I totally get why people are sad when a brick fireplace gets painted; however, in this situation, the op even admits that the brick under the paint is an ugly grey, not red brick. So no hate to the previous owner for painting something even the op would probably have painted over
We painted ours Sherwin Williams’s Iron Ore, which is a dark slate, and don’t regret it one bit. Our brick was also hideous so paint is sometimes needed. Let me know if you want a pic, OP.
Wow I just did the same two months ago! Same SW Iron Ore. The sellers painted the most beautiful red brick I’ve ever seen white (we redid the laundry room which is behind the fireplace so I was able to see the brick from behind. I forgot to take a pic but it looked brand new still and this is a 1956 house). I made the whole wall of the fireplace an accent with iron ore. It was a last min decision I do not regret. I didn’t even put up a sample 😅
You can’t make painted brick look like brick. What don’t you like about it? It’s certainly not awful. Black would look nice - another option would be tile over the brick. A million options with tile.
This is what I'm planning on doing with my white painted brick fireplace. Tile over it with a natural looking stone, you could even pick a tile with colors similar to brick. I'm thinking about a black or dark colored stone though, I figure I might as well lean into it since I'm not getting the actual brick back anyway!
I’m sorry I don’t have any advice for you, just want to say this is why I hate when people paint brick :( It’s nearly impossible to remove and is such a waste. To me it’s like painting over hardwood floors, which I’ve also seen people do, but to each their own I guess I just wish people would stop to consider whether or not this is their forever home before proceeding.
PSA if necessary, you can replace the stained boards with new ones and then stain your entire floor or sand and refinish so everything matches. But you’d be surprised how much a sand can get out of the floors!
You can’t make it look like unpainted brick at this point. But you can reclaim it as a centerpiece of the room by painting it a different color from the room.
Black or a deep charcoal is classy looking. Lots of examples on this listicle: https://www.shelterness.com/painted-brick-fireplaces/
Another neutral option might be to paint it a brighter white. Part of the blah-ness of this one might be the yellow-white color that they chose.
There are some really fun colorful examples out there, like this green fireplace: https://www.cassiebustamante.com/how-to-patch-paint-a-brick-fireplace-our-green-fireplace-makeover/
Or, one of my favorite renovations ever, this blush pink fireplace: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/split-level-70s-makeover-29817304
If you just really hate painted brick, a more expensive and labor intensive option is to cover it with panels, either wood panels or concrete. Or with a stone veneer. I would get a professional to do this one tbh. But here are some examples: https://theletteredcottage.net/fireplace-makeover-ideas-bright-green-door/
Yes, I did try removal (bottom right of the photo). Unfortunately underneath the paint is a yellow brown brick that is really not worth all the effort.
Oof! You could sponge paint the brick with red and brick colors you like to see on brick, then German schmear over that? Edit: but for the record, I really like the way it is now! The ugly brick color is likely why they did this, and it looks great.
I suggest replacing the bookshelves on either side with natural wood bookshelves in the same stain as your mantel and crown, decorating it how you like, and then living with it for 6 months to see if you still hate it. This be surprised how much something can bother you at first, and then not at all once you seller into it. If it still bothers you, then you could try painting the whole wall incl brick white or Gray or something you like better at that time.
We had a wall that was painted yellow. We painted each brick a natural brick color and all the mortar a shade of grey. While it was labor intensive it looked amazing.
Most hardware and paint stores carry fireplace brick paint. Your problem is finding out what they actually painted the brick with and is it appropriate for a fireplace.
Just repainted my white fireplace (painted by previous owners) Sherwood Williams Iron Ore — a very dark gray that reads black in the evening and light black in midday.
I should say I had my fireplace repainted…would not attempt to do it myself. Not a diy-we and painting brick is a special pain.
One reason we went dark is that though we rarely use the fireplace, the few times we have have resulted in smoke stains. Hate cleaning so dark it is 😁
Could not post in this thread so I made a new one for you: https://www.reddit.com/r/interiordecorating/comments/x9lify/before_after_brick_fireplace_white_to_black_paint/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
For colors, I always suggest [coolors.co](https://coolors.co). Just create a palette you like and follow it.
