That's a lot of brick! If you are not going to remove it (and maybe make more work for yourself correcting what's underneath), then paint is your other option. Another solution would be to cover some of it with bead board. In either case, I would paint all walls an off white or white. This would play well with your dark cabinets (nice job) and give you a cleaner streamlined look, minimizing the presence of the brick. Good luck with your project.

Anything will be better than that dayglow yellow. :-)

It looks like the original color of the bricks was some sort of tan (can see in the space for the range). If it was a red, used brick, I might try to restore it - give it a cool loft bachelor look. But, I agree with just painting it. An off-white color sounds good. It'll look like subway tile.

I like the cabinet stain color.

Use an eggshell paint finish on the walls. Semi-gloss on the brick.

Are you replacing the countertop? If not, do you have plans to replace that down the road? Floor color should complement cabinet and countertops.

You should warn a person to put their sunglasses on before posting a picture like that! ;) Oy vey! -- that's a WHOLE LOTTA YELLOW ...

I think I would start by tearing the brick off of the dining wall with the sliders. That way you can see how much damage it is actually going to create (and that would be a fairly easy drywall repair/replace job if the answer is "a lot").

If it doesn't cause too much damage, then go ahead and tear it off of the kitchen backsplash. Otherwise, I'd paint the backsplash white and wait to tackle it's removal until a full kitchen cabinet reno happens down the road.

I'm assuming the previous owner hit a good sale on yellow paint.... or was obsessed with Big Bird! I agree with the rest that an off white would look good on the backsplash part and an eggshell/beige color for the rest would compliment your cabinets. Good luck with your project!

mmilos: with all due respect, I beg to differ on it looking like subway tile. It's only gonna look like what it is - painted brick. Personally, I can't stand the look of painted brick. Its usually the first thing I notice, and it so dates the house.

First off, make sure that they are, in fact, a veneer. The affected walls have doors and windows to the outside. Is your house brick on the outside, too? If so, this is a game-changer.

If not, I second Brenda's idea of finding an easy-to-fix section and pull it off. See what's holding it on there, as well as what is behind it. Sheetrock is not that hard to work with... and with the cabinets already empty, now might be the time to deal with whatever wall changes you might make. Just unscrew and bring the boxes down or pull away from the wall.

If you like the texture of brick in this area, then what are the odds that the paint could be removed and the bricks restored? They look like they were a light color to start with. That might be a nice touch, if the job is done well.

They are not a veneer. They are some sort of faux brick stuck to the wall with an adhesive. The inspector said they are called K-Brick or something of the like. popular in the 70's I guess... I was considering attempting to pull the brick off of that wall with the sliding glass door and seeing what trouble I could get myself into. Another thought was to just keep the brick as a backsplash, and on the two walls cover the brick with wall paneling. However, I'm not sure how well that would work out with the brick not being a flat surface. There are a couple of places where the faux brick is cut weird or pieced in. but most of them will be covered by the range. (pictured). I don't think restoring or resurfacing the brick is an option because even the bare brick is ugly as hell. :)

also, definitely considering replacing or resurfacing the countertops eventually, but my current budget is getting a little tight. I was browsing on Amazon and there were many good reviews using this Faux Granite contact paper. I know it wont hold up for the long haul, but for around $15 total, it's worth a shot to see how well it turns out. In a few years I could get around to replacing the countertops.

what I want to know, is WHAT!!! was the previous owner thinking when they painted that kitchen wall the ugly yellow that didn't even compliment the cabinets :)) looks like you have a lot of work ahead of you, and nice to see you take that challenge. Have you considered wall board on everything but the backsplash area? Thinking that might be a little more forgiving when nailing it up? It looks like the previous owner just quickly bought a can of paint and just went to town on the whole kitchen wall just so they could sell the property. Off white would have been nicer and easier to live with while your trying to decide what to do. I can see why you want to change it right away. Good job on the cabinets so far. I'm doing my cabinets right now :)

check this, the k-brick is older than you think :) here is a bit about the inventor of k-brick http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blKeichline.htm

Everyone loves subway tile now and your bricks might come in a close second if you treat them right. Buy a new garage door though and paint, paint, paint!!! You have room for a nice island for storage and a bar - great for entertaining. Don't do it in espresso though. Use it to add an accent color. You can find them ready made that don't need to be plumbed. Will be a great addition to your big kitchen.Don't forget some great lighting instead of the standard ceiling fan.

