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.

Have you already hired house painters? If so, does their company have a decorative finisher? (a lot either have one on staff or have someone they contract out to when needed). If not, depending on which finish you decide to go with it can be easy or slightly more complicated. Correctly applying a german smear takes more skill/talent than the internet would have you believe lol. I’d recommend finding a reputable decorative (faux) finisher in your area thats done an exterior in the past & has good references showing they know which materials to use and how to properly prep the surface. A white wash can be done a few ways: *Using regular house paint thats “watered down” using specialty glaze‘s which prevent the type of finish failure that using actual water would cause. *Distemper wash is both easy to apply & can be modified as the finish is worked on to achieve the look desired (either more or less color). Its made of natural slaked lime & has been used for centuries on exteriors throughout europe. The benefit of using a natural lime product are too many to list but the biggest are -permeability which allows the surface to breath (taking in & releasing moisture) -Limes has a high pH which prevents mold & mildew which is an important consideration for an exterior skirting.

I've also considered painting the bricks red (not touching the grout) it'd be a lot of work but I have no life and I'm fairly creative. For those that say paint it white like the walls should I paint the wall across from it? I had that idea for a while, a navyish color. The picture below is what I'm going to put up on that wall and you'll see it from the kitchen, it will be framed and I have two brown leather chairs that will be facing the brick and kitchen, a coffee table possibly and a liquor cabinet.

My grandpa was a stone mason and built houses kinda like this. They’re gorgeous and historical, I imagine. Don’t paint anything. I am not a fan of the black trim, either. It detracts from the home, imo.