I wouldn't paint the brick. Perhaps pick up its color in the door or some of the trim?

I'm no expert on these sorts, but I think it looks charming. I would even consider running those bricks flush on each side of the walkway to tie it together even more it that would look okay.

Once the blue tape is gone and you put a potted plant on your porch I am certain you will like it better. If you paint the bricks they will be forever impossible to keep clean. Leave them be!

I don't think the brick looks terrible. I think it clashes with the door more than the siding actually. If you do decide to paint it I would go with a color closer to the bluestone so it blends in. Maybe let it sit for a while and see whether it grows on you? Unless it isn't cold where you are it's probably not a good time to paint anyway.

Thanks all--to those who wouldn't paint, do you think the white risers would look worse? Is it due to maintenance?

What could I have done differently here--what would you have done with this kind of architecture?

Not sure that white risers (painted brick) would be better or not appearance wise, besides becoming a maintenance matter to upkeep. Perhaps get some white corrugated sheet or something you can use as a demo riser to put there and see how it looks before commiting to paint. I guess if I really felt the need to tone it down I would consider a white wash rather than a solid paint cover up. I still like it just the way it is, it looks more stately.

I think the brick is great-looking as it is, It won't be nearly as attractive in white, You have handsome set of steps.

I don't think you made a mistake, I like it. Your home is very nice.

As mentioned above.....

Add two large ceramic planters to the sides of your door and be done with it. No to painting any brick. I love the blue stone. Your eyes needs to adjust to the change. You did a great job!

If I had to pick one thing that should be changed, I would have said your door color, but that is your color choice, it works for you.

As for the painted chimney, I would add a large narrow bush or tree that would not impinge on the foundation of your home in front of it.

Grant - It looks great -- bricks, door and all. Nice job.

I dont think the brick looks bad- but im not a huge brick fan, so id likely cover it. I’d probably use a limewash, rather than a paint, and i would definitely use a greyish tone (not white) to blend with the bluestone.

I really like the 1st black door Beth H did!

I believe Romabio can color match with a masonry stain or paint to match your siding.

I don't like the white trim going down the side of the house that bugs me I would paint that the color of your siding and I don't mind the yellow door but I think a teal door or a red door would be prettier or even maybe a green door you saying you want to paint your window trim?

I love the brick as is. but door should be a different color

"I would even consider running those bricks flush on each side of the walkway to tie it together even more it that would look okay."

That was my first thought. :-) Nice job with the brick!

I love how Beth's first door compliments the windows, along with #'s 6 and 8.

good idea chloe. edging out the cement walkway w/brick to match the steps!

or, try doing the flowerbeds w/brick edging.

you'd have to get the same brck, but look at how nice the flower beds look.

Change out the grassy looking plants for something w/a bit more color.

I like the brick stoop and I would paint the chimney to match the siding.

Another vote for painting the chimney to match the siding.

So here are my suggestions for you. Paint the brick! Bye bye bright red. What I see happening is that your brick is competing with the door colour/finish. Paint it the colour you want and almost any door will look instantly better. I see that you chose a very light roof (darker would have been better but nonetheless) work with it. I am uploading to very quickly put together examples of colours or door stain you could go with (just a start and for ideas). I could have gone on but time....There would be two light sconces if space permits but remember colour recall so that the eye bounces around is important and their is cohesiveness and texture layering is also crucial to give any home exterior a boost and more curb appeal. The cement planters could be wood if you go with the darker coloured door image for contrast. In any case, the cement planter or planters recall the colour from your roof and help to tie things in. Oh! The chimney, I would stay in the exact colour family but then pick a paint colour for it that offers a visible but subtle and complimentary contrast for more interest. NOT the same colour as the house....boring! FI your home is as dark as in the first picture you uploaded go a little little lighter on the chimney. If lighter as in the second picture, go darker on the chimney. P.S. Your home can't go wrong with a wood stained door!

My two cents.

Thanks everyone! This has been really helpful. I have pretty bad OCD and house stuff can be difficult to chew on. We had come into this house purchase (old house) thinking--being sold--that everything was turn-key, but that seems to be a myth when it comes to old-houses in particular! And thanks Beth and annouk and everyone who contributed.

So, a couple points of information: the girlfriend/co-owner/wife-in-all-but-name-gotta-put-a-ring-on-it is dead set on painting the brick white, and likes the pop of white with the chimney. She also likes the yellow door. Generally, she likes things as they were/are.

I had done a ton of research over months to get to this point and proposed and agreed on the white brick (thinking farm-house, white risers, gray treads, exhausted and out of ideas). There didn't seem to be a slam dunk style that fit since the previous owners moved away from all-white colonial to farmhouse hybrid.

Then, we get here after its finished and the doubts. And it seems the doubts about the original course of action are substantiated and the overwhelming consensus is: leave the brick, work around it (I only wish I had picked a brick with the mind that it wouldn't be painted--the current brick, Glen Gery's Red Smooth wasn't my first pick. I wanted a darker red, garnet colored)

TL;DR - How bad of an idea is it to go white, as planned ranking it on some sort of scale? Annouk33 is a champion of painting but not white.

Brick is fine, I dont think it would look good painted, just the opposite actually. I think Beth H made the best suggestions.

Your brick will spall if painted because of lack of insulation behind it. It will be a loosing battle.

@thinkdesignlive even if using a mineral paint? Or, as a paint supplier said, something like an aqualock primer? If there was insulation like with a wall on a house it would be ok? Thanks! This is good to know.

Thanks @K Laurence and @Beth H. :'s advice was amazing. I showed it to my gf and we're still discussing it.

There is already ample white on front that ties to chimney. Get a nice white flower pot for the porch.

Why are you insisting on painting the brick white, most everyone here thinks it looks best the way it is, that you have done a good job, and you have some marvelous examples from Beth of how to make it even better. Just curious as to why.

Like previous repliers have said, it’s ok, just put a nice door mat, few plant pots etc. and it will look fine. Try it and see.

The white brick would be the first thing people would see when they came to the front door. You want the focus to be on something else. I would leave it alone - maybe brick around flower beds and a wreath for front door. Live with it awhile then think it through again. If you replace chimney you could do it same color as siding - or in brick..

Hi again!

The white very stark and covers what could transform into a beautiful feature/detail for your home exterior. These suggestions are all simply options. You want to start to give your home exterior some dimension by using contrast. My suggestions for you are that you paint the chimney either the lighter gray found in your roof to tie things in or an in between shade (the darker shade found in your roof, but not the same shade as your current home exterior) See sample pictures. I am also include a the two shades of blue I included in one of the previous pictures of your home with blue on the steps (3rd colour from the top) and on your door (darker blue at the top).

@doods the girlfriend is really wed to the idea of the white porch. That's the primary reason. She's thinking that she does not want to have white brick and then regular brick--she wants them to match. I'm petitioning her to give it some time, as there have been many good suggestions here.

@ashtonchic I thought last night that maybe a good approach all along would have been to repair and restore the chimney rather than have it painted over.

I would do a stacked tile of the same blue stone for the sides of the porch and long tiles of the stone to cover the risers. Just cover the brick with more blue stone.