I would remove it over the countertops, fixing the wall should be fairly easy as you would be covering it with new tile. If the new backsplash tile is not a mosaic you should be able to skim coat the nicks and divots, then place your tile over it. Easy, just be careful when you remove the brick, don't smash a hole in the wall, just slowly pry the bricks off.

The brick wall, there is not a lot of space there - you could plaster over the top with a mud. I did this over a partial brick wall and it looks quite cool, there is just a bit of unevenness throughout the wall but not much, hang side panel curtains around the slider door and you will never know.

I like the dark espresso for the cabinets.
Good luck.

I suspect it is actually Z-brick ... http://www.z-brick.com/

Randy, you might find this useful -- http://homeguides.sfgate.com/rid-old-brick-backsplash-30470.html

This may be way off with the look you're going for but if the brick is too hard to pull down, maybe faux finish paint the brick with natural colors or faux paint it to look like old red brick and then plaster parts of the wall only exposing portions of the brick to give it an architectural feel. There is so much of it that this could actually look really cool if done properly. Couldn't find a picture to capture exactly what I am referring this picture kind of captures it.

Here we go. Again might be wrong the wrong design style for what youre after.

Dacor bricks. They still make them. The mastic is hard as a rock and hard to chip off.
But I would remove them anyway, it will be worth it. Get your friends to help you, make it into a brick-removal party.

You'll have to sand off the last of it with a belt sander, or a rotary high speed grinder.

That is the ugliest thing I've ever seen! Congrats to you for seeing beyond it and still buying the house

I'm a DIY sort of person. If I were faced with that, I'd probably look at my budget and decide what I could afford after paying for the house. You've done a great job with the cabinets, congrats on that. I would start with the area behind the range that you supplied a picture of. Pick that, and another area that is small enough to get an idea about how hard this project is going to be. If removing it is such a pain in the butt that you don't want to be bothered, or it ruins the wall, then you have to decide whether you want to cover it, or leave it and paint it. I have a full real brick fireplace wall in my living room that was painted white when we moved in. I like it, but then it's only one wall, not several, LOL.

If this project has no sense of urgency you can try different things. Try painting an area and see how that looks. If it's awful, then try to put either wallboard or paneling over it. You are going to have to use a construction adhesive strong enough to adhere, and probably nails as well. How that's going to adhere is anyone's guess since it's not flush. My guess is you either decide to leave some of it and paint it a nice white, or remove it and put up new drywall board.

Good luck. Let us know what you decide and give us updated pictures.

Hey Randy -- I believe the previous owner finally got their wish and moved to Oz. Guess what road they followed to get there.

Nice job so far, and I wouldn't mind the brick painted for now. It's hard to see the color of your countertops, but I'm guessing they're beige? If they are, and you're not replacing them now, I'd do the safe thing and put that color on the walls and brick.
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Someday when you're not single and sharing this home, you can decide together on a kitchen you'll both love.

I agree with those who say, "Go for it and get rid of it all." The worst thing that can happen is that you will have to replace some drywall. Trying to camouflage it isn't going to work, and there will probably never be a better time to get rid of it since your kitchen is relatively empty right now.

In my day, it was called Z-Brick. I had a wall of it in my kitchen at my old house, pained it white, but it was always dirty. I used a toothbrush between the bricks. We eventually tore it off and replaced the sheetrock. Much better. If you are looking for a long-term solution, tear it off.

Yikes to the yellow, and I'm a color fan. I definately would not mess with removing brick, could end up being a headache. I love the color of your cabinets. My kitchen has the same dark cabinets and white appliances. White is certainly a safe wall color. But I would suggest a nice gray ( a gray/brown, not gray/blue). I think it would be a great masculine touch. I would not paint with a semigloss as it will only make brick standout more with the sheen. Egg shell would be fine and still is washable. Good Luck

Great color for the cabinets. A white quartz countertop and back splash would look fabulous.

