apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Might be kinda great with a "stacked stone" veneer. More in keeping with the period, gives you the grey, spends your money....just sayin

I don't know that I would have thought of it, but it might be a good move. The main thing i notice about this picture isn't that it's very warm (which is definitely is) but that it's dark. a light gray fireplace might help a lot with that, and with the overly warm tone of the place.

I would leave the brick and paint the wood OR paint it all.

NO, NO, NO, and did I say NO?!!! I think your space looks great and no need to change anything. I understand your need to cool the atmosphere - I would too. But I would think first of either changing the wood panels with sheetrock, or if that is too expensive, I would paint over the wood panels. I personally say leave as it is, but if you MUST, think of changing the wood panels first.

I think grey often leans toward purple, which would make the orang-ish walls, floors and accessories absolutely scream if you paint the fireplace gray.

Those chairs seem to really pop the orange.

If it were me, I'd leave the fireplace alone and paint the walls white. Then paint the fireplace to match if you still don't love it. Could be gorgous with the floors. Then I think you could play with gray/orange combos without it being so overwhelming.

Because it looks like this room is a little dark, I would suggest white rather than gray. I think that any color, even gray, can get old on a fireplace. My midcentury house has a large white fireplace and it looks clean and airy in a not so bright space.

Paint the brick. I think the wood looks lovely. That kind of mottled brick always looks dated to me.

How about using an area rug to break up all of the orange tones? BTW, I wouldn't paint over the brick or the wood panels.

I don't think the room needs paint, it needs better lighting and a rug. Painting the brick or the paneling is something you can't reverse.
I love the picture over the fireplace.

Like some of the others, I wouldn't paint the brick - I would paint the wood paneling (or replace it with drywall). And either way, I would try white first, which I think would set off both the warm tones and your gray chairs really nicely.

i second (or is it third) painting the brick white.

I think your initial instincts are good. Paint it grey, leave the wood alone for now. It looks like you have a good design sense already. :)

I second (or third) painting the wall and leaving the fireplace as is. What about painting the wall a nice grey/stone color like Sherwin Williams' Alpaca?

I think if you do paint it, it should be white (btw, love the poster above the fireplace). Just be aware that painting brick one of those one shot deals - no going back. It will be very difficult, if not impossible to get the paint off if you don't like it. Also, it will suck up a ton of primer and paint (yes, I know from experience).

Thant being said, if you can change the room with an area rug or art, I would really go that way.

I love the color and texture of the brick and feel the same about the paneling. They make your 1950's CA ranch what it is and your furniture plays to it beautifully. Lighten and brighten your room with a pale colored/white rug. This will give you more lightness, ground your furniture and contrast to the wash of wood paneling and brick. It will even tie in the white and gray of the brick mottling. After, if you're still not happy, you can always paint/drywall, but you can never undo those.

the brick is beautiful...Id worry more about the walls. Can you re-do the walls? or paint them if that's too expensive?

I also agree -- paint the brick white, as grey will make the orange stand out and be a little dark. Lovely space!

I wouldn't paint, but if you're bent on it...go for white, not gray. It will be hard to find a gray that won't 'pop' the warm tones of all that wood, while white can add that shot of coolness.

I'm in the "paint the fireplace white" camp....by the way super cool place....I'm jealous as all get out.....

Another vote for white brick - I have seen it, and remembered it fondly, in another 50's CA house - always, always loved it. Very fresh. And then I'd put a light-to-medium gray rug on the floor - yes, to lighten up the whole thing. Just my 2 cents… (The painting/poster on the brick wall, as well as the furniture, will look much better, too - very nice stuff, a bit hidden at the moment).

Go for it - and the paneling, too. Although I know many are adverse to painting wood, I painted my orangey paneling a sage green (after a good TSP clean and two coats of primer) and also painted my (white) brick fireplace a dark charcoal. The result is one I'm always happy with. The grooves in the paneling lend a little eye interest. One note, though, that I was warned about with the brick: apparently paint is awful to remove from brick. Since mine was already white, the decision to paint was easier. Good luck!

I agree. Leave it alone and white rug (or pale gray). I think you need more lights for reading, though.

