Your house is beautiful and I think would be lovely with a worn, painted brick. There are probably a number of different methods. Here are a couple of examples using a limewash:

http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/decorating/peter-block-makeover/limewash-peter-block

http://atlantahomesmag.com/article/anything-but-ordinary

Just remember it will be very expensive to go back to the original brick, which to me, looks just fine.

Agreed. Don't turn a virtually maintenance free surface into a maintenance full surface.

However, a true whitewash would probably eventually wash off from the rain. Whatever you do, don't put an acrylic paint on it....

We have done many of what we call a distressed white wash look on brick. Start by painting the brick the base color (white). With steel wool and a chemical stripper (Rock Miracle) remove what would weather normally. Concentrate on the outer flat surface of the brick and leave the mortar untouched. It is a technique that definitely requires an artistic eye. Good luck!