Hellobee Boards

White paint for sure!!! Looks modern and crisp and clean.

I'd leave it. I know it seems a little out of date, but as a historic homeowner, it absolutely kills me when someone white paints over original woodwork or bricks!

@scg00387: white paint! Where did you find that second image for white paint? I love that room!

@Mrs. Jacks: agreed. I've spent hours and hours stripping layers of paint from the brick wall in our foyer. It's not quite done but pregnancy and paint stripper don't mix... Anyway, I understand the urge to paint brick but I could never bring myself to do it after this.

Hmm, this is hard! I lean toward white wash for the same reasons as others: you can always paint over it if you don't like it. And I think (assuming the built-in is on the opposite wall?) it would be nice to have some variation in the room, instead of two large, opposing, solid-white features.

I really think you can't go wrong, though. Either would look great! I really love the floors and wall color.

@bluestriped bee: I actually didn't like theirs. I thought they used too much paint.

I would totally try @lemondrop's suggestion first..... worst comes to worst & you don't like it you can just paint/whitewash the whole thing, but just breaking it up some might be enough!

This is hard... I feel like white washing in the example pics is the winner, but I also think that white washing is over the redder bricks, and your bricks are more tan. So I don't know that white washing would look as good. Maybe do a test area, and paint white if the white washing doesn't look great. Either way I think it will look awesome!

White wash. Ours looks amazing

@scg00387: it would be one thing if it had that gold 60's insert, but the brick itself isn't so bad and I agree with those suggesting white trim.

If you absolutely have to do something, whitewash would be way easier to reverse.

@PurplePeony: you are such a dedicated historic homeowner! I bet your house loves you! I, too, am midway through a white latex paint stripping project (done in the last 5 years covering what was previously untouched wood in an 1890 home). I curse the previous owners daily.

@scg00387: I posted pics on your wall!

I love the white wash! You could always white wash it then paint it if you don't like it. But please don't follow young house love's (if you read them) white wash tutorial.

Definitely white wash! Please don't paint it white!

@scg00387: it just looks bad. Like too much paint and not watered down enough. Maybe their method is fine but maybe a different recipe for the paint & water would be better.

hahaha yes....younghouselove's whitewash looked AWFUL. We did a 3:1 ratio, two coats, per another blog. We used Valspar white.

I'm in the "never paint brick" camp simply due to take value. Unpainted brick will always be more appealing and sell far better. Also, I like the look of the white wash.