Great ideas, here but if you are tearing off that brick you may end up with close to a total remodel project. Paint it soft white and dress with lots of stainless accessories. Look for some ideas to paint your "ugly door" in Chalkboard paint it will make a nice focal point to detract from the brick. Also, it is great to jot down #'s and grocery lists

Being from New Orleans, I would never just rip out brick! You have to work with the architectural features that you have - don't fight them ($$$). Brick is a GREAT backsplash - just paint it. It will save you a lot of money and look great. Put your money into your countertops. Go with a light quartz or marble. I would opt for a light/white/linen color paint on the brick. That's my opinion - for what it's worth!

Could you rip out the bricks by the counters, and leave the brick on the patio door (d/t cost). Then you could resheetrock and tile a new backsplash and paint the remaining brick. Other question is can you tile over the brick- give it an updated look?

Life is hard enough and there is so much to do with a new house- Keep it Simple!! Yes- paint it off white- I think everyone agrees--it will look fine--Agree-- replace the door to the garage-- and save for an island--- and purchase a dishwasher panel that more closely coordinates with the dark cabinets- and then let it go--A new island will become the focal point someday- and you won't even think about the brick--and congratulations!!

White washed on bricks will look great !

If these are K-Brick, then yes, they ARE a brick veneer. From the mfr's website:

"What is Z-BRICK®?
Z-BRICK®, developed in 1956, is the original veneer facing brick which can be easily installed by the homeowner or contractor to create a traditional masonry appearance without the weight, labor or cost of masonry.
You can do it yourself!

What are Z-BRICK® products made of?
Z-BRICK® products are made of several non-combustible mineral-based materials including Portland cement, crushed aggregate, clay, water, natural USA color oxides --and do not contain plastic, plaster or synthetics. All our raw materials are made in the USA.

How are Z-BRICK® products installed?
Z-BRICK® products are installed simply by applying a thin coat of Z-MENT® and pressing the individual stone or brick into place. The adhesive also serves as the mortar line. No metal lath or metal grid system is required."

Lots of great FAQs on the site, but the one thing they don't mention is......how to remove! I myself would vacillate between total removal and just painting what's there. I like the look of painted brick myself; I wouldn't say it looks like subway tile, but it's got texture and depth to it.

White, light gray (without any blue tones) and black is a great 3 color combo that's in because it came back. Its not girly girl by no means but time less.It won't go out of style as the 70's and 80's did. Go bright white on the brick , black is in style on the cabinets . Cut out 1 or 2 upper cabinet doors proper to hold glass inserts. In addition for a timeless look add thin molding to the glass fronts to appear to look like old wood style windows w/ 4 to 6 squares of 2 side by side going down with how many of the count you can fit for space of decent size.Put plain white dishes inside plates, coffee cups salad plates yet not to packed but for décor as much as for daily use. Closest to the range is best for dishing out meals hot. The Dollar Tree carries look a like to pottery barns brand of plates ,cups for a lot less. For a clean look do gray counter top. Also as an option for black counter tops do light gray cabinets for the clean white walls. You can do white or black plain dishes ,plates coffee cups to show out with the gray cabinets . Use piece of silver for the backsplash of your range wall. The same can be done behind your counter top walls or a switch with white subway tiles with black grout. Chrome looking tiles can bought at Lowes as well as buying it by the sheet with the diamond shapes pattern indented as well as the ceiling faux tiles for the back splash (but costly) like the burger grill joint . I bought chrome tile and did the diamond pattern to apply from mail order Carol Wright magazine or on their site. I did not use the dbl. stick tape bs they send w/it but the old mighty grab it in a caulking tube for construction exterior for strength. Also look at the silver roll of roofing flashing and beat it with the hammer n ding it with items other then that for authentic look. My take more on by it painting your floor and wall molding black and any door to and from the kitchen in blackboard paint for notes.Add to the top your "name with an 's and the word Grill like as a title in white paint and do the math for _8__oz. = cup,___16___ _ = 2 cups and equals to pint, quart,gallon etc.etc. not too big leaving plenty of room for writing notes, errands, grocery needs etc.. You can do the measurements at the top under your name or as a frame look at the bottom. 2 Cool and more masculine not prissy lol.

second thought by the brick behind the counter top don't do anything but white high gloss for easy wipe downs. Forgot how awesome the brick is not to cover for time less affect just gets better with it exposed.

