THANKS everyone for your wonderful comments/support on my Haint Blue (or just blue, whatever the case may be!!!) porch ceiling. I truly LOVE it .... and it IS a nice surprise for anyone walking up to the porch. As for keeping insects away, we'll have to see, as here in Michigan, we are winding down our insect season. mtnrdredux .... I can't imagine trying/sampling 14 different blues. I like the Martha blue you chose .... and even tho in MI, I am so loving Trailrunner's Blue on our porch. Re: the front door ~ it is NOT original to our home. The original was a narrower door with full oval glass (beveled) in wood. But the molding around the glass, had a few missing/broke pieces. And we didn't really know how to *fix* it. And one day I saw in the Renovation Magazine THIS door and knew that's what I wanted. It is by Marvin Windows and Doors and is wood .... and I LOVE it too. Trailrunner .... yes, the swing matches the doors pretty darn good and looks great in our yard!!! Again, THANKS so much for all the kind words .... much appreciated :) jody

bossyvossy, half strength means the paint store cuts the formula by half. I wanted to paint my sister's porch ceiling (and shutters out front) a beautiful French Blue. Her HOA said no.... even though house two doors down, the entire back porch, upper and lower roofs, are painted Battleship Grey. No joke. It's horrid. I wonder if only some colors look darker on the ceiling? In our new home, all the ceilings (but the kitchen) are painted the wall colors, and the ceilings look lighter to me.

Painting porch ceilings blue is based on the folk belief that wasps won't build nests against that color. In THIS article the author surmises that the original Haint Blue was a milk paint made with lime and that the lime might have played a roll in discouraging wasps. Nonetheless, the author admits his blue ceiling porches have stayed free of bugs.

Sorry to hear you are painting the brick but I would need to see a picture of the new color and what you have done in the remodel.IMO those blue ceilings are best done with platation type homes not MCM ones.