I would leave the brick as is as it ties in with all your red accents. Did you just add that pretty portico?

We did! We still lack the crown and a few pieces around it. Thanks for your input!

I like the brick too. It is low maintenance. Love the new portico too!

I have had many opinions on painting my brick and took the top Designer's advice and my Architect......don't paint. Why cheapen something that is expensive to begin with. I painted my former house and liked it but now I am listening to people whose opinion I value. I would add taupe paint or gray.....not white trim ...too boring & too traditional. It looks nice in a pretty setting.

I would keep your red brick and go with charcoal.

You have a very pretty home. I like the brick as it is. Enjoy and Happy New Year!

Please do not paint your brick. It is stately and will look elegant with your new trim colors.

Hmmm. I say paint the brick. It will unify the new features to the existing better, and look fresh and clean. All your newly added exterior components say " modern and updated" but the brick looks dated, and clashes with the new additions-- breaks the flow. Perhaps there is newer technology and better products to achieve painted brick. I would imagine a prep step is crucial. Perhaps there is a product just for painting masonry-- might be different from the typical exterior paint, and better. You might have to ask an expert and investigate.

Then I would not paint the steps or the walkway. They will pop as accents.

And yes... I have just added several thousand dollars to your project! So you could always paint later if you want! Maybe compromise: Do the basic paint now, live with it, and see if it works for you. Add paint later if needed.

Don't paint the brick,

What would you like to say?
I know it's a sin to paint brick....
Paint it!!!!!! Love all the work you have done!!

Don't paint the brick. You'll wish you hadn't in a few years and it'll cost $$$$$ to undo that decision

HI -- I think and know once the other painting is done the brick will look better and you won't need to paint the brick . That would be just too much work including all the other elements . The problem was someone trying to match reds in the first place . It's really impossible to match reds and have it look good. Beautiful house and portico -- great job ! Please post after photos !

Ok, so if I don't paint the brick I think I will do a judges paneling look in the front exterior entry. What do I do on the new area? I planned on rocking it only if we painted the brick and made it look like three windows with shutters closed over them. I guess I could do the same and put board and bat siding there which is the same as the back of the house but I just don't love it on the front. I can get more of the brick and supposedly it will match. My husband hates the red brick. I don't.

I agree that you shouldn't paint the brick.

Red brick-especially the lighter brick, which is what yours look like, to me-looks really nice when paired with charcoal.

I just read a very informative forum where a bunch of professional painters were discussing painting brick. They are having a lot of business, apparently, of people who-for whatever reason, no longer want the painted surface. What I gleaned from the discussion was that the painters(at least most of those in that discussion)don't like doing it, its very expensive, and the brick is going to be damaged to some point because of the abrasion, and even after that, because the brick is porous and absorbs the paint, some paint is still going to be embedded in the brick. It also takes the corners off of the brick, and once the corners are gone, then the rest of the brick can probably start to deteriorate pretty fast-so its even more expensive to repair the brick to keep it from degrading.
So, if you look into painting the brick, you might also ask just how expensive it would be if you ever decided to remove it. Maybe if your husband finds out that its not as simple as painting a wooden house would be, he'll decide its not so bad after all. If not, then at least you would know what to expect.
Having said all that, since you are really altering the home's exterior, I'm assuming that you and your family plan to be there for a considerable amount of time-in which case you might decide that it was worth whatever expense or negatives that painting brick might result in to get the desired effect you want for the look of the house.
For years-centuries, even-brick has been considered an upscale building material because its designed to withstand the elements, and not have to be painted, or replaced, as long as it is reasonably taken care of-and there are plenty of historic brick buildings around as proof. If I had a home and decided to paint brick-which would be an extreme long shot, as I'd have to be convinced that was the only alternative-the only way I would do it was if I was there for the long haul. I won't be surprised in a few years if many who have painted the brick either in their home-or on the outside of it-come to regret it when they decide they want to sell, and find out that buyers don't want a home that's had the brick painted because its already become known that its not a positive for the surface, and that it would cost too much to undo it. They also would be dismayed to find out that the market value of their home is less because of the paint job, because people want the price of "undoing" it taken off the top of the sales price.

I agree - don't paint the brick. Like your color choices except for the white.

I would white wash the brick!

I would not paint the brick either. It seems to be in good condition... just pressure wash and clean it occasionally. Paint doesn't bond well to brick and will usually peel later on. Best of luck!

How honest of you Sound! :)

Pressure washing should not be done on brick! It will damage it.

Brick can be safely washed via pressure washer by a professional. The mis-information comes from an experience with a do-it-all type handyman or non-professional that has relied on pure high pressure to wash. 95% of the folks that are buying a big box store pressure washer, have limited their education to the advice given by the 18 year old pimply kid working at said big box store. Find a professional that actually joins/attends industry related organizations. Look for the professionals that understand that there is more to ANYTHING that involves an exchange of money for compensation. Once the shingle is hung and a claim of "open for business" occurs, they have placed themselves in a position of being a professional. Anything less is fraud.
Not all brick is the same. Some are sand faced. Some are prone to color fade. Most of the time, when you have heard that pressure washing will damage brick, it was advice given based on poor experience with a "more pressure is better" cowboy.
I would personally leave the brick as is exposed. A good cleaning will help with appearance. Once painted, you'll have a new routine maintenance that will need to be followed. Re-paints are expensive compared to simple yearly washing. http://www.firstchoicepowerwashing.com

IF you have money you do not know what to do with, paint brick.

You nailed it from the start with your color selections, but if you want another vote, please do NOT paint your brick!! I'm now imagining new flower beds full of white blossoms!!

Wow, based on receiving so many well meaning opinions, I think you owe it to yourself to research painting brick and just brick upkeep, before deciding anything. I also have a brick front house that I think is faded so I understand your interest in freshening it up. I have heard of using lime to white wash which wears off in time. But really research it first.

All of your efforts have paid off. Your house is adorable and looks well kept. Why not tackle painting the shutters and trim first and see if you like that enough.

I wonder if a concrete stain would work on the brick even just to tone down the red a little. Or just let it age naturally. I like it.

I would advise against painting for two main reasons. It looks tacky and it'll be a pain to maintain. A proper power washing service would bring a fresh look to the home, making that natural red really pop. If any other brick homes in your neighborhood are painted, I would go take a look at those before you consider painting the brick. https://pressuretech-llc.com/

NO! Don't Paint The Brick! Don't Paint The Brick!
PLEASE DON'T! In full agreement with the reasoning presented above by First Choice Power Washing, lucindalane [both above] and my good friend Crown Pressure Washing in Georgia. My grandfather was a Brick Mason and built his own home with half circle brick steps in the Late-1940's after his return from war. The steps lasted until our cousins messed them up improperly dragging appliances down them and chipped the old bricks that hadn't been maintained due to Mothers inability to take off work and travel south for several years. Last year a fellow put grey cement over the cracked & chipped off areas! It looks hideous against the red brick! Now this commentary has helped me to convince my 80+ yr old Mother that she has to hire a Professional Brick Mason which she can ill afford at this stage of her life! So my point being, DON'T MAKE A MISTAKE THAT'LL MAKE A NIGHTMARE IN YOUR ELDER YEARS and in the future lives of your children. PLEASE DON'T!

I really like brick with charcoal or dark gray trim. Skip the white and don’t paint the brick.