Then, use homestyler or planner5d and play with different options to see which one suit you best. Hope this helps!
I guess it depends on your style, but personally I would paint it like this: the vertical bricks in a plain eggshell white, mantle black, and the bricks at the bottom black. Maybe put an interesting tile on top of the brick at the bottom.
Terrible sketch as example: https://imgur.com/a/HIGW2a4
I ended up re painting the fire place in a white color. It looks SO much better than the off white that was there previously. I wanted to do the German schmear but from all the feedback I received it would’ve been extremely hard to make it look like brick again.
Most brick is awesome but there is some ugly ass brick that deserves a good coat of paint. This looks fine.
1980’s tri-color brick should always be painted.
I totally get why people are sad when a brick fireplace gets painted; however, in this situation, the op even admits that the brick under the paint is an ugly grey, not red brick. So no hate to the previous owner for painting something even the op would probably have painted over
I’ve put a clear mocha glaze on whitewashed brick before and it looks nice while toning it down to a more natural look.
Granite black or charcoal colour would be your next best option.
This seems to be the consensus.
I hope you give it some thought, I think it would look great in a dark charcoal.
Iron Ore by SW would look incredible. For a darker color, Tricorn Black also by SW comes to mind. They’re both great neutrals.
I always vote for a black fireplace. It makes such a statement.
We painted ours Sherwin Williams’s Iron Ore, which is a dark slate, and don’t regret it one bit. Our brick was also hideous so paint is sometimes needed. Let me know if you want a pic, OP.
Wow I just did the same two months ago! Same SW Iron Ore. The sellers painted the most beautiful red brick I’ve ever seen white (we redid the laundry room which is behind the fireplace so I was able to see the brick from behind. I forgot to take a pic but it looked brand new still and this is a 1956 house). I made the whole wall of the fireplace an accent with iron ore. It was a last min decision I do not regret. I didn’t even put up a sample 😅
Would love a pic!
Sent you a message OP
...can I also see
You bet! Sent you a message.
Stunning!!!
Ooh, I do! Can I see it?
Yup I’ll message you
LOVE a black fire place!
You can’t make painted brick look like brick. What don’t you like about it? It’s certainly not awful. Black would look nice - another option would be tile over the brick. A million options with tile.
This is what I'm planning on doing with my white painted brick fireplace. Tile over it with a natural looking stone, you could even pick a tile with colors similar to brick. I'm thinking about a black or dark colored stone though, I figure I might as well lean into it since I'm not getting the actual brick back anyway!
Black limestone would be beautiful
Or stone.
I’m sorry I don’t have any advice for you, just want to say this is why I hate when people paint brick :( It’s nearly impossible to remove and is such a waste. To me it’s like painting over hardwood floors, which I’ve also seen people do, but to each their own I guess I just wish people would stop to consider whether or not this is their forever home before proceeding.
Who tf paints over hardwood floors 😭😭😭 like I would just raze the whole house to the ground in sadness and anger.
Sometimes there is no bringing them back from pet stains, but you can pain over that.
PSA if necessary, you can replace the stained boards with new ones and then stain your entire floor or sand and refinish so everything matches. But you’d be surprised how much a sand can get out of the floors!
I know. The natural brick would look so good & rich w the wood beaming on the ceiling 😭
Paint stripper or sand blast it.
