bricks...painted or au naturel?

[shongololo]

we have a HUGE brick fireplace in the living room. Monsterous.

I'm busy decorating, and the bricks look quite shabby, especially at the top where we have ripped out an artex ceiling.

I know you can get brick cleaner, but is it better to paint the whole damn lot the same colour as the walls? The fireplace bricks are standard orange, the house is very old, but the fireplace isn't.

Colour scheme of new room - blues and browns, wooden floors, magnolia cream walls.

WHat do the sTyle gurus think?

Same colour as the rest of the room I think.

Is the whole chimney breast brick then (if it has copped damage from the ceiling)? I'd paint it cream I think.

Do not paint the bricks, that often looks, um, well, shite. Get it plastered and paint the plaster.

If the bricks are the sort I imagine from your description (new and orange) I would get it plastered TBH.

We have a bare brick chimney breast in our house but the bricks are very old and quite subtle in colour . They can stand out too much and look a bit harsh if too bright or dark.

au natrelle - every time.

Yes, agree with those who say plaster then paint. Should have thought of that.

We are in the process of painting our brick fireplace - taking forever to cover with primer as yes, bricks are new and orange!

I have seen a nice effect of painted bricks with acrylic paint - much better coverage than emulsion.