Houzz TV: How to Restore the Natural Look of Light Brick
Decorative artist Shauna Gallagher shows how to give white-painted brick a more variegated appearance
Brenna Malmberg
September 12, 2016
If your brick fireplace has been slathered with a solid layer of paint, it’s not too late to bring back its textured charm. A faux painting technique can give a painted surround some of its original dimension again. Here’s how.
Watch now: How to Restore the Natural Look of Brick
With the brick taped off from the wall, decorative artist Shauna Gallagher begins to softly dab on layers of darker colors to bring out the brick’s natural texture.
For this project, she chose three paints — a warm light gray, a medium gray and a cool dark gray — and added glazing liquid to each one to make them more transparent.
With the brick taped off from the wall, decorative artist Shauna Gallagher begins to softly dab on layers of darker colors to bring out the brick’s natural texture.
For this project, she chose three paints — a warm light gray, a medium gray and a cool dark gray — and added glazing liquid to each one to make them more transparent.
Next, Gallagher randomly applies the three colors using 2- to 4-inch brushes. She works in sections while the paint is still wet. After she applies paint, she uses a lime-wash brush — or two brushes taped together — to stipple the surface. This adds texture to the brick and fills in any recesses.
Next, she dabs unbleached cheesecloth across the paint to remove small amounts of color at a time.
“Whatever color you put down first will be the predominant color in that section,” she says. “If you have never done this before, be more conservative with the darker colors. It’s easier to darken light spots than it is to lighten dark spots.”
Next, she dabs unbleached cheesecloth across the paint to remove small amounts of color at a time.
“Whatever color you put down first will be the predominant color in that section,” she says. “If you have never done this before, be more conservative with the darker colors. It’s easier to darken light spots than it is to lighten dark spots.”
Gallagher continues applying layers of her three colors, stippling on and ragging off paint until she covers the entire surround and hearth. She recommends taking a step back to look at sections as you go. When you have covered the entire project, step back again and take it all in. “Also remember that the paint will dry a little darker,” she says.
Her last step is to go over the all the joints between bricks with the lightest color. This defines the individual bricks, restoring much of the fireplace’s original character.
Watch now: How to Restore the Natural Look of Brick
More: What You Need to Know Before Painting Brick
Her last step is to go over the all the joints between bricks with the lightest color. This defines the individual bricks, restoring much of the fireplace’s original character.
Watch now: How to Restore the Natural Look of Brick
More: What You Need to Know Before Painting Brick
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Wow, the effect looks natural and improves the fireplace about 10x!
So love it - looks so nice!
That's awesome! Thank you!