drystonemason - thanks for the offer! I wish you lived in Colorado. My husband and I have a 70's wall o' brick. Really, the entire back wall of our den is covered in blond brick and the sides have custom built (70's style) cabinetry over the brick. We are planning to rip the cabinets out but our question is, what is the best way to reface this much brick? We plan to put travertine tile below the mantel to break up the look but on the rest of the wall, from what we have read, we have a few options. 1) Use a lime based plaster (not drywall compound) to fill in grout lines and eventually build up and smooth out to a rough, toweled on surface 2) Use mortar and stucco to achieve the same look. 3) Using drywall we can either frame out the whole wall and start over or use liquid nails (a lot of it) to put sheetrock on the areas that are not tiled. Hoping you might have some suggestions on what the easiest route would be considering it IS a whole wall. I will see if I can get a picture to insert which might be helpful.

Hi Yes, I am using white limewash on brick because the other 3 sides of the house are weathered gray cedar shake and the roof is brown so anything but white would make the house pretty drab. I have never done this before but there are a few local historical homes near me with whitewashed brick and I love the effect. Is there a reason that you didn't choose a brick that you already like the color of since you are building the house? They have brick that is already whitewashed looking. Here are a few links... Ask the builder website with a great pic and info. http://www.askthebuilder.com/366_Whitewashing_Brick.shtml picture of whitewashed house: http://flowergardengirl.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/tastefully-achieved-painted-brick/ Before and After Pic http://alteriordesign.blogspot.com/2009/03/whitewashing-brick-another-option.html Video National Park Service on lime washing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52AT130z5xo I will probably get to this in the next 2 weeks. I only have about 250 sq feet so I should be able to knock out the 3 coats in 2 days. I'll let you know how it turns out. As far as that product I linked you too, the coverage is 250 sq feet per gallon/coat so it would get very expensive on a house. You need between 3-8 coats depending on the look you are going for. The key is to not apply it thickly. It should be a thin, transparent layer that will become opaque as the chemical reaction occurs. If you are going with white, you can make the same amount of lime wash yourself using salt and hydrated lime for about $8. If I needed more than the 3.5 gallons, I would have made it myself. Let me know if you need to know anything else. You may have some historic masonry specialists in your area particularly if you are near a university. I am sure they would be glad to share their knowledge. I'll post pictures and maybe try to take a little video too if I am feeling inspired. Cleo

Hi Dmaull and ptaylor, Unfortuantely we never got around to whitewashing our house, but, I did an enormous amount research on the subject and discovered that you do NOT want to paint brick. Why? Because the paint doesn't allow the natural breathing to occur with brick. Brick is partially pourous and paint changes the game... Instead if you are going for that aged look then you want to use a product that simulates lime washing. Lime washing is the actual technique used in the 1700 and 1800s to protect buildings (including brick). Some still practice this today, but it is messy and potentially dangerous (your working with slaked limeor calcium hydroxide a natural chemical. The reason however you want this kind of finish is that it allows the brick to "breathe". Unfortunately the lime wash eventually wears off so you have to reapply ever few years. What I did find however was the ultimate solution I planned to use (until we deferred the project). It's a modern product that produces a finish identical to lime washing but is PERMANENT! It works at the molecular level and the minerals in the product permanently bind with the brick. What this means is that you do it one time and one time only! Additinoally the brick can literally be power washed later with NO ill effects on the white washed finish since it is permanent! Below are the notes I made to myself for later reference when I was ready to proceed. You'll want to contanc this firm and research the product yourself, but I am 100% confident that this is the BEST way to achieve a permanent, old world, white wash finish on your brick! Hope this helps! bradesp Jeff at Eco House 877-ECO-HOUSE Must apply in 46 degrees or warmer - needs four hours in 60 degree weather to fully dry-out Apply Primasil first as base "coat" Then apply one coat of Salizur. Will need to mix pigments to desired color and translucency. http://www.eco-house.com/silazur.htm Eco House can't ship if temperatures are going to freeze. Products can easily be sprayed. Will need to custom mix and keep mix "suspended" during spray.

Is there a bath downstairs -- plumbing that could enable you to add a small basement "bar" with sink and a microwave -- a place for the kids to entertain friends with movie night? Would keep the spaces as open to each other as practical for the use you intend in order to make the most of the natural light from the windows. With teens entertaining teens in mind ... Even if you need a quieter study niche, you could both close off one space to muffle sound and yet keep the space visually open with cabinets with glass on both sides and use glass French doors.