I like your gray stain with the taupe/brown brick. The nice thing about stain is that you could even lighten the brick and the color is not solid but transparent.

Or you could do a mortar smear over your brick

No it doesn't. The homes your refer to have to do with Spanish Colonial influence.

[https://www.houzz.com/magazine/roots-of-style-colonial-monterey-sets-the-stage-for-unique-design-stsetivw-vs~15003558[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/roots-of-style-colonial-monterey-sets-the-stage-for-unique-design-stsetivw-vs~15003558)

HI -- The house is not too bad the way it is . The brick is not the problem ... the color of the siding is . I have no concerns or worries painting brick .There is paint for anything now these days . I would not paint this brick as it is a nice brick . Staining fades so I would not do that . I really do not care for the siding color . It does not look right with the brick . I am also sick and tired of everyone painting everything grey . All grey on your house will blur the architecture of the house . Painting the siding a better color is what it needs . A creamy white or a light tan ..... Manchester Tan or Ranchwood by Benjamin Moore or something like these would be better with that brick .

I think the brick and paint color is very nice. The only thing I might change is the trim on the front porch. I would match it to the roof color or go even darker. I would also install more substantial porch lanterns. I would also consider painting the front door an accent color to make it all pop. What a lovely place.

How exciting. Best wishes. Hope it goes well.