Stain the Brick

Painted brick is maintenance forever.

You're right. Drastically changing the exterior of a home is a serious decision not to be made lightly.

Before you paint or stain brick, have it pressure washed -- something that (in order to do it right) would need to be done before painting or staining anyway. That will enable you to see the brick at its best and you might rethink painting or staining it. Anything painted or stained will, inevitably, need to be redone and begin to look awful as it begins to reach that point.

Before painting the brick, and after you replace the windows, first try painting all the already painted surfaces -- window trim and fascia. Then pause and think about the look you then have and the look you want before proceeding.

Personally really loathe most painted brick -- it needs to be some really ugly work to want that ... but, your home, your taste.

Either all black or all white windows will go with any color roof or siding.

could you post a current pic? you said the bushes have changed.

Painted brick is maintenance forever.

I'll second that. Since you are in a warmer climate, your brick exterior, as it is, will probably be maintenance free for your lifetime and beyond. Why on earth would you want to paint it? White is probably the worst color because it will get dirty and shabby over time and will have to be repainted sooner than later.

Your house looks beautiful, as is the brick color. (You don't have some of the horrible brick colors that were popular in the 70's.) You've got a high-end siding that totally tops cement board, wood or vinyl.

Perhaps work a new color into your front door to make it stand out a bit and change the light fixtures - maybe selecting ones a bit larger (hard to tell from your pic).

Your brick is fine. I wouldn't paint it.

I would not paint it.