Please don't paint the brick, it's beautiful. If you think it needs cleaning, Sabrina Soto of HGTV uses Kaboom foaming bath cleaner with a scrub brush.

Wow, I am a decorative painter and it seems that everyone is painting their brick to shades of white. I think that your brick is gorgeous and wouldn't paint it. Perhaps clean it, update the mantel and go from there. I would focus more on the cabinetry. I can't tell if it's in good shape, but I'd likely either darken or lighten it. Leave that beautiful brick!

I'd take one of two approaches:

1) paint all the built-ins (and other room trim) some shade of white/cream, and then paint the brick a medium gray

2) paint all the built-ins a light gray chosen to coordinate with the brick, and leave the brick unpainted.

I don't think that this is the loveliest brick, but it might seem strikingly different in a context that brought out its quieter tones rather than all of this wood. Unfortunately, there's not really a good color I can think of that would let you do just the wood and then live with it for a while before deciding about the brick, unless you were willing to end up with the reverse of (1), with gray wood and white or white-washed brick . . .

Thank you Passionate Home, I completely agree!

Also, I would not remove the beams. Regarding painting the woodwork...there are many things you can do with paints/glazes/stains. Please don't focus on HGTV or other DIY networks for your design assistance here. These sites make the advertisers rich but do little for the close-up look of woodwork, etc. in a home. All designed for television viewers....

Room looks great as is --- beginning of a warm and inviting room.

Everyone I know of that's painted brick fireplace or wood cabinetry that is still in good conditions regrets it.

You could paint the ceiling beams and ceiling the same color and not need to tear out the beams and make the remodeling project that much more expensive. A ceiling fan would not have it's light impeded by the beams as the current light might be. That could brighten the room.

If it is color you want, consider repeating the blueish color on the hearth or a pale version of it as the ceiling color.

You could also consider putting color inside the cabinets by creating thin paneling the size of the back of each cubby and affixing them to the existing wood so that it looks as if the wall behind the shelving is visible and painted or wall papered. That would preserve your option to go back to the natural wood look or change those panels to another color as your taste change.

The wall unit to the right of the fireplace is oversized and angled as if built specifically for the old analog televisions with the huge backs. If it is within your budget, seriously consider removing that cabinetry and rebuild it, hopefully using the same wood, giving you more floor space in that corner of the room.

HI -- Paint the cabinets first and I bet that will be enough and will go with the brick as it is . Match to the lightest color brick . Painting brick is no big deal these days but you have nice brick so I think it doesn't need to be painted . You could paint the mantel the same as the cabinets ... or not . Maybe put some nice glossy black tiles on the hearth , either granite or slate or marble or just ceramic .

The brick looks really nice. I'd leave it.

Thanks for the ideas and recommendations.

We might keep the brick and see if we can lighten or darken the brick after we painted the built-ins. Any recommendations on how to darken the brick a few shades (glaze?).

We agree and wanted to paint/replace the mantel with a more updated look- considering antique wood or distressed beam repurposed.

For the one on the right side of the fireplace, we planned to remove the shelf above and install a swing out mount for a panel TV to swing out to watch and push back in when not in use. Not sure if we can afford or find someone to match the other side of the built-in.

The ceiling is pretty low (<8') so we thought getting rid of the beams along with the outdated acoustic tiles and then installed some can lights which would open up and brighten the room.

Maybe approaching this in a step wise manner would give us more options to consider and not back us into a corner?

We darkened ours with concrete stain, if that helps.

Your built in shelves look custom and well made (at least from the photo). IF that's the case, and you want to brighten up the room, I'd whitewash the brick for a softer look rather than a start "painted" look. I'd leave the ceiling beam and built in the color they are, unless they are in bad shape. Add some bright color area rug and you'll dramatically change the look of your room.

Leave the bricks as is - I highly suggest painting out the cabinetry a lighter color. I don't mind the mantel. Have new base cabinet fronts made to get ride of the dated hinges then add good quality pulls in iron or dark metal.

I agree with your idea about the swing out mount. Paint beams same lighter color as cabinetry - Darken ceiling tiles with paint - that will make the ceiling seem taller or replace with light wood or driftwood laminate which would tie in well with the gray in brick.

Please look at some different options for the cabinets before you decide to do anything with the brick. Painting (even glazing or whitewashing) the brick is very trendy. I was just doing a walk through in a multi-million dollar brand new home and the brick they've used is just like yours.

Here's another reality...if you hate the brick, which it seems kind of like you do, figure out what you really want and just wait until you can afford to have a pro do it. Some of these DIY projects just scream DIY and as much as people who use things like Pinterest think they are doing a great job, a good realtor or pro or discriminating home buyer can spot the lesser work in a second. This is happening like crazy with white-washed or glazed brick. And, even cabinetry. While this type of work is certainly not brain surgery, it does take sound processes and believe it or not, talent. I'd actually probably start by investing in a good rug. Then think about what you really want for everything else.

looks great! congratulations.

Looks great! Good call on painting the cabinets and leaving the brick as is.

I am so glad you did not paint the brick. The cabinets look great. The brick looks like what very high-end designers are currently using in homes. A lot of folks are going to regret painting their brick.