I'd paint the paneling first, see how it looks, then decide about the brick wall. Both could be improved with paint, but the room might look *too* cool if you did it all gray and the bricks might look quite nice against the gray background.

I agree with the others who state that you need more lighting and a rug before you need paint - perhaps some draperies too.

BTW - You state that all you see in this room is Orange...
...but have you noticed that all of your throw pillows, the backrest for your sofa and your artwork has lots of orange too? IMO, You should consider supplementing/replacing these items with rich blues (the color-opposite of Orange).

i tend to think that colour brick is dated... in fact, my parents have a fireplace in that same brick. i painted it white to calm all the colours going on in the small living room. just textural would help your furniture be more present. paint is fast and quick. i say white would be nice and a light cool grey could make the wood pop. they also make black fireplace paint that can maintain high temperatures... and that would make your fireplace look fresher. if you use the fireplace, a light colour could collect ash, but when do light colours ever not get dirty?! ha.

i made a fast image to keep my hands busy!

http://blackinkjar.tumblr.com/post/183043775/grey-fire-place-image

i, of course, meant the black fireplace paint for the inside! ha.

I second aaakid's comments. It's not the fireplace, it's the lighting and the flooring. I'll probably get so burned for this--but I could see a light colored shag rug in the seating area. Is it possible to add any overhead lighting to the space? (I see you where you were going with the arc lamp)

I think the wall just needs to get dressed!

If you paint the bricks, paint a warm cream. I really don't think a grey would complement the wood walls which are beautiful.

Create a mantel using just a thin shelf that runs the entire length of the the brick, under the window and then across the the top of the fireplace. Under the window would be a great place for some plants and a few books which would add color, life and break up the brick. Over the fireplace you wouldn't need to put anything because the painting looks great where it is.

A rug would help and you could run the lamp cord under it. The table is too high for that space and is making it look cluttered. Clean the brick in the fireplace, fill with candles if you don't actually burn logs in there. Get a great set of fire tools. Even if you don't use them they would look great to the right of the fireplace.

Good luck! You've got a great start!

People generally feel very strongly either way about painting paneling and brick. I lived with unpainted paneling and brick for a long time that I did not like. When I finally did paint, I just wished I had done it sooner. BTW, I painted my brick fireplace a very light grayish mushroomy color (Benjamin Moore, can't remember the color name), and I love it. If you're going to be in the house for awhile, and think you'd like it painted, I say go for it.

I'd definitely paint the brick, but a shade of white, not grey. And add an area rug as well.

That is some funny looking brick, but I don't think painting it without painting the paneling is going to make the situation any better, but I really hate to paint over real wood paneling, particularly since yours looks quite nice. I would start by 1) putting the photo collage elsewhere, because the black and white are too much against the paneling; 2) putting light colored area rugs around; and 3) getting a light-colored cover for the sofa.

i did this in three seconds... so this will be easy for me to say because i am not painting it!

i would go all white/ slight cool grey; but that is just me!

http://blackinkjar.tumblr.com/post/183070854/white-out-room

If you paint, I agree that white would be better. But then you might consider painting the walls too. However, if you aren't sure about that, I would just consider changing the decor accents and after that reassess whether you need more of a change. If all you see is orange and that's a problem, why don't you take away the only things that actually are orange - the pillows & upholstery on the back of the couch? Then add a light rug - white or cream would be good - and pillows in a light, cool or neutral color. Add a vase of white flowers on the window sill or coffee table and I think you'd have much less of a clash. Everything feels a bit heavy & dark to me, so I'd lighten it up. On a different note, I also think you are closing off the space by having the couch where it is - I'd move it to the wall underneath the photos, put the bench where the couch now is, and angle the chairs toward the couch at the other end of the room.

I'd paint the paneling before the brick.

Do NOT paint the brick. Brick adds character, and once you paint it, you can never go back to the natural brick. I personally don't like wood paneling, but I think most people would make the same argument about painting wood paneling. I would perhaps add some heavy gray curtains/fabric on either side of the painting and/or in the window.

I really like the space you've created, even with the wood paneling.

Start with painting the wall, see what needs to be done from there. Paneling is the worst!

