I don't know much about the process but think I'd look into staining the brick instead of painting it.

I do agree that your brick needs something. Every painted brick home I've seen though either has to be repainted often - or looks like it needs to be repainted immediately. It seems to be a very high maintenance surface for paint.

Hopefully you could achieve the look you want with stain and have to do it a lot less frequently.

What a great little home you have..I love the front porch..I attached a few samples for you to have a look at. I agree you should paint the house gray. Possibly add shutters on either side of the window in a deep charcoal and paint the door the same or if you really want to stand out..Paint the door red..

I like your brickwork and painting is a pain to maintain. However I think a dark brown door and trim would be better than the current green and would paint the step a beige colour. I think the colour of the brickwork would look quite different with a different trim. Agree that adding shutters would be nice.

Shelley's images are great! This is a nice home. My first impression is dealing with the color of the steps! Staining the concrete or stripping the paint and doing a light acid-wash?

I rather like painted brick, but understand it becomes a maintenance item. Here is one of my favorite color combinations. [houzz=]

Leave it..part of the charm. Play up your trim and your windows. Cute, cute…

I would embrace the pink color of your bricks. (The front steps do seem a bit too bright, however.)
To explore different paint combinations for the pillars and trim the old-fashioned way, make enlarged xerox copies of your house and get out the colored pencils. To do it the modern way, use photoshop or a similar program on the computer.

You have a nice, sturdy home. It looks to be in good repair. Be grateful for what you have, and take your time with the decor.

Best wishes.

I really like the brickwork on your home, though the steps and columns could be integrated a bit better.

As long as you're aware of the maintenance cost, I say go for it. Grays are a very popular color right now, and the white would really make it pop. I also agree that you should address the step and porch colors. Perhaps a gray that's darker than the brick color for the porch floor to hide dirt, and then a lighter color for the steps to make the porch pop a bit more.

You also have the opportunity to add interest with those columns so try some bold pops of color as highlights on those.

Your home has a great curb appeal, and anything you do to update it is only going to complement that!

Good luck!

Painting bricks can be painted and be beautiful. Since the brickwork that you have is mostly covered, the paint would take longer to fade. But keep in mind that once you paint the brick, you might have to consider painting the rest of the house to match.

Here are some great examples:

I just thought I would add information regarding the maintenance of painting the brick. Paint has certainly come a long way in technology and of course being environmentally friendly. Benjamin Moore has a newer line of paint for Interior/Exterior applications. It is called Aura..Please check into this product for your brick..The maintenance is more like 10 years using this product. It is phenomenal on stucco and brick..
Do not forget that the preparation before painting is just as important as the paint.
Good Luck with your beautiful home..

Thank you all so much for your suggestions, it's very helpful! I wasn't very clear in my initial post-we are planning on keeping the brick and are considering gray or another color for the porch, door, and the siding that is on both sides of the house above the brick (there isn't a good picture of this). White trim would be on the windows and pillars. I'm open to hearing more ideas....

I love your house, please don’t paint the beautiful brick. As a brick manufacturer, we love the look of natural brick and its durability. However, if you do decide to paint the brick, please be prepared for increased maintenance. According to The Brick Industry Association, “Most paint authorities agree that, once painted, exterior masonry will require repainting every three to five years.”

I would like to suggest the following paint combination:

SW7040 Smokehouse: Porch Steps
SW7038 Tony Taupe: Siding & accents on columns & around window
SW7068 Grizzle Gray: Front door, mailbox, accent on middle band of column
SW7035 Aesthetic White: Trim color

May I suggest that you find a rug with all of the colors & put it under the Adirondack chairs or find pillows with all of the colors to use as an accent on the chairs. What a great house!!

I have no suggestion, and just wanted to say I love your house just the way it is. Lots of character.

Your houses is pretty and I would not paint the brick. I would rather replace stairs and porch material or jut paint it different colour.

Like your plan, it was just poorly stated. You have my permission to go ahead with your project! lol!

tcufrog, I see where you are going! Very cool! Those steps bothered me big time! The house has a slight Craftsman Style feel, what if the risers used tiles from that period? Just throwing an idea out!!

I am going to look for some Craftsman style tiles or stencil that could be used on the porch steps. Be back tomorrow!

This house has a brick paver porch and step treads. Nice look! Craftsman Style bungalow.

Cute house. I have seen many houses with pink brick in my community and they keep the pink but paint trim to subdue the pink. I would say I have seen gray like you said and dark brown. Not sure about a taupe of course I believe without a pink tint. Designers know best but I have seen it done where the pink brick is subdued by the right trim colors. With all the other trim I don't think you need to paint. Definitely change step color.

Eztia, looking forward to what you find!

Eztia, are those linoleum?

They sure look like linoleum. I am having trouble getting the pics I want to attach. Let me go back and revise a bit...

What a beautiful chimney you have! In keeping with the existing brick and stone, I would use more subdued ('earthy') colors that are more or less in the same value range rather than the dark green and bright coral you have, which feel more Victorian to me. I think the craftsman aesthetic is more subtle than that, and the consistency in value will help integrate the house visually.

Villalagoontile.com has havana style options being used in exterior settings. Not finding details, though

Your house is so cute! I am not sure if I would paint the brick. I don't really see it as a problem and painted brick has so much maintenance.

I have returned with tiny images (because I am using an iPad). I can attach four at a time.
It was difficult to find tiles in repeating patterns except for hearth surrounds.
Here goes...

More...

More...

Here are some design ideas for a railing for the porch steps.

Individual tile patterns that you might want to incorporate into your decor...

Try Motawi tiles for the front steps. A few judiciously placed decorative tiles in a sea of field tiles would be lovely.
https://www.motawi.com/tile-installation

LOOKING GOOD!

Well, villalagoon is the only place I came up with that had selection in approp. colors. Maybe worth a look. OR, take the design from one of these, stencil and seal.
(Thanks, Etzia-think I've just decided to redo the fireplace....)

The Polychromes ! (Poster collapses)

You all are amazing! Thank you!

You have to post an after photo. I think it will be really cute and fun when you're done.

Here is a much better picture of the side of the house. You can see the siding we would paint.

I like the brick.

Your house is charming and I don't think you should paint the bricks. It's the salmon/coral steps and porch and green door that are bringing out the pink and not in a good way. Painting everything but the brick would be a better way to go.