iPad won't let me???

I'm dealing with a huge home full of very high ceilings and brick up to 50 feet in places. It is overwhelming and dark. I'm going to try the faintest bit of white wash to leave most of the original brick exposed but at the same time add a soft lightness to it. Maybe, you CAN have it both ways??

old post from 2013

We are about to remodel our 1960’s mid century adobe ranch that has all exposed brick such as yours. Just curious now that it’s been a few years...which way did you go? I would love to see some photos since I am trying to work the retaining the brick and lightening with other elements (ceiling, flooring, lighting).

Brian, We also own an adobe home and are considering new garage doors. Are yours steel? Are you happy with the shape/configuration of the panels? Ours are eastern facing. Would you post an updated photo if you switched out your doors? Here's ours...

Hi Brian, I know your post is nearly ten years old, but.... In case you see this, do you have anyone around Sonoma who knows how to work with the Adobe bricks? My home (east of Sacramento) has them, plus some scary vertical cracking in the exterior walls. I've been looking for someone in Northern California with experience with stabized Adobe like this. If you know of anyone, please let me know... Thank you!!!