Your panelling seems nicer than most and your fireplace being very much of its period is uglier than most. If you were to paint the panelling white the fireplace would stand out even more, so paint it instead and you will still have its lovely texture. Try a various grays (even a pale taupe would look lovely with the mauve chairs) but if this oranges up the place it is easy to move to a whiter color. But first improve the lighting - regular bulbs will emphasize the warm tones so possibly go with the newer eco bulbs which have a colder light and follow someone else's suggestion to add a light-colored rug to bounce back more light.

If you want your artwork and furnishings to stand out, I'd go for painting out the brickwork first, but not in gray. Something off-white, as some of the others have mentioned. I'd also wrap that paint up around onto the wood panelling around the one window that's visible, up the slats that create the room divider and up and around the wood where it meets the ceiling and wraps around the corner. That way the entrance will brighten up the whole area and the lighter color will accentuate the architectural features.

Isn't it funny how we're split about 50/50 into pro-brick/anti-paneling and pro-paneling/anti-brick camps? Since there's no clear consensus, I think Lyla's going to have to go with her gut...

this particular kind of brick makes my eyes water and my teeth hurt. just because it's not easy to undo does not mean you shouldn't do it. i think painting the brick will calm the room right down. i agree with whoever suggested a simple mantel along the whole fireplace.
i know someone who painted a very similar unsettling mottled brick a light colour and it changed the whole room - for the better. it will take a lot of primer and paint, but i would do it.

Where'd you get your chairs?
I'm having a horrible time finding small, light gray chairs.

As for the brick? I think it would look unnatural painted. Leave it.

Your chairs and the seat on your sofa are a grayish. If anything do a cool white, not a warm white. The room doesn't seem to have a lot of natural lighting so gray would be bad, whites would be good.

I would suggest painting the paneling first and see how you like it than if you still aren't happy with the look paint the brick a cool white as well.

Painting brick is always a no no in my book unless no other options are working or available.

MAKE SURE IT'S A COOL GRAY AND NOT A WARM GRAY.

I noticed that the space is kinda dark, but I absolutely LOVE the brick fire place. I would suggest getting an area rug and more lighting to brighten the space.

I would be VERY hesitant to paint that fireplace. I also live in a midcentury home and have a similar fireplace. We thought about painting it but realize a) It is possible, but a HUGE pain in the butt, to ever get it back to brick should you choose to do so some day. Plus it never looks quite right again and b) the homes with unpainted brick inside tend to be more desirable, in our area anyway. Now that we have decorated around it we would never dream of painting it. Just my 2 cents!

This is a beautiful room. Please don't paint the brick or wood! It'd be a train wreck in the making.

Next 'Good Question': "how do I remove all this awful paint that the previous owner applied in a HGTV/Home Depot frenzy?"

So much could be helped with a change of soft furnishings and art (after all, they too are orange). Show us more photos so we can make suggestions.

I think you're looking to use a sledgehammer to crack a walnut here.

How about using a semi-opaque tinted stain on the brick? My contractor suggested this and it was VERY easy to do, probably much easier than painting. That would help even out the mottled look and bring out the wood paneling, which seems to be really nice.

Your place is awesome. Great idea about painting the brick. Great re-use of the brick - maybe from an older warehouse, but not the correct color or style for your home. Don't be dissuaded from doing this yourself - if you properly prep it will look awesome. Make certain you prime first. Have the paint store tint your primer lighter than, but close to your chosen paint color. If you are near a paint store, I think you should take a look at Benjamin Moore's Black Bean Soup. It has a lot of depth and an eggshell sheen should provide the right amount of reflection. After priming, you will then need to apply at least two complete coats of paint (apply thin coats and you will retain the brick texture and it will look awesome). And, if you love the look of Heath Ceramics tile with the gunmetal finish. I've done several paint makeovers on brick - starting as above - and after my third coat of paint, I apply a sheer coat of Modern Master metallic paint. I've used Modern Master's Black Pearl metallic over Benjamin Moore's Black Bean Soup and it would never be mistaken for a bad design show makeover. Your paneling is too sweet to cover, but a colorful curtain (should skim windowsill) on the window next to your fireplace would be pretty cool. Depending on your preference - think nubby, single color, linen for a sleeker look or go all out retro with a fabric from Repot Depot or Amy Butler (or search on Etsy for some great Japanese fabrics).

