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etual

What to do with the brick - can't make a decision please help

12 years ago
This is the sunroom from inside and outside. The trim outside will be a dark charcoal color and we now have a patio (grey stone) and a lawn.
I don't really like the red brick in the sunroom as it makes it look so heavy in my opinion. But I am not sure if it would look strange to paint/whitewash them in the sunroom, when I don't plan to do so outside. I plan to paint ceiling and windows in the sunroom but haven't decided on the colors. I will stain the floor in a white color.
Should I accept the red brick and try and work with it or paint/limewash?

Comments (25)

  • PRO
    12 years ago
    What a charming home! Your sunroom has great bones and could work in so many possible directions, I'd suggest building an ideabook here on houzz to discern what you most lean towards. The only bit I'm not in love with is the scalloped edge on the rollershades -- an easy fix. Here are some looks you could pull off; see what draws you in:
    [houzz=
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    etual thanked Barnhart Gallery
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I personally love the brick. But I think the wood trim is too close in color to the brick and makes it look a little dated. Painting the trim white to accent I think would look really lovely.

    I was inspired by these, along with the gorgeous ones Barnheart posted :)
    Custom Built Brick and Stucco Home · More Info

    Cooper Creek Back Porch · More Info
    etual thanked Shakuff
  • 12 years ago
    Personally I think the beams were meant to be highlighted. Something darker, depending on what will fill the rest of the room.
    etual thanked junoniad
  • 12 years ago
    Beautiful examples above. I think keeping both the trim and brick consistent inside and out is a reasonable idea, and that you can rely on treatments and furnishings to break up the heaviness. For comparison's sake, I have warmed up your floor a touch, as I think reducing the contrasts here can also help. You may also wish to consider a warmer pale neutral for the ceiling, too.
    etual thanked studio10001
  • 12 years ago
    Thank you for your suggestions. I am leaning towards keeping the brick but smear them with white mortar...
    I like the idea with a black ceiling but I'm having trouble figuring out which color I should paint the windows then since I don't like black, red and white...I'not sure there is enough space for art on the walls, but love the idea.
    Could see the Beams enhanced but should I paint them a mahogany color and the white.. or?
  • 12 years ago
    There is a photo of that beam treatment above, and a colour on your windowsill to reference for the beams.
    etual thanked studio10001
  • 12 years ago
    I love your home. It feels like a country cottage to me. I have personally dealt with interior brick that I hated in the past successfully by using an excellent primer (like B.I.N.) and then painting over it with a quality satin sheen paint in a soft color. Since this is a casual use sun room; how do you feel about the walls in a very pale yellow with the ceiling the color of the light blue sky and the floor a soft, pale green enamel with the beams and all the trim in a cream color? Add plants and appropriate furnishings. Do you like wicker mixed with old metal pieces or distressed wood? I say get your crayons out and draw a picture using colors you love and you will find the scheme to use. Why live with something in your personal space you don't really like? Have fun! Please post photos when you're done.
    etual thanked Betty
  • 12 years ago
    Try white washing it. Google for Instructions. They would work better with your floors. Go a gray wash.
    etual thanked Nancy Travisinteriors
  • 12 years ago
    how do you like this sketch?
  • 12 years ago
    I would reverse the floor to wall emphasis similar to this kitchen below by bringing out the natural wood floor finish while putting a wash over the brick to tone it down and lightening up the wood trim around door and windows to match the ceiling.

    http://houzz.com/photos/2269108
  • 12 years ago
    And put a wash on the door to match ceiling or paint it a muted accent color.
  • 12 years ago
    Brick is terribly heavy looking. You don't have to match the outside and inside. I don't recommend having white floors as this is where dirt will be going and it leads to a dingy look. A natural wood floor would be lovely. Use a bright color inside for the walls. This is a sunroom and you want it to be bright, airy, and sunny looking.
  • 12 years ago
    I also think a white floor would be incredibly frustrating. Please keep it as is... Consider an amazing indoor/ outdoor rug.

    The recent Ballard catalog has some amazing inspiration for this space.
  • 12 years ago
    Like this... My personal dream...
  • 12 years ago
    I've tried to convey your advice and came up with this.. Am I on the right track?
  • 12 years ago
    If you like it, then you are on the right track. :)
  • 12 years ago
    I really like the red brick and would not paint it. Keep the walls light/white ... add gray furnishings.

    For inspiration:
  • 12 years ago
    The floor as is is a wonderful washed look. If you take a warm gray paint and wash the brick (water the paint down 1/3 paint, 2/3 water) you will still have brick texture and warmth but it will mute and harmonize the brick wall. Then, because the brick is visually high texture, I would simply use a darker tone of the same warm gray on all the wood - again, washing so that the wood texture would come through but the tone would harmonize . . I don't see a green gray, but a taupe in the direction of the existing floor tones which are beautiful. Try sw agreeable gray on some leftover brick as a wash to see the tones you get - http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7029-agreeable-gray/ and go to the off-white in the same color family - incredible white for all the wood - watered down and applied like a wash - http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7028-incredible-white/

    Now everything you have works together . . . i'm in the definitely wash or paint the brick camp - i like the natural look of washed brick - one coat takes it into antique brick territory, but two coats will give a terrific traditional look. .
  • 12 years ago
    Thank you for your comments - this is what I did. Not done decorating, just put in what I already had - but the painting is finished. The dog approves :-)
  • 12 years ago
    Looks much lighter!
  • 12 years ago
    Sorry for diverting your topic but i would like to ask if someone know how does exposed brick look in the rooms with only 8 foot ceiling? I have one room that is a candidate .I know that brick wall looks great in lofts and rooms with high ceilings.
    thanks
  • 12 years ago
    (The sunroom being shown should give you a good idea, sondramartina.)
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    etual - looks great - share the paint color you used / how you thinned it - looks like a traditional conservatory / garden room now - terrific with the architecture of the house.

    Sondramartina - it is all about the scale of the room - brick is a strong horizontal texture to add - so you need a decent sized room but then it can be smashing.
  • 12 years ago
    I actually used 1/3 paint and 2/3 water as you suggested. We don't have sherwin-williams paint in Denmark, so I just bought some nice warm greys that went well together at the local paint shop :-) I usually use Farrow and Ball paint but didn't want to drive to the store.
    The brick was a bit tricky - I like the old brick better as it was much easier to get a good variation. I spent a weekend on the project and I am quite happy with the results :-)
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