I'd go natural finish wood with all that brick. Whatever wood you choose will darken over time - once it's darkened to the point that you don't like it anymore you can freshen it with paint. I don't mind the white... blue might be a bit much against the brick. If you decide to paint it go for more of a gray blue as blues can get much more intense in quantity.

Thanks. What rough cost per ft2 am I looking at?

Last I checked T&G knotty pine was about $2 ft2 plus finishing. Cedar is more.