I vote paint the brick white but leave the paneling alone. The brick color seems to clash with it anyway. My family has a similar ranch home with similar paneling and a painted-white brick fireplace. It looks great, makes the paneling look better, and updates and freshens the look while still respecting the original design.

I vote paint the brick white but leave the paneling alone. The brick color seems to clash with it anyway. My family bought a similar ranch home with similar paneling and a painted white brick fireplace. It looks great! The white brick freshens the look, makes the paneling look better, and updates everything while respecting the original design. Just looking at the photo, I can imagine how much a painted white brick fireplace will improve everything. Again, I'd hold back on painting the paneling.

I second a rug! Leave that brick!

Please don't paint the brick!!! It's one of those things that should be preserved. Brick is a rare commodity! You should decorate around the brick!!

Wow! I must say I love the internet and this site - 50 responses! And yeah, I did notice earlier that it is split right down the middle - paint v. DON'T paint. So, while I'm no closer to a decision, I've got lots of great ideas to ponder. The chairs are old EQ3 - don't think they're making them any more.

Instead of painting the brick which would hell to remove if you changed your mind later. Why not build out a potion of it with wood and sheet rock. Then paint that.

1. You could do that with the separation wall and leave the brick just at the fireplace.

2. build out the top of the fire place leaving of the brick exposed up to the top of the partition wall leaving the partition brick as well. It would add a nice linear element of brick. This create a nice blank wall to hang your painting. Maybe carry that wood wall cap across as a mantel(?).

Instead of grey I would suggest a white and/or green. Then maybe sheet rock over SOME of the wood panel. It think you just need to find the right balance of warmth and light.

I think these options would preserve the brick and give you flexibility.

I wouldn't paint the brick - it looks great. If you want to lighten up the place you might try a rug in a cream colour.

I have to agree to not paint the brick but look at the walls (as someone else mentioned) with paint/drywall to change it up.

I'm a huge fan of wood (specifically more natural woods) but too much wood, like you have, with those gorgeous floors and then up the walls is overwhelming. It reminds me of some of the mountain lodges of the 70s but not in an organic way, it seems forced. It just looks ill placed.

I also agree that a well chosen rug will help with the space.

A little stain or drybrushing can tone down the brick some without paint. I also think removing that entry divider (altogether if possible) would let a lot more light in.

Maybe a light-colored cement mantel all the way across?

Also thought you might like to take a look at this:

http://trickmybrick.blogspot.com/2009/09/circa50.html

I like the brick but wouldn't be against painting it (a pale color). But before I did that, I'd paint those walls, then reassess.

I would sheet rock ONE wall, the one across from the window and paint it in chrome yellow or bright orange, just the one wall, see how that bounces the light and what it does.
Heck, you could get a roll of wrapping paper and tape it up in about 15 minutes, see what the color change does.

I did this with a sheet of metallic copper paper to check out something wild I wanted to do and it worked so well I ended up covering my countertops with copper!
Easiest way to try something ever.

I would paint the paneling. I'm sorry, but I don't think that look is ever coming back (nor should it). Once you paint the brick you can't go back and I think the brick will be warmer once the walls are brightened (you can always change your mind and do it later, but I say walls first). I had the same challenge when I brought my place, which was brady bunchy woody. Painting the wood brought new life to the place instantly. I am not sure why people are hesitant to paint paneling; it's done its time.....

I like the idea about the mantel. Also it might be worth it to check out some other California ranch renovations: http://totheweb.com/eichler/; http://www.eichlernetwork.com/. Google Joseph Eichler or Cliff May and find out how others have renovated their fireplaces or living rooms.

Don't paint the brick! The textural quality of it alongside the smooth taupe panel adds visual interest and integrates well with you room. The paint will only make everything look FLAT. If you absolutely want to change its look why not just attach a facade? That way when your tastes change again all you have to do is remove it.

Dear god, don't paint the brick!

leave the brick! It is beautiful! paint the wood with a white wash... so it looks like wood. just white wood :) Your art and furniture would stand out beautifully.

Paint the paneling! It looks charming and then you can decide on the brick.