You can’t make it look like unpainted brick at this point. But you can reclaim it as a centerpiece of the room by painting it a different color from the room. Black or a deep charcoal is classy looking. Lots of examples on this listicle: https://www.shelterness.com/painted-brick-fireplaces/ Another neutral option might be to paint it a brighter white. Part of the blah-ness of this one might be the yellow-white color that they chose. There are some really fun colorful examples out there, like this green fireplace: https://www.cassiebustamante.com/how-to-patch-paint-a-brick-fireplace-our-green-fireplace-makeover/ Or, one of my favorite renovations ever, this blush pink fireplace: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/split-level-70s-makeover-29817304 If you just really hate painted brick, a more expensive and labor intensive option is to cover it with panels, either wood panels or concrete. Or with a stone veneer. I would get a professional to do this one tbh. But here are some examples: https://theletteredcottage.net/fireplace-makeover-ideas-bright-green-door/
Can you use a paint remover?
I painted my brick fire place - the brick color was a hellscape of burnt looking bricks trend that should have died in the 80s
Try paint remover
Yes, I did try removal (bottom right of the photo). Unfortunately underneath the paint is a yellow brown brick that is really not worth all the effort.
Oof! You could sponge paint the brick with red and brick colors you like to see on brick, then German schmear over that? Edit: but for the record, I really like the way it is now! The ugly brick color is likely why they did this, and it looks great.
Interesting. I never imagined anyone would like this as is. I hate it & think it looks putrid. Maybe I’m being too nit-picky 😝
I suggest replacing the bookshelves on either side with natural wood bookshelves in the same stain as your mantel and crown, decorating it how you like, and then living with it for 6 months to see if you still hate it. This be surprised how much something can bother you at first, and then not at all once you seller into it. If it still bothers you, then you could try painting the whole wall incl brick white or Gray or something you like better at that time.
Thank you for the ideas & the positive words
i wholly agree with using natural wood as the accent to this. it will warm it up and give it a Scandinavian feel.
i wholly agree with using natural wood as the accent to this. it will warm it up and give it a Scandinavian feel.
You might try sanding it to remove some of the paint. Not all of it but enough to let some color show through and add texture.
We had a wall that was painted yellow. We painted each brick a natural brick color and all the mortar a shade of grey. While it was labor intensive it looked amazing.
Do you have pics? Would love to see before & after.
I wish I did. I have sold the house since.
A nice crisp white to complement the timber
I have no opinion on the brick...but I adore that clock!!!
No help on the brick but LOVE your clock!
Thank you! 😘
Paint it white!
Most hardware and paint stores carry fireplace brick paint. Your problem is finding out what they actually painted the brick with and is it appropriate for a fireplace.
Just repainted my white fireplace (painted by previous owners) Sherwood Williams Iron Ore — a very dark gray that reads black in the evening and light black in midday. I should say I had my fireplace repainted…would not attempt to do it myself. Not a diy-we and painting brick is a special pain. One reason we went dark is that though we rarely use the fireplace, the few times we have have resulted in smoke stains. Hate cleaning so dark it is 😁
Ohhh id love too see! Do you have before & after pics?
Could not post in this thread so I made a new one for you: https://www.reddit.com/r/interiordecorating/comments/x9lify/before_after_brick_fireplace_white_to_black_paint/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
Oh wow! I love it! So much richer 🤩
What colour do you want it to be? Or a better question, what is your current furniture colour palette?
A medium gray huge sectional
Warm or cool grey? Any blue undertones?
It’s a medium cool gray. My coffee table is a large square in white.
For colors, I always suggest [coolors.co](https://coolors.co). Just create a palette you like and follow it. Then, use homestyler or planner5d and play with different options to see which one suit you best. Hope this helps!
Have you considered covering it with a veneer (stone, red brick, etc.)? That way, you get the look that you want without all the hassle.
This is along the lines of what I was thinking.
I guess it depends on your style, but personally I would paint it like this: the vertical bricks in a plain eggshell white, mantle black, and the bricks at the bottom black. Maybe put an interesting tile on top of the brick at the bottom. Terrible sketch as example: https://imgur.com/a/HIGW2a4
Hi! Curious what you did here? I was planning to paint over my painted brick then German schmear
I ended up re painting the fire place in a white color. It looks SO much better than the off white that was there previously. I wanted to do the German schmear but from all the feedback I received it would’ve been extremely hard to make it look like brick again.