Oi! That is...that is really yellow. Wow. (The realtor must have had palpitations when he/she saw that.) Anyway, here's my two cents:
Hie thee immediately to thy home improvement store of choice and pick up a few gallons of basic white primer and paint all of the non-brick walls you can. Soffits too. Why? B/c it's throwing off you color perception.
ppalpitations

(Continued from above comment. Please excuse any errors, I can't see anything I'm typing past a couple lines.)) That yellow is skewing everything; don't make any final decisions until you've gotten rid of as much of it as you can.

I would also prime the brick, just to see hwat it looks like not-yellow. You'll need to prime it anyway if you decide to paint it, and the primer will give you a better idea of what it will look like painted.

I personally like painted brick. White and black work best. With your dark cabinets, I 'd go with a soft white with a slight lean to gray. It will really brighten the room.

(Continued from above comment. Please excuse any errors, I can't see anything I'm typing past a couple lines.)) That yellow is skewing everything; don't make any final decisions until you've gotten rid of as much of it as you can.

I would also prime the brick, just to see hwat it looks like not-yellow. You'll need to prime it anyway if you decide to paint it, and the primer will give you a better idea of what it will look like painted.

(Continued from above comment. Please excuse any errors, I can't see anything I'm typing past a couple lines.)) That yellow is skewing everything; don't make any final decisions until you've gotten rid of as much of it as you can.

I would also prime the brick, just to see hwat it looks like not-yellow. You'll need to prime it anyway if you decide to paint it, and the primer will give you a better idea of what it will look like painted.

That is YELLOW!!!!..Good luck with the project!!!

If countertops are a stretch, removing anything cemented to 3 walls is buying a nightmare. Paint it out, walls, brick and ugly garage door in a creamy white, with the brick in satin or semi since it your backsplash. After you live with it for awhile and start decorating the right colors will become clear and you can paint an accent wall.
I'd paint the Formica countertops, too. I'd paint them your favorite hot sports car color (except black!). You've got a lot of counter space which would mean many seams and/or bubbles using contact paper.
What's going on with the floor- is it wood? Restore if it is; if not, cork would be cool.

The cabinet re-do is looking great. Unless you're able to replace the bench top and remove the exhaust canopy, removing the brick won't be an option. It could start to look very grimey if painted a light colour, which is what the room needs.mI think the idea of panelling over the faux brick on the walls is a good idea and, if it's possible, cover the backsplash with some kind of sheets of laminate or pressed tin perhaps. Good luck with whatever you choose.

I feel kitchens are the heart of the home. Everyone gathers there. You will get more use out of it than any other room. I say remove the cabinets, rip down all the brick and re-sheetrock. Doing kitchens in piecework stages never achieves the right look. Perfect opportunity to do it now while you are single and have no kids. Reminds me of my parents kitchen in the 70's. Olive green and bright yellow YUCK!

Would it not be possible to paint them white and then use grout in between to make a subway tile effect that's classic looking? I don't really know if that could be done but in my head it works.. Ha! (There's been some crazy things known to come from that though). Good luck!


Here's some pictures of the subway tile with thicker grout like what it would look like..with the espresso cabinets it would be nice to do the white grout with a color that you like

Worth the trouble taking off fake brick, you will not be sorry! New tile would cover most of wall space needing repair.

Hey there...I am starting a series of blog post in February designed specifically for bachelors. I think the content could help a lot.

The first goes live on February 3, 2015

www.timothyriversinteriors.com/blog

I hope it provides a lot of answers for you..